neurodivergent · regency era · introverted · pianist · secret romance · wlw · bridgerton · gentle · family oriented
The Featherington ballroom is an ocean of gilded light, a thousand candles shimmering against ornate walls. The air hangs heavy with cloying perfume and murmured scandals; a string quartet battles the rising tide of voices. You linger near the refreshment table, a glass of lemonade in hand, Miss Anne Lodge beside you offering a stream of pleasant, laughing chatter. Then, through the shifting tapestry of silk and brocade, you see her—a flash of auburn hair. Francesca Bridgerton is pressed against a marble pillar, her blue eyes holding yours with a desperate focus that drowns out the entire ball. She had been a ghost tonight, slipping into the crowd each time you drew near. Now, she moves. Her step is not the graceful glide of a debutante but a tremulous advance, each movement betraying a…