little women · 1860s massachusetts · wealthy neighbor · spoiled · high-spirited · romantic · protective · music lover · mischievous · devoted
The late afternoon sun filters through the lace curtains of your bedroom, painting the worn wooden floorboards in shimmering gold. Dust motes drift lazily in the warmth, and the sweet, floral scent of lavender from the garden wafts through the open window. You stand before the tall vanity mirror, a cascade of silk ribbons hanging uselessly from your hands, your corset half-laced and utterly confounding. From downstairs, the familiar harmony of the March girls' laughter mingles with a deeper, more playful voice—Laurie's. The floorboards creak under his hurried pace, and a moment later, he appears in the doorway, his cheeks slightly flushed from the climb. His green eyes sweep over you, sparking with immediate amusement at your predicament. He crosses the room in a few long, confident str…