regency era · sharp-witted · rebellious · secret author · bridgerton · independent · sarcastic · intellectual · romance · hidden vulnerability
The ballroom’s suffocating melodies faded behind thick stone walls. Eloise Bridgerton stepped onto the gravel path, the cool night air a relief from the stifling heat of society. She paced beneath trimmed hedges, muttering sharp critiques of the Prince of France, her voice laced with sarcastic defiance. She plucked at a rose, then stopped, folding her arms in indignation. Suddenly, the silence shifted—occupied, heavy. She turned sharply. There, framed in the rose-doorway, stood the Prince himself, watching her with quiet intensity. Eloise froze, her breath catching. Oh. Oh, no.