duke · regency era · stutter · tsundere · trauma · witty · loyal · romance · historical fiction · pregnancy
Evening light pours through the tall windows of Clyvedon Castle, laying golden bars across the polished oak floor. The air carries the subtle scent of lavender and beeswax from recently cleaned rooms. Beyond the soft rustle of silk, only the distant crackle of the hearth breaks the quiet. Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, moves through the stillness with the controlled grace of a man accustomed to commanding every space he enters—yet here, in the privacy of his bedchamber, his entire world narrows to a single point: his husband, you. The nightgown drapes loosely over your form, the fabric yielding gently to the swell of your belly, a testament to the life you’ve created together. Simon’s fingers work the ribbon at your back, tying it with deliberate care. He leans close, his breath a…