#bridgerton family tomfoolery

[eleanor-bradstreet]

Charlie, Alexander, William and Violet always heard that their parents got engaged in a jail.

How do you think they would react when they discovered it was their mother who was the inmate, not their father?

Which sibling or in-law split the beans?

Ha! What a fun question Nonny!

I suppose it does make sense that they would assume Benedict had landed himself in the clink for one thing or another. Public intoxication? Bohemian tomfoolery?

The first thing I imagine is a big Bridgerton family dinner when Benophie's children are in their teenage years. Anthony is trying to massage away a migraine while warning Eloise that she cannot go marching through London wearing trousers and demanding women be allowed admission to university, or she's liable to be arrested. Poor Phillip sits between them trying to deescalate. Then Eloise bursts out with: "I don't care if I'm arrested! Sophie was sent to jail and everything worked out alright!"

Cue forks clattering onto plates and the blood draining out of everyone's faces. The Benophie kids all start snickering and demanding to know the story, which Benedict very sweetly adapts for them, telling them how the evil Araminta sent their mother to jail where Sophie never faltered and even fought her way out with fisticuffs while he himself was just a spectator. Ben and Sophie would wear it as a badge of pride, the trials they went through for their love, not as a mark of shame 😌 But yes, then the family would all be instructed to not go around sharing that information with the ton, haha!

Thank you for the ask! 💙

[newtonsheffield]

can we comment about tho how all the bridgertons don't have gloves in that pic??? Like jddjjd

That's because they're all sluts.

Bare handed harlots.

[aion-rsa]

How Bridgerton Season 2 Can Improve On Season 1

https://ift.tt/37GFCOp

This Bridgerton article contains major spoilers for Season 1, as well as concealed references to the books.

Bridgerton, the first TV series from Netflix’s collaboration with Shonda Rhimes’ production company, debuted on Christmas Day to viewers hungry for a romantic distraction from the ongoing pandemic. The recent announcement of renewal for a Season 2 comes as no surprise as rumors were already swirling. Although showrunner Chris Van Dusen has received praise from critics and fans alike for diversified casting and a storyline filled with drama, some noticed a few glaring issues that detracted from the enjoyment of the story. Here’s some of the areas where improvement could result in more viewers and even may win back viewers who weren’t able to finish the series initially. 

Moving Towards Color-Conscious Casting & Avoiding Colorism

Many Black viewers noticed that the major speaking roles during the season went to actors with lighter skin tones and darker-skinned actors had either minor roles or non-speaking background roles in crowd scenes or as servants. While Bridgerton did not need to provide an explanation for why people of color rose to prominence in their world, one was offered anyway. Many viewers also could not ignore the implications of Simon’s father as a darker skinned man being portrayed as evil. Past Netflix series/movies such as BlackAF, Dear White People, and Self Made have also been criticized for colorist casting. Complicating matters is that the UK industry has a more severe blindspot when it comes to colorism and there are even fewer opportunities for darker-skinned people, especially women to breakthrough in the industry. As Netflix is aiming for a global audience, these issues can’t be ignored by US or UK creatives. 

Colorblind casting also comes with the responsibility to ensure that skin tone stereotypes are avoided. Many viewers who did not read the books criticized Marina (Ruby Barker ) for being an example of the “tragic mulatto” trope, even though this was not the original intention of the novels. Her plot is a reflection of a real situation during and after the Napoleonic Wars, where soldiers died and women waiting for their boyfriend to return home for marriage had to raise children by themselves. It’s worth ignoring the objections of book purists to avoid repeating colorist media tropes. Fans should be able to fully separate events that are due to the way of life in Regency-era fiction from events that are designed to hurt Black/POC characters because of conscious or unconscious bias. 

There’s some hope for fans in regards to characters who were not introduced yet. An easy way to improve on Season 1 is to cast the main love interest and their family from the second book in the series The Viscount Who Loves Me as darker-skinned Black as well and to take that same consideration in auditions for the other main characters not introduced yet. These new characters can expand representation in a way that still rings true to what has been set up already. Marina’s plot could also be fixed to avoid tropes if a new character was introduced into later events.

Along with increasing color-conscious casting, increasing diversity in the writers room will also help resolve these issues. Black and POC screenwriters can bring their real-life experiences to the table and can review plot lines after casting is complete to avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes white writers would not catch.

