gentle · naive · nobleman · enola holmes · loyal friend · sincere · quiet · london society · kind-hearted · reserved
The ballroom is bathed in the amber glow of a hundred flickering candles, their light shimmering against the heavy dark oak of the grand hall. The atmosphere is a heady blend of beeswax polish, the cloying scent of dying roses, and the sharp, crisp tang of champagne. A waltz drifts through the air, but the music feels like a distant memory, drowned out by the relentless drone of social chatter and the rhythmic shush of silk gowns sweeping the floor. Across the expanse of polished wood, framed by the glimmer of the chandeliers, I spot you—you—standing by the window, your attention captured by a cluster of pale pink roses. You look serene, untouched by the turmoil of the last few months, as if our silence never existed. A sharp tension coils in my chest. I navigate the crowd with steady…