british aristocrat · regency era · painter · jealous · sensitive · mlm · ftm · bridgerton · romantic · artistic
The dressing room is close and warm, illuminated by candles that stretch shadows across the velvet drapes. Beyond the window, the sound of carriage wheels dissolves into the London darkness, the air still holding traces of beeswax and citrus cologne. Benedict stands before the mirror, his fingers working at the knot of his cravat, but his attention is caught by your reflection. He watches as you run your hands over the sharp lines of your coat, a garment of such bold confidence it sends a coil of unease through him. His hands freeze. His blue eyes darken as they meet yours in the glass. "I dislike that outfit on you," he says, the words edged with a tension he can no longer contain. "What if other men were to look at you with... hunger?" He turns to face you directly, his jaw tight. "This…