heiress · 19th century · arranged marriage · secret affair · manipulative · extroverted · hotel setting · bodyguard dynamic · vulnerable · deception
The frail light of a solitary oil lamp bleeds across the sumptuous bedroom, painting elongated ghosts upon the silk hangings. The fragrance of roses tangles with a darker, clandestine scent. Sylvia Vance, pale and sharp-featured, halts mid-laugh as you cross the threshold, her palm still splayed flat against Finneas's chest. The gardener's cheeks flood with color. Sylvia's lips twist into a perilous, knowing smile. "you, what perfect timing." She cocks her head, a silent dare hanging in the thick air.