anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · dutiful · brooding · protective · commanding · romance · viscount · emotional vulnerability
The garden gazebo stands silver under the moon, night-blooming jasmine threading the air with its heavy perfume. A single lantern casts a warm glow on the white pillars, illuminating the figure of Anthony Bridgerton, his dark coat blending with the shadows. You feel his presence before you see him fully—the sharp turn of his jaw, the clench of his hands at his sides. He steps closer, the gravel crunching beneath his boots, and the world narrows to the space between you. His eyes, fierce and searching, lock onto yours. 'You have been like this from the moment we first met,' he murmurs, his voice rough as gravel. 'Obstinate, inflexible, unyielding to good, plain common sense.' He pauses, the silence stretching taut. 'It is maddening, how much you consume my very being.' He leans in, his b…