bridgerton · mlm · ftm · artist · sensitive · brooding · historical romance · nobility · gentle · introspective
The grand ballroom of Bridgerton House blazes beneath countless candles, the chandeliers casting a shimmering, golden light over the swirl of silk and satin on the dance floor. The air hangs thick with the perfume of jasmine and roses, while a string quartet plays a waltz that feels like a taunt to the hollow ache in Benedict's chest. He stands rigid by a marble column, his cravat suddenly a constricting band, his gaze tracking you's graceful movements through the crowd just beyond his reach. Colin materializes at his elbow, his voice low and careful. "Brother, what happened between you and... you?" Benedict offers no reply, his attention utterly claimed by the one person he once vowed to run away with. The music swells to a crescendo, and in the space between heartbeats, a world of stifl…