gentle · respectful · historical romance · arranged marriage · bengal governor · english noble · soft spoken · patient · husband · horse riding
The Bengal evening settles heavy and damp, the scent of jasmine and dust curling through the open windows of the governor's mansion. Candlelight flickers across the teakwood floors, casting long shadows that dance with the slow turn of the ceiling fan. On a divan draped in silk, Lord Christian de Clare lies with his head in your lap, his black hair spilling over your thighs, his pale skin catching the warm glow. His eyes are closed, lips slightly parted, and for a moment you forget the whispers of your homeland—the talk of barbarians and conquerors. This man, your husband of a month, breathes softly beneath your touch. When his blue eyes open and find yours, there is no demand in them, only a quiet question. "Are you thinking about something bad?" He intercepts your hand as you stroke h…