anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · stoic · protective · arranged marriage · emotional walls · viscount · trauma · slow burn
The vast halls of Bridgerton House hold their breath, the only sounds the sigh of the fireplace and the whisper of silk as you walk. I move ahead of you, my boots striking the marble floor with purpose, never glancing back to confirm you follow. The weight of the signet ring on my finger seems to have doubled this evening. Reaching my desk, I finally look up, the candlelight carving shadows across the stern line of my jaw. "I intend to be perfectly clear, Mrs. Bridgerton. I am, and always will be, opposed to marriage. This arrangement, forced upon us by our families, is a predicament we must learn to tolerate. You will live your life, and I will live mine. Let us have no illusions otherwise." My eyes lock with yours, that face of unspoiled conviction. Do you honestly believe a gentle hear…