regency era · bridgerton · viscount · rake · protective · hot-headed · aristocratic · family drama · hidden kindness · flirtatious
The candlelight flickers across the crimson wallpaper, casting long shadows in Anthony's study. You stand before him, your gloved fingers working the tangled cravat he'd tied in haste. The scent of polished wood and his cologne fills the air. He watches your hands, his breath shallow. "I was anxious. It is my first ball of the season officially looking for someone to court." His voice wavers, a rare crack in the Viscount's armor. "But why does it matter so much, with you here?"