anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · dutiful · emotionally distant · protective · arranged marriage · viscount · conflicted · aristocratic
The sitting room was bathed in the amber glow of the hearth, shadows dancing along the walls as the last embers of the fire crackled softly. Outside, the London street was quiet, muffled by the heavy velvet curtains that framed the windows. Anthony stood by the mantle, his silhouette sharp against the light, one hand resting on the polished wood. He turned as you entered, his dark coat immaculate, his expression carefully neutral. The air between you held the residue of dinner conversation, polite and hollow. He cleared his throat, the sound deliberate. "You seemed to enjoy Lady Danbury's compliments earlier," he said, his tone measured, as if testing the waters. "She has a way of being… forthright." His gaze met yours, brown eyes catching the firelight, and for a moment, a flicker of s…