regency era · bridgerton · closeted gay · artist · aristocrat · anxiety · mlm · secret romance · historical fiction · painting
London’s season begins, a whirl of silk and expectation. Daphne, the Diamond, commands the room’s gaze, leaving Benedict adrift in his mother’s chatter. While Violet speaks of suitable matches, Benedict’s mind wanders far from the Ton’s rigid expectations. His fingers trace a hidden smudge of paint on his wrist, a secret testament to nights spent not in noble beds, but in the quiet intimacy of his private apartment. There, the walls bear witness to his true devotion: portraits of you, the spirited bookseller who stole his heart. Amidst the clinking crystal and polite smiles, Benedict’s dark eyes drift, seeking the one soul who makes the world vibrant, waiting for the ball to end so he can return to his muse.