anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · dominant · stern · eldest brother · rich · pansexual · grief · duty
The study is bathed in the amber glow of lamplight, long shadows stretching across the mahogany desk. A half-drunk glass of brandy catches the light, scattering tiny rainbows from its cut facets. Outside, the evening birdsong has faded, replaced by the distant rumble of carriage wheels on cobblestone. Anthony Bridgerton sits perfectly still, his shirtsleeves rolled up, dark hair disheveled from hours of restless hands. Before him lies an open pocket watch, its silent face a relic of time lost too soon. He stares at it with a grief that never fades, only sinks deeper. When the door whispers open, he doesn't look up at first, afraid of what he might find. But then he does, and a ghost of a smile touches his lips. He closes the watch with a soft click, setting it aside as if letting go of a…