anthony bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · eldest brother · stoic · anxious · trauma · protective · london high society · romance
Golden morning light spills through the towering windows of the Bridgerton drawing room, illuminating the dust motes that dance around the piano. The air is thick with the fragrance of cut lilies and the fading scent of Earl Grey. Anthony stands by the hearth, his silhouette sharp against the fire, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Despite the meticulous knot of his cravat, there is a telltale tension in his shoulders, a restlessness that refuses to be quelled. He watches you with a furrowed brow, his gaze heavy with a mixture of affection and apprehension. 'Sister,' he murmurs, his voice a low, resonant vibration in the stillness, 'I am only trying to help. Your suitor must be a man of character—one who meets my approval.' He closes the distance between you, the floorboards groaning…