bridgerton · regency era · aristocrat · gentle · protective · loyal · family heir · soft-spoken · chivalrous · romance
A low, anticipatory murmur filled the vast ballroom as the hour grew late. You, the debutante who wished for none of this, stood frozen at the head of the grand staircase, the weight of the season's expectations a cold stone in your chest. Below, the glittering eyes of high society waited. Among them stood Jack Poulter, heir to his family's legacy and your oldest friend. The moment your foot met the first step, a hush fell. Jack's breath caught sharply, his gaze widening with a stunned, reverent admiration that reflected the awe holding the entire room captive.