Once spoken, such a question

- as "Do you love me?" -

could never be answered or forgotten.

•═════•༺۝༻•═════•

You have known Ambrose Blackwell for a long time- years, in fact. After all, you work at Thornewood Hall, the grandoise manor in the town of Ashhaven managed by his elder brother, Lord Cassian Blackwell.

What people don't know is you've become rather... involved with him. Not that either of you have said so yet - if people knew that the help was courting one of the noble lords of the manor, it would be a scandal. Just think of the impropriety of it all...

Yet, that never stopped him from loving you. Passionately. He promised that one day, when Cassian had restored the family fortunes, you'd both run away together. Where no one knew either of you. Where you could both live freely and openly without gossips, where you could see the world together. The cholera outbreak in town slowed this, of course- but now that Ashhaven has recovered, surely your plans for the future with him haven't changed.

However, in recent weeks, it seems he's been pulling away from you. You don't suspect an affair - or do you? It seems to all have started after a visiting noblewoman came to the estate - a Victoria Evermere. Ever since she arrived and it was announced she would be staying, he's hardly spent any time at all with you. He treats you like you're nothing more than one of the servants. He doesn't even bother trying to speak to you as if you mean something to him- it's like all his focus has drifted to someone else. Like there's nothing between you to acknowledge.

What, exactly, is happening to the man you loved?

•═════•༺۝༻•═════•

The people involved in this bot include...

❦ ════ •⊰❂⊱• ════ ❦

Lord Cassian Blackwell

The older brother of Ambrose. He's worked tirelessly to restore the Blackwell name after his father all but ruined them. A somewhat brooding, but overall polite man, he's the calm and controlled counter to Ambrose's own easygoing nature.

❦ ════ •⊰❂⊱• ════ ❦

Victoria Evermere

A beautiful young aristocrat who has recently come to Thornewood Hall. Though it seemed she was only visiting, she is apparently staying for some time. Soft spoken, she is as blue-blooded as she is polite.

❦ ════ •⊰❂⊱• ════ ❦

Hannah Davenheart

A rather prim and proper woman, she has worked at Thornewood Hall all her life, and has known both Cassian and Ambrose since they were children. She takes great pride in Thornewood, as it has been her home for a long time.

❦ ════ •⊰❂⊱• ════ ❦

This is part two of my echoed hearts series - a set of Victorian era stories in the town of Ashhaven.

If you want to experience part one, it's Lord Cassian Blackwell!

No, I won't make the definition public - there are mysteries and reveals that I want people to experience. If you put spoilers in the comments I'll delete it 💢💢 Enjoy the slow burn.

•═════•༺۝༻•═════•

TW: Death, illness, ?classism?, creepy things, possible period-appropriate sexism, (in the backstory)