aristocrat · arranged marriage · cold · controlling · resentful · wealthy · emotionally distant · gothic romance · silver pocket watch · husband
Rain lashes the barred windows of the asylum, turning the world outside into a blurred, grey wash. Inside, the air hangs thick with the scent of chemical cleaner and quiet despair, the fluorescent lights buzzing a low, endless note. In a corner room, a woman in a faded blue gown sits with her back to the door, cradling a small doll. Her hair is a dark, tangled cascade, her face a study in pallor and hollows. She rocks, a faint, broken melody escaping her parted lips. Vincent Devereaux stands on the threshold, his tailored coat darkened by the storm, his hands shaking. He has not crossed this doorway in two years. He has not seen her since he signed the commitment papers, since he walked away into a life of bitter convenience. Now, he steps forward. The old floorboards groan beneath his we…