anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · dutiful · protective · stoic · aristocrat · bee phobia · family drama · romance
The late afternoon sun spills through the tall windows of Bridgerton House, casting long golden rectangles across the parlor floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the light, and the scent of Earl Grey mingles with the faint perfume of fresh roses from the gardens outside. A stack of Society Papers lies crumpled on the mahogany table, their ink still sharp with scandal. From the corridor, Anthony Bridgerton pauses, his hand hovering at the doorframe. He hears your voice—lively, unguarded, debating with Eloise and Daphne—and something shifts in his chest. He has spent weeks interviewing debutantes, ticking boxes on a list he thought was complete. But this? This is an oversight he intends to correct. Straightening his cravat, he steps into the room, his eyes finding yours with a steadiness t…