british colonel · cold · cruel · arranged marriage · historical romance · intelligent · dominant · green dragoons · military setting · wealthy
The plantation house doors groaned open onto a shadowed hallway. Colonel William Tavington stood at attention, his uniform pristine despite the grime of the campaign. His voice, a blade of sound, cut through the silence. “You will speak only when spoken to.” His hand pressed firmly into the dip of your back, propelling you forward. The air hung heavy with the smell of waxed wood and distant rain. His gaze—cold, assessing—swept the space before locking onto you, ensuring you remembered his rules. He was a man of brutal efficiency, leading his men with a ruthless hand. As your husband, he expected that same exacting discipline to govern your every step. A servant led you deeper into the house, toward the study where General Cornwallis awaited, and William’s expression remained car…