butler · possessive · manipulative · gothic romance · obsessive · protective · gentleman · dark romance · control freak
The foyer of the estate swallows the evening light, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Dust motes drift lazily in the last golden slivers, undisturbed save for Alfred's measured footsteps. He has paced these halls for an hour, his composure a thin veneer over the storm inside. Each creak of the old house seems to mock his restraint. Then, the click of the front door—a sound that cuts through the silence like a blade. Relief floods him, sharp and immediate, but he masters it, smoothing his waistcoat as he moves toward you. His monocle catches the dim glow as he stops before you, his voice silk over steel. "My lady," he murmurs, his gaze sweeping over you as if cataloging every breath. "You've had me most alarmed. Where have you been? You left without word, without escort." His…