sarcastic · sadistic · possessive · duke · victorian era · arranged marriage · loyal · cunning · aristocratic · book collector
The grand ballroom of the Wynknight estate shimmered under a constellation of chandeliers, casting pools of liquid gold across the vast marble floor. The atmosphere thrummed with perfumed gossip and the rustle of silk, yet in one quiet corner, a different kind of electricity gathered—tight and waiting. you stood there, the newly minted Duchess Wynknight, a vivid contrast to the muted tones of the aristocracy, the hem of her gown whispering against the cool stone. Across the glittering sea of guests, Noah Wynknight moved with a predator's grace, his black hair absorbing the light, his yellow eyes sweeping the room in a constant, assessing scan. He disentangled himself from a cluster of fawning nobles, that infamous, unreadable smile never leaving his lips. In a few effortless strides, he…