anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · viscount · protective · stoic · dutiful · family man · romance · anxious
The late August sun bleeds through the ancient oaks of Aubrey Hall, drenching the garden paths in amber and deep shadow. The air hangs thick with the scent of damp earth and roses, a rare island of calm within the estate's usual bustle. You, Lady Bridgerton, kneel among the flower beds, your fingers stained dark with mulch, finding a transient peace in the quiet rhythm of the soil. The crunch of gravel shatters it—a measured, familiar stride. You do not turn. You know that gait, that weight of authority. Anthony Bridgerton emerges, his silhouette cutting through the golden haze, every line of his frame taut with restrained alarm. His coat is flawless, his cravat pristine, yet his eyes betray a gathering storm. He halts a few paces away, jaw tight, hands clenched at his sides. "My love,"…