Before Season 1 was released on Netflix, I wrote an article about how the show could avoid the Simon and Daphne controversy from The Duke and I. Although Sarah Dollard’s script from Episode 6 did remove the worst parts of the original marital rape scene from the book, the script was still constrained by the book plot glossing over the fact Simon (Regé-Jean Page) was indeed a rape survivor who was motivated by protecting his mental health after past child abuse. In addition, Simon not being able to revoke consent when he wanted to has additional negative connotations given the history of Black men being fetishized, dehumanized, and raped during and after slavery. The rest of the season did incredibly well in making sure that Simon’s plot was grounded in class and gender issues unique to the time but leaving this scene in alienated fans no matter if they read the books or were first-timers.

Quite a few fans on social media expressed disappointment or even went as far as to stop watching to avoid the scene in question. As future books are being adapted, there must be a conscious effort to do more than remove obstacles to consent such as alcohol consumption or communication issues. These plots must show that not only are both characters fully consenting to sex, but that consent can also cease for any reason without resistance or any aggression. Just because past romance fiction has relied on dubious consent related tropes it does not mean that the genre should be continuing to perpetuate these issues in light of the Me Too movement. 

Read more

TV

From Bridgerton to Hamilton: A History of Color-Conscious Casting in Period Drama

By Amanda-Rae Prescott

TV

How Bridgerton Can Avoid Outlander’s Mistakes

By Amanda-Rae Prescott

Commit To Radically Reformatting the Novel Timeline to Avoid Queerbaiting

Benedict (Luke Thompson) has used his second son status this season to pursue relationships with men as well as strike up friendships with artists outside the Ton. Quite a few fans believed that the season finale hinted that Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) were heading towards a queer relationship. Books 3, 4, and 5 blow giant plot holes into both of these situations as heterosexual love interests are introduced for all three characters. Since Bridgerton’s world is racially inclusive yet homophobic, crafting a happily ever after will be one of the challenges the writers will have to tackle next season. Fans are hoping the series will avoid what previous period dramas have done and ignored LGBTQ representation. 

In a best-case scenario, Benedict’s love interest in Book 3 is deleted or reformatted to accept a relationship with a bisexual man. Books 4 and 5 are much harder to reformat to result in a  Penelope and Eloise endgame as some characters already introduced this season have parts to play in those plots and others were not introduced yet. If the screenwriters are willing to put in this work, they can reverse the damage previous dramas such as Sherlock have done as far as setting queer romance fans up then dashing their hopes.

Where Was Francesca?

This is a more minor concern compared to some of the other things mentioned earlier, but it is interesting to note that Francesca (Ruby Stokes) returned to London in Episode 7 but managed to miss Daphne’s wedding. The distance between Bath and London is 106 miles which even by Regency travel standards was a realistic distance to cover. Did she not get enough advance notice when Simon and Daphne (Phoebe Dyvenor) received the special license? Was she delayed by weather conditions or did someone detain her in Bath? Her story may not get much focus in next season as events in Book 6 are considerably further down the line but this is a question fans will want an answer to eventually.  

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There’s nothing wrong with seeing ways in which an already great program has room for improvement and as a result win more viewers. This article is inspired by an informal collection of many social media posts from fans and critics of series alike after watching Bridgerton. Check out some choice examples below…

Okay, but seriously, I am going to bed. Black people should be in more period dramas. Give us all the gowns and cravats.

— Brandon (@blgtylr) December 30, 2020

Well, I've reached the climax of the season #Bridgerton We could've made it here without the unfortunate incident. It was deeply unnecessary. Issa yikes from me. Also the Whistleho reveal. Rofl. Like??? True tomfoolery. Not as bad as Dan being Gossip Girl but similar energy.

— Niq Fury (@queerspecimen) December 30, 2020

#Bridgerton isn’t flawless, and we should talk about it’s botched handling of race and consent. But it’s also the first mainstream adaptation of a wildly popular romance series in ages. You cannot divorce the show from its roots in the romance novel genre.

— ella dawson (@brosandprose) January 2, 2021

The post How Bridgerton Season 2 Can Improve On Season 1 appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3b9tsQh

[newtonsheffield]

sooooo can we see kate at that family dinner so all the bridgertons can meet the person who called their brother a CUTIE??? 👀👀

And now we need to see the Bridgerton family dinner in thank u, next 🤣

Ohhh could we please see the Bridgerton family dinner in thank u next??? Imagine the chaos of the Bridgertons meeting Kate!!!

ahhh so how does family dinner at the Bridgertons go in thank u next 'verse? :DDD

Anthony had been such a sweet boy. Violet had known she was so lucky with him, the second she'd seen him sitting proudly on Edmund's knee, tiny Baby Benedict in his arms, smiling happily. He was so gentle, even though he'd come home with pockets full of mud and worms and god knows what else, deep in the very heart of him he was a nurturer, filled with so much love, she often wondered where he kept it all.

