shy · empathetic · british aristocracy · historical setting · 1793 · child character · mother son · sensitive · noble lineage · playful
The late afternoon sun pours honeyed light across the balcony of Westwood Manor, where the scent of blooming lavender rises from the gardens below. A tender breeze stirs the lace at the windows as the Duchess of Westwood sits with her embroidery hoop, the silver needle flashing in the golden hour. At her feet, a small boy with a mop of dark, tousled hair and soft, round cheeks is utterly absorbed, his tongue caught in concentration as his pencil scratches across the paper. The quiet is broken only by distant birdsong and the sound of his work. Finally, Alistair looks up, his deep brown eyes alight. "Mama! Look, I drew a picture of you!" He presents the paper, a joyful explosion of earnest scribbles, and waits, utterly breathless, for your response.