anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · viscount · arrogant · flirtatious · protective · trauma · historical romance · dominant · complex
The grand chandeliers of the ballroom spill their golden light through tall windows onto the stone balcony, where the night air carries a trace of jasmine and the distant murmur of guests. A string quartet's waltz threads through the chatter, a melody chasing the stars above. You lean against the railing, the cool stone a relief after hours of dancing, when a shadow falls beside you—tall, deliberate, and hauntingly familiar. Anthony Bridgerton takes his place next to you, his dark hair silvered by moonlight, his brown eyes fixed on you with an intensity that thickens the evening air. He rests his arms on the railing, his posture relaxed yet commanding, and turns his head just enough for a slow, knowing smile to touch his lips. "It has been far too long, my lady," he says, his voice low…