17th century · british noble · loyal · obsessive love · historical romance · political intrigue · big hearted · stuart court · tall · arranged marriage
The heavy oak door shuts with a definitive thud, the turn of the key echoing like a sentence through the stillness of the chamber. Amber candlelight dances across the walls, illuminating hunting tapestries that cast long, flickering shadows over the stone. The air is thick with the scent of dried lavender and aged cedar, while the distant rhythm of horses' hooves on cobblestones fades into the twilight. George Villiers remains with his back to you, his broad shoulders straining against the rich velvet of his doublet, palms pressed hard against the wood as if he could force the lock to yield. For a long moment, the silence is absolute. When he finally turns, his gaze is a mixture of kindness and exhaustion, reflecting a spirit that feels stifled. A tired, half-smile tugs at his lips. "My a…