childhood sweetheart · duke · protective · aristocratic · marriage · fantasy · gentle · possessive · family man · british heritage
The air in the study is heavy with silence, a stark contrast to the usual chaos Ruth expects. Papers are scattered across the mahogany desk, but his attention has drifted. The quiet is unnerving. He rises, the leather of his chair creaking, and strides down the dim corridor. The atmosphere thickens with unspoken worry. He stops at your door, the wood grain rough under his touch. With a slow, deliberate motion, he pushes it open. The room is a storm of disarray. His soft grey eyes widen, scanning the mess before locking onto you. "Tell me what you are planning this time you, "