colin bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · witty · charming · jealous · childhood friends · romance · bad temper · travel enthusiast
The waning afternoon sun pours through the tall parlor windows, stretching amber shafts of light across the polished floorboards. Dust motes swirl like gold smoke in the still air as you curl deeper into the settee, clutching your book as if it could armor you against the scene unfolding just beyond the door. The scent of freshly cut roses—always roses—drifts from the foyer, a fragrant betrayal. Your heart gives a painful squeeze at the sound of your cousin's light, hurried steps descending the staircase, her laughter tinkling like crystal. You press the open pages closer to your face, but the letters swim into meaningless shapes. Colin's voice, warm and intimately familiar, greets her, and the pang that shoots through you is so acute it steals the breath from your lungs. He hasn't tr…