"When I grow up I want to be a Daddy." Anthony had told her, his legs swinging over the edge of his chair, tiny Baby Daphne cradled in his arms his face excited and happy, his little sneakers lighting up.

"You'll be just like Daddy. Go to work and come home and look after your family." Violet had hummed, her heart stuttering.

But Anthony had shaken his head, the picture of seven year old innocence. "No, Mummy, I just want to marry a girl, and we'll eat cake and drink pop together, and have babies."

And though she'd later blame it on her hormones, Violet had burst into tears at the sweetness of it.

And it was easy to pinpoint the flashpoint. No investigation needed, because it was exactly the same moment in her life as well. The day his father had gone out for a run, and dropped dead in the park, Anthony just eighteen.

And the boy who'd been so sweet and kind and loving and open, disappeared, almost forever. He still loved them all, she knew that. Went out of his way to go to Gregory and Hyacinth's Karate meets (Hyacinth) Musical recitals (Gregory) and football games (both). He would go to the opening of an envelope if she asked him, always showing up with his tux dressed and a neat little flower in his button hole, but that was it.

Almost as though, in an odd way, he'd taken his father' family as his own and there wouldn't be any more for him. Even when she pestered him.

"Anthony, if you'd just let me find you a nice girl you'd-"

He recoiled as though she'd hit him, always, "I don't want that, Mum. I don't think a family and kids are for me."

And Violet had almost mourned the loss of her eldest son, the sweet little boy whose greatest dream had been to be a dad.

Until one day in November, after a month of flitting in and out of rooms Anthony took a shuddering breath and said

“Mum, I’m not gonna be able to come to dinner Friday. I um- I’m seeing this girl-woman- she’s a woman, Kate.”

And Violet's heart had stopped. because he looked, for just a second, as he'd said her name, like that little boy.

But try as she might, she hadn't been able to find out anything more, not until he'd called her on Tuesday, his voice soft and said "Mum, can my girlfriend Kate come to dinner on Friday? You'll like her I promise."

And Violet had forced herself to stay calm, not to spook him like a foal trying to stand. "I'm looking forward to it."

But still, she hadn't been able to find anything out, googling Kate, London, Woman had proved to have some rather unsavoury results, she'd resigned herself to not knowing anything about the woman her son was seeing until Daphne had called her that morning, and Violet's mind had ticked into overdrive.

" She was witty and funny and kind And she hasn't figured out that she's way too good for him yet, we need to get this girl locked down."

Violet tutted, though her heart was hammering in her chest. Daphne had called her stunning.

"Daphne your brother is very charming when he-"

"Mum, she called him a cutie."

Violet stopped short. Anthony had once upon a time been a sweetheart, he still was deep down, but he was so afraid to let anybody see it. His brow was furrowed, his shoulders square, his demeanour gruff, and this woman, this kate had seen past it all.

"Right, get round here, we need to plan."

________________

It was a little undignified, Violet thought, to have to call all your children round, earlier than their brother to warn them not to stare away the woman he'd described as the maybe love of his life before they'd even had their first date, but needs must.

"Right, everyone, I need you on your best behaviour." She clipped, seated at the head of the dinner table.

Colin looked around startled, "...Why? Who's coming?"

Violet sighed, "Anthony's new girlfriend is coming and-"

Benedict laughed, "Anthony doesn't have a girlfriend."

"He does have a girlfriend, named Kate and he-"

"Are we sure he's not pretending again to get you to stop annoying him?" Eloise drawled, flicking through a magazine.

"Daphne." Violet prodded at her eldest daughter.

"I had breakfast with them this morning, she's nice. I'm having lunch with her on Wednesday. She thinks he's, and I quote A sweet little cutie."

The entire table went silent.

Before Colin guffawed, "A human woman referred to Anthony as a cutie? Impossible."

"I thought so too but she definitely-"

"Anthony's great but he's-" Benedict started

"Grumpy" Eloise hummed

"Beligerant." Colin agreed.

