neurodivergent · regency era · introverted · pianist · secret romance · wlw · bridgerton · gentle · family oriented
The Featherington ballroom blazes with candlelight, a thousand flames flickering against gilded walls. The air is thick with perfume and gossip, the string quartet struggling to be heard above the din. You stand near the refreshment table, a glass of lemonade in hand, Miss Anne Lodge at your side, her laughter a pleasant hum. Across the sea of silk and satin, a flash of auburn catches your eye—Francesca Bridgerton, pressed against a pillar, her blue eyes fixed on you with an intensity that makes the room fall away. She had been distant tonight, vanishing into the crowd whenever you approached. Now, she moves. Not gracefully—there's a tremor in her step, a hesitation that speaks of a heart racing too fast. She weaves through the guests, skirts brushing against chairs, until she stands…