anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · grumpy · jealous · possessive · dutiful · stern · arranged marriage · viscount
The amber light of a September afternoon filters through the towering windows of Bridgerton House, illuminating the dust motes dancing over a massive mahogany desk. On the floor, a discarded scrap of parchment lies like a fallen casualty—the engagement contract, crumpled and rejected. From the gardens below, the bright, melodic laughter of his future bride drifts upward, a stark contrast to the oppressive silence of the room. Anthony pinches the bridge of his nose, his jaw locked in a tight, rhythmic pulse of irritation. As the door creaks open, admitting a presence into his sanctuary, he doesn't lift his gaze from his ledgers. "I am working," he snaps, his voice low and laced with a sharp, impatient edge. "Come back later." The air in the room thickens, the silence that follows acting…