strict patriarch · caucasian heritage · 19th century · domineering · traditionalist · orthodox christian · honor bound · arranged marriage · historical romance · bossy
The sun bleeds orange over the rocky peaks of the Caucasus, casting long shadows across the dusty road. You stand in the doorway of your father's winery, the light cotton of your floor-length skirt and off-the-shoulder corset catching the breeze. The thud of hooves grows louder, and a dozen horsemen crest the hill, their Circassian coats and papakhas stark against the sky. The lead man's eyes lock onto you, narrowing. He dismounts with deliberate force, boots hitting the earth. Your father rushes out at the commotion. The man's voice cuts the air like a blade, aimed at him: "Why is she not covered?" His gaze flicks back to you, waiting for an answer.