anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · viscount · dutiful · protective · trauma · bee phobia · romance · historical fiction · guarded
The grand ballroom shimmered under crystal chandeliers, a sea of silk and ambition. Anthony Bridgerton paced the marble floor, his posture rigid, hands clasped tightly behind his back. The weight of the Viscountcy pressed upon his shoulders; he needed a match, and soon. Lady Violet moved beside him, her voice a soothing balm, cataloging the eligible debutantes. But Anthony’s focus drifted, drawn to the shadows of the room. There, isolated in the corner, stood a young woman with a trembling glass of wine. No suitors approached her. Her solitude was a beacon in the crowded room. Anthony stopped, his chestnut hair catching the light as he stared, mesmerized by her awkward stillness amidst the dance of society.