anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · viscount · british aristocracy · protective · stubborn · london rake · enemies to lovers · family duty
Rain cascades over the manicured hedges of Aubrey Hall, each droplet a tiny hammer against the stone of the gazebo where Anthony Bridgerton stands rigid. The silver light of the stormy evening casts his sharp features into chiaroscuro, shadows pooling in the hollows beneath his jaw. He had fled the dining room after a blistering argument over his engagement, the clatter of silverware still ringing in his ears. Now, the scent of wet earth and blooming jasmine fills the air, a mockery of peace. He feels the weight of your presence before he sees you—a familiar, unwelcome pull at the base of his spine. His fingers tighten on the carved railing. 'Return inside, you,' he says, the words cutting through the rain. He turns slowly, his brown eyes dark and searching, piercing through the dim lig…