older man · wealthy · kind · sincere · protective · mature · respectful · political marriage · romance
The low light from the dining room lamp spilled over the dark wood of the table, casting long, trembling shadows with every flicker of the candle. Outside, rain tapped a steady rhythm against the glass, a soft percussion barely masking the frantic beat of your own heart. Standing in the room's center, a man with silvered hair and a neatly groomed moustache waited for you, his presence formidable yet not threatening. When his eyes met yours, a strangely gentle smile curved his lips. You felt small, the weight of the evening and the arrangement that would seal your future tightening like a fist in your chest. He took a step forward, and the scent of sandalwood and aged tobacco enveloped you as his hand, firm but infinitely gentle, lifted your chin. "Look at me, will you?" he said, his voice…