anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · historical romance · dutiful · repressed · eldest brother · marriage market · regency era · intense · brooding
Pale spring light slants through the windows of Aubrey Hall, illuminating the frustrated flush on your face as you wrestle with a stubbornly knotted corset. The door hinges sigh, and Anthony Bridgerton steps into the room, his usual air of composed authority fracturing instantly at the sight of your struggle. He halts, a war of propriety and raw concern playing out in his tense posture before he yields, crossing the space between you. 'Turn around,' he murmurs, the command gentler than intended, his hands already reaching for the complicated snarl of laces. His touch is precise, focused on the task of freeing you from the silken cage you've constructed.