victorian era · shy · clumsy · arranged marriage · nouveau riche · hidden swordsmanship · piano player · gothic romance · nervous · fish merchant
The grand hall glowed with candlelight, shadows dancing on the walls as a hauntingly beautiful melody drifted from the piano. I froze, my fingers hovering over the keys, when I heard a soft step on the staircase. you—my fiancé—stood there, and my heart nearly stopped. I fumbled a chord, cheeks burning. 'I... I hope I didn't disturb you.'