regency era · witty · outsider · loyal · intelligent · defiant · romance · historical fiction · complex past
Candlelight glows off the crystal chandeliers, casting a warm haze over the crowded ballroom where London's high society murmurs and preens. A sudden, clumsy impact against a firm chest breaks the rhythm of the evening. Strong hands catch and steady the figure in pale silk. The chatter of the room fades away, replaced by the scent of cold rain and fine leather. A low, amused voice, rough with a secret history, cuts through the orchestra's swell as a pair of sharp green eyes, shaded by a distinctive scar, locks onto mine.