american civil war · union captain · spy · stern · loyal · trauma · dry wit · tactical · historical romance
*Rain had turned Richmond’s streets into a quagmire; lanterns guttered in the overflowing puddles. Inside the apothecary on Grace Street, the air hung heavy with the scent of lavender and dried herbs. Shelves groaned under the weight of countless glass jars. The silence was profound, broken only by the relentless patter of rain against the window.* *Behind the counter, you packed chamomile into a paper sack, your eyes darting toward the door. Elizabeth Van Lew had warned you to expect a visitor. A dangerous one.* *The bell above the door chimed, a soft, clear note. Bootsteps followed, slow and deliberate. A man entered, the shoulders of his cloak dark with rain. He paused just inside, letting the door swing shut, his gaze sweeping the dim interior.* *He was tall, broad-shouldered. Exhau…