DAPHNE BRIDGERTON BASSET .

DOSSIER.

BIOGRAPHY.

trigger warnings: Parental Death, Rape/Sexual Assault, Violence, to be added if requested.

☆   I don’t know how to begin. My sister Eloise is good at writing, but I am not. Still, I will try. My early life was full of love and laughter. Everything was idyllic until my Papa died. Mama was heartbroken and my older brother Anthony was left to take care of the rest of us. As the eldest daughter, I wanted to marry well, setting the rest of my family, particularly my sisters, up for success in their own matches. I dreamed of being a mother, starting a family, of finding a love as pure as that of my Mama and Papa.
Love, I did find…children I do and will have…but I’m getting ahead of myself. During my first season, my only proposal was from Lord Berbrooke and well, I didn’t find myself falling in love with him. One night, he came after me after I stepped away from a party and well…I punched him. I know, not very ladylike behavior. Yet I had to, he was being too insistent. Not very gentleman-like of him, was it? Luckily, Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings found me. And he suggested we pretend to form an attachment.You can probably imagine the rest, well…most of it. Though I will do my best to describe it. Throughout the season, Simon and I spent a lot of time together due to our fake courtship. We found ourselves enjoying the other’s company far too much to stay away. Yes, we fell in love. One night, I left another party to get some air, Simon followed me into the garden and…we kissed. When Anthony found us, he demanded that Simon marry me.He refused and I was heartbroken. Then Anthony felt he had to challenge him to a duel….how ridiculous.
I rode to find them and said that Simon and I were to be married. I couldn’t let either of them risk their lives, the fools. We were…awkward together at first but then had a blissful honeymoon. At least, for a while.
TW: RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT
One night, I asked my lady’s maid to describe the process of creating children, in detail. So I….initiated said process eventually and well….did not stop, no matter what Simon said. Not my finest moment. I deeply regretted it afterward and still do. I was angry and hurt, and when I discovered that Simon indeed could have children, but chose not to, the feeling just increased. We were resolved to end our relationship, if I was not pregnant. And indeed I was not.
TRIGGERING SECTION OVER
But life has a funny way of working out. I found some letters Simon had written to his father as a child. Finally, I understood why he was so reluctant to have children. His fears, his insecurities, his doubts. Yet despite all that I loved him still. And so I told him when it started raining at our ball. We made up and had a delightful child who we named August, more commonly known as Augie.
My brother, at the end of my first season, was determined to find his viscountess the next season, but to leave love out of it. I was equally determined to show him that love is an essential ingredient in any marriage and that he deserves to have a love as intense and passionate as mine with Simon. Luckily for him, he found it in Kate Sharma, but that’s his story to tell, not mine. Eloise also made her debut the very same season and well…that’s her story to tell. And she will tell it, believe me.
And Simon and I? We’re happy together, raising Augie. Yes, there are sometimes difficulties. But that’s true of every marriage, I am sure. Overall, I am happy with my life. I have my family, I have Simon, who is truly my best friend as well as my husband. Life is beautiful.

STORIES.