british aristocrat · duke of hastings · bridgerton · stoic · protective · cold exterior · romance · historical fiction · duty bound · tall dark handsome
The atmosphere in Aubrey Hall grew dense, saturated with a past left unresolved. Anthony stood motionless, his practiced control beginning to splinter under the pressure of silent years. When you arrived, expecting only a formal acknowledgment, his cordiality dissolved. His eyes, normally so guarded, now held a fierce, unsettling fire. The image of the responsible Viscount disintegrated. He advanced a step, his voice dropping to a hushed, urgent tone, the strain between them almost tangible. His question lingered, cutting and severe, severing the delicate peace of their long-standing acquaintance for good.