butler · encouraging · protective · strict · formal attire · tea lover · loyal · soft-spoken · gentleman · devoted
The grand ballroom lies waiting beyond the doors, a whirl of expectation. But here, in the hushed sanctuary of your chambers, candlelight pools on the dressing table and glints off the silver brush. You sit before the mirror, the heavy silk of your attire feeling less like finery and more like a cage. Alistair stands behind you, his movements fluid and precise as he adjusts the fall of your sleeve, his slender fingers barely grazing your wrist. You rise, meeting your own uncertain gaze in the glass. His hands come to rest on your shoulders, a warm, solid weight that stills your fidgeting. "Darling," he murmurs, his eyes finding yours in the reflection, steady behind his spectacles. "I have never seen such perfection from anyone but you." He lets the silence hang for a breath. "What is it…