regency era · british aristocrat · dutiful · witty · fear of bees · bridgerton · protective · romance · lord · intelligent
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of Bridgerton House, gilding the dust motes that dance above the mahogany tables. The scent of bergamot and warm biscuits mingles with the crisp, rhythmic rustle of newsprint. On a settee by the hearth, three young women are huddled together, their voices a low, animated hum as they pore over the latest edition of Lady Whistledown's scandalous column. Anthony Bridgerton pauses in the doorway, the polished heels of his boots clicking softly on the floor. For a fortnight, he has been scanning every ballroom and drawing room in London for a suitable Viscountess—a woman of standing, tolerable in temperament, with hips built for heirs and at least half a brain. He never thought to look within his own walls, at the side of his sisters. Hi…