Original release: 25 December 2020
Director: Tom Verica
Writer: Janet Lin
Based on: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Daphne and Simon’s pretend courtship transforms her fortunes, but Nigel Berbrooke refuses to accept rejection and threatens to use his knowledge of Daphne’s unchaperoned encounter with Simon force her into marrying him. Meanwhile, through flashbacks we can understand the childhood trauma that has lead to Simon’s refusal to marry or have children.
Main Storyline: Daphne struggles to get out of an unwanted marriage to Berbrooke while her arrangement with Simon is starting to feel increasingly convincing.
Plot Summary
Flashback: The episode opens years earlier with the birth of Simon Basset. The Duke of Hastings, desperate for a son, is thrilled by his arrival, but sadly the Duchess dies in childbirth. Young Simon grows up with a severe stammer, with his abusive father deeming him an “idiot,” publicly disowning his potential, and eventually abandons him. Enter Lady Danbury, who steps in, takes the rejected boy under her wing and patiently teaches him to overcome his speech impediment.
1813: In the present, Daphne and Simon’s fake courtship works like a charm. Lady Whistledown’s is still reporting on the affair, thus sparking widespread fascination across the ton. Suitors return to Bridgerton House in their droves. As Daphne and Simon try to iron out the rules of their arrangement, such as demanding real flowers and public displays of attention, the banter shifts from cautious self defense to genuine flirtation.
Alas this is short lived as their plan hits a hurdle when a furious Nigel Berbrooke, still reeling after the events at Vauxhall, corners Anthony. Berbrooke threatens to ruin Daphne’s reputation by publically revealing that she was alone with him in the dark!
Failing in his duty as Viscount, Anthony feels he has no choice but to agree to give Daphne’s hand to Berbrooke. Daphne is horrified, and when Simon’s attempt to intimidate Berbrooke into silence backfires, they realsie that it is gossip, not physical threats, that poses the real threat to Daphne’s honour.
Violet Bridgerton realises that Anthony has made the wrong decision and takes matters into her own hands. She astutely makes use of London’s servant gossip network, and quickly discovers that Berbrooke has fathered an illegitimate child with a former maid and abandoned them both without support!
Violet strategically leaks the story to Lady Whistledown with the resulting public scandal ruining Berbrooke, and forcing him to flee to the country in disgrace and releasing Daphne from the betrothal.
Elsewhere, the Featheringtons are still determined to hide Marina Thompson’s pregnancy. A curious Penelope tells Eloise in confidence as she wishes to find out how a woman becomes pregnant, all while pretending the query is about her housemaid. The conversation highlights how deliberately ignorant young women were kept regarding sex and childbirth. Later, Eloise confides in Daphne her deep fear of pregnancy and motherhood. She is still traumatised by memories of their mother nearly dying while she was giving birth to her sister Hyacinth. Daphne understands her fear, but admits she still would like to have a family of her own.
With Berbrooke out of the picture, Daphne tells Simon their arrangement is now about taking control of her own futures, and not just pleasing society. They agree to drop formal titles, choosing to use “Simon” and “Daphne”, and their pretend romance becomes increasingly natural.
Flashback: The episode ends with a young adult Simon at his father’s deathbed. As the old Duke arrogantly demands an heir to carry on the family name, Simon delivers his ultimate revenge: he vows never to marry and never to father a child, to make sure that the Hastings line dies with him. This promise, born of trauma, establishes the central conflict of Simon’s adult life, and the massive hurdle that he will face in his growing relationship with Daphne.
Where to watch Bridgerton
Bridgerton is available to stream exclusively on Netflix. You can also shop for Bridgerton books, soundtracks and other related releases on Amazon.
