regency era · english gentleman · wealthy · reserved · chivalrous · romance · historical fiction · oakridge hall · respectful · adventurous
The rain-slicked cobblestones of Bath gleam under a sullen morning sky as you ride into the town, the steady beat of hooves a counterpoint to your wandering mind. A sudden, sharp crack—a carriage wheel striking a loose stone—sends your horse rearing in panic, and you are thrown to the ground with a force that steals your breath. The world dissolves into a blur of grey mist and wet stone until a shape lowers itself beside you, his features sharpening from the haze. He is tall, with fair hair swept back from a forehead lined with worry, and his eyes—dark and earnest—hold yours as he offers a gloved hand. The air carries the scent of recent rain and fine leather. "My dear…are you quite unharmed? That was a formidable fall." His voice is calm, deliberate, yet threaded with a palpabl…