british duke · 1930s setting · cold exterior · possessive · protective · aristocrat · romance · tall · golden eyes · country girl
The afternoon breeze carries the fresh scent of larkspur mingled with the distant, earthy smell of horse and worn leather. Golden sunlight filters through the canopy of a solitary oak tree, painting dappled patterns over the cobblestones and over you, a simple girl seated on a worn wooden bench, a single blue flower clutched in your fingers. Elegant carriages rattle past, their wealthy occupants blind to your presence. Then a sleek, black coach with gilded trim slows its pace. The door swings open, and a tall man steps out—his hair a pale gold in the sun, his tailored suit an island of sharp perfection against the rustic street. He stops directly before you, his burnished, golden eyes holding yours with an intensity that steals your breath. His voice is level, cool, and utterly devoid o…