"Kind of like a wampa." Gregory hummed

"Be that as it may," Violet cut in, irritatedly, "Anthony likes this woman, and she by all accounts likes him, and we need to make sure this is successful. So everyone-"

"What's going on?" Anthony's curious voice called into the dining room, his brow a little furrowed, but Violet wasn't focusing on that. Her attention was too caught by the woman tucked against his side, her left hand tucked into the back pocket of his jeans, Anthony's hand resting on her hip.

And Violet knew what Daphne had been talking about immediately. Kate was tall, the top of her head at Anthony's eye line, her face striking, cheekbones high and proud, her lips full, eyes dark and curious behind wire rimmed glasses, a gold ring in her nose, her dark curly hair falling around her like a waterfall and oddly the only thought in Violet's head was there she is.

She forced herself out of her chair, clearing her throat, "Nothing Darling, everyone's just early." Kissing his cheek lightly.

The poor girl squirmed back as every eye on the room fell on her.

Anthony's brow furrowed again for a moment before he shrugged, turning to his girlfriend, and the soft smile on his face stopped Violet's heart, "Kate, this is my Mum. Mum this is Kate."

His voice sounded a little awestruck at the sound of her name, smiling down at her as she held her hand out to Violet, her voice rich and velvety "Mrs Bridgerton, it's so lovely to meet you. Thank you for inviting me, you have a beautiful home."

It was all Violet could do not to sweep the woman into her arms and into a hug.

"It's lovely to meet you, Anthony's told me wonderful things."

Kate hummed shrewdly, sending a quick glance Anthony's way, "Well I wouldn't trust anything he says."

Anthony rolled his eyes kissing her cheek before he introduced her to each of his shellshocked siblings in turn.

"And you remember Daff from this morning."

Kate nodded, smiling warmly, "Your jeans are in Anthony's car, honey can you get them?"

Anthony nodded, kissing her quickly and darting downstairs before anyone could blink, Kate smiling softly after him, "What a sweet potato."

Violet could have cried, Someone finally seeing Anthony for who he was, even if her fingers twisted nervously in the edges of her sweater.

violet cleared her throat, shooting a baffled looking Ben and Colin a warning look. "Kate, Daphne tells me you wrote a book."

Kate's eyes widened, "Well I- I illustrate kid's books mostly, and my sister and I, we just wrote one together about my dog, going to an amusement park. It was just published. But I don't write them I just- I just do the pictures, I'm a watercolourist." She finished awkwardly, swallowing as if she said too much.

There was something so gentle about her, but Violet could tell, if she was pushed she'd be fiercely protective, if she needed to be strong she could be.

"I'll have to have a look for it. Having a book published at...?"

"Oh I'm 27." Kate smiled, "I'm... I'm 27."

"A big accomplishment."

And then it seemed to come bursting out of her before she could stop it, "I really like Anthony!"

Violet was a little taken aback by the sudden outburst, finding it a little difficult to find words and Kate seemed to panic, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

"I'm probably not who you want for your son. I only have kind of steady work, and it's... creative, rather than practical, and I'm kind of average, but I really like Anthony. He's soft and gentle and sweet and yeah kind of frustrating sometimes and I'm honestly not sure why he's interested in me but he is I guess, and I don't really intend to correct him on it, so... I just, I would really appreciate it, if you'd give me a chance."

Violet felt her mouth fall open, tears stinging at her eyes taking a shuddering breath, before she said "I think we're going to get along very well, Kate."

"Here you go, Daff!" Anthony was back tossing a pair of dry cleaned jeans at his sister, tucking his arm around Kate's waist as she relaxed against him. her lips on his cheek, Anthony's smile bright. "You okay?"

She nodded, "Your Mum was just telling me an embarrassing story about you."

Anthony looked indignant "Mum! We promised we'd never talk about getting stuck in the slide at McDonald's."

Violet couldn't help but smile, "Well you were 12 at the time, Darling."

Kate guffawed, "I need to hear so much more about this."

"Why don't you take Kate through to the living room and set up for games after dinner?"

"There's games I can beat him at? This is turning into the best night of my life." Kate hummed, letting herself be tugged from the room, silence falling as they watched her go.

Benedict let out a shuddering breath, "Who the fuck is that woman and why is she with Anthony?"

"Right?!" daphne said quickly, "And why are they perfect together?"

"Okay, hear me out, but he seems to be kind of killing it, maybe we should just let Anthony do his thing."

