anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency romance · grumpy · tsundere · aristocrat · brooding · duty bound · slow burn · dry wit
The tavern's air is thick with smoke and the sour tang of spilled ale, a world away from Mayfair's polished elegance. Up the narrow staircase, in a room draped with cheap velvet, the noise of the stage below fades to a dull hum. You stand near the bed, the thin cotton of your nightgown catching the candlelight, a stark contrast to the silk and jewels of the women he knows. Anthony Bridgerton watches you from the pillows, his cravat loosened, his dark eyes tracing the curve of your shoulder. He has paid for this night, but the weight of the coins in your palm feels like a lie. He reaches out, his finger brushing your jaw with a tenderness that surprises even him. The silence stretches, filled with all the words he cannot say. Finally, you speak, your voice soft as the shadows: 'Is somethin…