Anthony Bridgerton strode confidently through the streets of London, the sounds of carriages and horses clattering along the cobblestones. The cool morning air held the faint scent of rain, and though the skies were overcast, the city was alive with its usual energy. For Anthony, the viscount of the esteemed Bridgerton family, this bustling city was his home—a place that had always been filled with duty, family, and a myriad of expectations. Yet today, his thoughts were not on his responsibilities as the head of his family or even his pursuit of a suitable marriage match. His thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by one person: Miss Evelyn Greene.
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's "London Boy" floated through his mind, almost narrating the pull he felt toward Evelyn, a woman who had captured his heart in a way he had never imagined. "I love my hometown as much as Motown... you know I love a London boy..." It was true. Anthony loved his city, but lately, the gray skies and busy streets held a different kind of allure because of her.
Anthony wasn't one for distractions. As the eldest Bridgerton, he had spent much of his life being the responsible one—the dutiful son who had taken on the title of viscount far too early, after his father's unexpected death. Romance, in his mind, had always been something of a transaction, a societal obligation. But Evelyn was... different. She was not the kind of woman the ton expected him to marry. She wasn't the type to adhere strictly to the rules of propriety, and that intrigued him more than he cared to admit.
As he walked along the familiar paths of Hyde Park, Anthony found himself replaying the last few weeks in his mind. His first encounter with Evelyn had been entirely by chance—an unexpected meeting at a soirée, where she had charmed him with her wit and infectious laugh. Since then, they had spent more time together than he ever thought possible, given their different stations and the societal expectations looming over him.
His thoughts were interrupted when he spotted her, standing near the Serpentine, looking out over the water. Evelyn wore a pale lavender gown, the soft color complementing her dark curls, which were pinned elegantly beneath her bonnet. She looked radiant, and Anthony felt his heart skip a beat, a reaction he was not used to. He had not intended to seek her out today, but now that he had found her, he could not resist.
"Miss Greene," he called out, his voice carrying across the park.
Evelyn turned, her lips curving into a smile as she saw him approaching. "Lord Bridgerton," she greeted, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Out for a morning stroll, are we?"
"Something like that," Anthony replied, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Though I must admit, I did not expect to run into someone as lovely as you."
Evelyn laughed, a sound that sent warmth flooding through him. "I must say, my lord, I wasn't expecting such flattery so early in the day."
Anthony chuckled, stepping closer to her. "I merely speak the truth, Miss Greene."
They stood there for a moment, the air between them charged with an unspoken tension. Despite the easy banter, there was something more beneath the surface—a connection that neither of them could deny. Anthony had always prided himself on his self-control, but when it came to Evelyn, he found that control slipping.
"You seem distracted, Lord Bridgerton," Evelyn said, her tone softening. "Is something troubling you?"
Anthony hesitated for a moment, his usual mask of confidence faltering. He wasn't used to revealing his inner thoughts to anyone, least of all to a woman who had already unsettled him in ways he didn't fully understand. But Evelyn had a way of drawing the truth from him.
"I've been thinking," he admitted, his voice low. "About us. About what this... is."
Evelyn's gaze softened, and she turned to face him fully. "And what conclusion have you come to?"
Anthony sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I never thought I would find myself in this situation. My life has always been so... planned. So dictated by duty and responsibility. But with you, things feel different. Uncertain."
Evelyn smiled gently. "Uncertainty isn't always a bad thing, you know. Sometimes it's the only way to discover what truly matters."
Anthony's chest tightened at her words. It was as if she understood the conflict raging inside him—the push and pull between his responsibilities and his desire to be with her. He knew that if he chose her, he would face the disapproval of society, of his family. And yet, when he was with her, none of that seemed to matter.
"You make me forget everything," Anthony murmured, his gaze intense as he looked at her. "The rules, the expectations... None of it matters when I'm with you."
Evelyn's breath hitched, and for a moment, they simply stood there, the weight of his confession hanging in the air between them. Anthony could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the flicker of doubt that mirrored his own.
"And what happens when the world reminds us of those rules?" Evelyn asked quietly. "When we can no longer escape the expectations placed on you?"
Anthony swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I know that I don't want to lose you."
Evelyn's eyes softened, and she reached out, taking his hand in hers. "I don't want to lose you either, Anthony. But we can't ignore reality forever."
Anthony's grip on her hand tightened, his determination solidifying. He wasn't willing to let go of what they had—not now, not when he had finally found something that made him feel alive. "Then we won't," he said firmly. "We'll find a way."
Evelyn's gaze searched his, as if looking for the sincerity in his words. After a long moment, she nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "Then I suppose we'll have to face this together."
Anthony exhaled, relief flooding through him. He had been so certain that he would lose her, that the weight of his responsibilities would crush whatever was between them. But now, standing here with her, he felt a renewed sense of hope.
They stood in silence for a moment longer, the connection between them unspoken but undeniable. The world around them faded into the background, leaving only the two of them—two people trying to navigate the impossible.
"Shall we continue our stroll, my lord?" Evelyn asked, her teasing tone returning as she gestured to the path ahead.
Anthony chuckled, offering her his arm. "I would be honored, Miss Greene."
As they walked side by side, the tension between them began to ease, replaced by a sense of calm. Anthony glanced down at Evelyn, a soft smile playing on his lips as he listened to her talk about the latest gossip from the ton. He couldn't help but marvel at how easy it was to be with her, how natural it felt.
"You know," Evelyn said suddenly, her tone turning playful. "I've always loved London. There's something about the city that feels... alive. It's chaotic, but in the best way."
Anthony smiled, nodding in agreement. "I've always felt the same. It's my home, but it's more than that. It's the energy, the life. It's everything."
Evelyn grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And you, my lord, are very much a London boy, aren't you?"
Anthony laughed, the sound light and carefree. "I suppose I am."
Evelyn's smile softened, and she looked up at him with a warmth that made his heart skip a beat. "Well, for what it's worth, I quite like London boys."
Anthony felt a surge of emotion at her words, his heart swelling with affection for the woman walking beside him. He had never expected to feel this way, never thought that someone like Evelyn would come into his life and turn everything upside down. But now that she had, he couldn't imagine a world without her.
They continued their walk through the park, the city alive around them, but for Anthony, the only thing that mattered was the woman at his side. As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the city, Anthony knew that he had found something worth fighting for.
"They say home is where the heart is," Anthony thought, the lyrics of "London Boy" echoing in his mind. And in that moment, he knew that his heart was with Evelyn.
Later that evening, as they stood on the steps of Evelyn's townhouse, Anthony felt the weight of the day settle over him. He didn't want to say goodbye, didn't want to leave her side. But he knew that they still had a long road ahead of them—one filled with challenges and decisions that neither of them were fully prepared for.
"I suppose this is where we part ways for the evening," Evelyn said softly, her hand lingering in his.
Anthony nodded, his heart heavy. "For now."
Evelyn smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "For now."
Anthony leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her hand. "Until tomorrow, Miss Greene."
"Until tomorrow, Lord Bridgerton."
As he walked away, Anthony couldn't help but smile to himself. The future was uncertain, and the path ahead was far from clear. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.
And as he disappeared into the London night, the lyrics of "London Boy" echoed in his mind once more: "You know I love a London boy, I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon..."
He had found something—someone—worth fighting for. And he wasn't going to let her go.
