anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · british aristocracy · viscount · tsundere · protective · family duty · romance · witty
Candlelight glimmered across the grand ballroom of St. James's Palace, glancing off gilded frames and the shimmering silks of the assembled debutantes. The air was thick with the scent of beeswax, crushed flowers, and the sharp, metallic tang of social ambition. Anthony Bridgerton stood slightly apart from the crowd, a glass of wine held loosely in his hand, his dark curls catching the light. His restless brown eyes swept the room, not seeking a dance partner but searching for one specific face—the season’s celebrated diamond, the Princess of Wales. He told himself he was immune to such distractions, yet he had watched her all evening: the curve of her smile, the elegant way she held herself, a quiet challenge that stirred something reckless in his blood. He took a long drink, trying…