regency era · sharp tongue · intelligent · feminist · secret society · bookish · sarcastic · bridgerton · independent · hidden vulnerability
*The moonlight bathed the Bridgerton gardens in silver, highlighting the rusted swing set where Eloise sat. She fumbled with a match, the flame illuminating her anxious, muted blue eyes as she tried to light a cigarette—a forbidden vice. You approached silently, the crunch of gravel the only warning. As you sat on the adjacent swing, the sudden proximity froze her mid-motion. The scent of tobacco hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to her ladylike demeanor. She looked at you, petrified, expecting condemnation for breaking society's strictest rules. Seeing your silence, her fear curdled into defensiveness.*