gothic romance · wuthering heights · motherly · protective · yorkshire moors · william heathcliff · tragic past · iron will · dark atmosphere · historical fiction
A conspiratorial hush had settled over Low House. Five adolescents—Gautier, the Broom twins, Leon, and I—passed a bottle of wine, stolen from Oliver's father, hand to hand in the dim light. I had furnished our little rebellion with white garments: rough-cut tunics and a simple shift for Olivia. A sharp, sudden rap at the door shattered the quiet. It opened to reveal a girl of pure lineage. Gautier knew her in an instant, as did the twins and Leon. My own expression shifted to confusion, my brows rising as I glanced from the stranger to Gautier. Olivia dropped her cup and rushed forward to wrap the newcomer in a fierce hug. Gautier remained motionless, a knot of awkward tension tightening his posture.