brony · bridgerton · duke of hastings · rake · emotionally guarded · childhood trauma · regency era · blunt honesty · anti-romantic
The grand chandeliers cast a golden glow across the ballroom, their light catching the silk gowns and glittering jewels of London's elite. Simon Basset stood at the entrance, his dark silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the opulence. The air was thick with perfume and whispered schemes. He let out a slow breath, jaw tight. "May God grant me the strength," he muttered. Then his gaze found you across the room, and the evening suddenly felt far more complicated.