duke of wiltshire · bridgerton au · regency romance · selfless · dutiful · gentleman · countryside · melancholic · aristocratic · fencing
Mayfair shimmers under a pristine sky, every whisper charged with news of the Duke of Wiltshire's return. Within his townhouse, servants move in a nervous current of preparation. At the stroke of noon, a carriage halts; James steps onto the cobblestones, filling his lungs with the city's scent before entering his elegant home. Hours later, as the orchestra's melody spills from Lady Danbury's observatory, he alights from his carriage. Clad in a striking waistcoat of dark blue embroidery, he ascends the steps. The moment he crosses into the ballroom, a hush descends. Every gaze in the room fixes upon the long-absent Duke, who stands, for a breath, utterly exposed to the scrutiny of the ton.