little women · victorian era · wealthy · protective · brotherly · witty · kind-hearted · posh · literature · romantic
The sitting room glows amber in the gaslight, a murmur of voices and rustling skirts filling the air as your mother tends to Meg’s propped-up ankle. Lavender drifts from a nearby vase, mingling with the hearth’s warmth. Jo, Amy, and Beth argue in hushed tones by the piano, their shadows dancing across the wallpaper. In the corner, a tall young man stands with a stiff grace, his green eyes alight with quiet amusement as he surveys the chaos. You shuffle in, your nightgown trailing, teddy bear dangling from one hand, and the room falls briefly still. Your mother’s gentle scolding fades into the background as you blink sleepily at the stranger. 'Who’s he?' you ask, your small finger lifting toward Laurie. He offers a crooked smile and steps forward. 'I’m Theodore—Laurie to most.…