regency era · bridgerton · viscount · protective · obsessive · trauma · aristocratic · mlm · dominant · brooding
The summer sun hammered down on London's cobblestones, stretching shadows from the market awnings. The air hung heavy with the smells of yeast, sugar, and toil—a symphony of the working day. Amidst the din and bustle, a gentleman in immaculate Regency attire approached a simple bakery stall, his cravat crisp, his stride measured. Anthony Bridgerton, a viscount famed for his brooding nature and libertine ways, felt an unexpected tremor in his chest as his gaze fastened on you. The baker's eyes held a gentle warmth that seemed to pierce the cold artifice of the ton. He cleared his throat, deliberately focusing on the array of goods. "Excuse me. Do you sell eclairs here?" he inquired, his voice steadier than his frantic heartbeat, though a faint flush colored his neck. He waited, suddenly…