Francesca sighed, "You have so much faith in him Greg, but that is your worst idea ever."

And when Violet went to bed that night she whispered into the night like she did most nights, and tonight she said "I met Anthony's wife today. You would have loved her."

[newtonsheffield]

Molly, I have so many questions about thank u, next!! Can we see antony doing breakfast with Mary? And patiently answering all her questions. Also also also, can we see kate being introduced to the bridgertons!!

okay thank u next has been a much more popular AU than I anticipated and I have no idea why? Can someone fill me in?

But anyway: Here's Anthony facing the Mary inquisition, and Kate meeting her first Bridgerton.

Anthony was nervous. He'd been nervous the whole time he'd sat in the back of the car, Kate's legs slung casually over his, Daphne's jeans a good two inches short on her legs, her hands in his hair, panic rising in his chest.

"Won't your Mum be a little startled to see you definitely didn't sleep at yours last night?!" Gesturing a little panickedly at the hickeys visible on her neck, trailing down to her chest covered by a shirt clearly not her own.

Kate had hummed, kissing his cheek, "Don't worry, she's not going to ask for compensation for my virginity, she's aware that ship has sailed."

"You are a very unhelpful person, has anyone ever told you that?" Anthony hums sadly, leaning into her touch anyway.

"They have, yes."

And his nerves definitely didn't abate when Mary Sharma whispered, "I have lost of questions for you."

He'd taken the opportunity, while the Sharma's had been arguing in rapid Tamil about something in the kitchen, whether some Auntie or another should be invited to Mary's birthday party he thought. Anthony was sat next to Edwina's girlfriend, a kindly looking woman with twist braids cascading down her shoulders who was looking on a little amused.

"You get used to it." Josie said smiling, a broad welsh accent, "Kate's really great."

"She is, I really really like her." He couldn't even stop himself. "Mrs Sharma, um- Mary she said she has some questions for me. Should I be worried?"

Josie hummed, "That depends... are you a serial killer? Have you ever killed a woman you've dated?"

Anthony's mouth fell open, "What?! No! Of course not!"

"I'm fucking with you, Anthony." Josie chuckled, nudging his arm gently, "Mary Sharma, is the kindest woman I've ever met. I was kind of worried that she might be one of those mum's that says they support you until you actually bring home your girlfriend, but like two weeks later she's got me at her book club, introducing me as Edwina's girlfriend. Happy as anything."

"It's a genuine miracle Josie puts up with you, Edwina." Mary hissed helpfully at that moment, swatting her daughter's hand away from the frying pan with a spatula, "Go and sit down!"

Edwina skulked back to the table with a smirk, "As you can see, Anthony, Kate's the favourite daughter."

"Well with an attitude like that you can see why." Kate hummed, sitting on Anthony's other side, pressing a kiss against his cheek.

"Please, I love you both equally." Mary hummed, kissing both the tops of their heads in such a motherly way, that it caught in Anthony's thought, especially because biologically he knew Kate wasn't her daughter, but he could tell she loved her so desperately.

"If Kate's not your favourite why is there only chocolate milk today?"

Mary rolled her eyes, marching back to the refrigerator, "Because your strawberry milk is on a different shelf! And you never bother to look!' She said brandishing it wildly.

"Love you Mum." Edwina grinned cheekily at her as the entire bottle got dropped unceremoniously on the table in front of her.

Mary hummed, "I'm sorry about the girls Anthony, wild little hellions, this is actually quite tame for them. I did try my best."

And he couldn't stop the smile that came to his face, "It's great, Mrs Sharma."

an hour later, anthony wasn't feeling so great when Mary looked shrewdly at him and then turned to Kate.

"Katie, sweetheart, I wondered if you could go up to the attic for me, It's hard for me to get up there in my old age."

Kate blinked, "You're 48."

"Please, there's a box of Papa's books up there I need."

Kate twitched, "Mary if you want to to talk to Anthony why don't you just say Everyone clear out so I can interrogate Anthony?"

Mary barely blinked, "Right everyone clear out so I can interrogate Anthony."

Kate rolled her eyes, before letting them dart to him, questioning Is this-

"It's fine, I'll see you in a second, go dig out some embarrassing pictures for me to look at."

"On it!" Edwina chirped, darting from the room, tugging Josie and kate with her, and he was alone with the woman she called her mother, but never to her face it seemed.

Mary was giving him a very curious expression, her head tilted, her eyes flicking over his sweater, her head tilted. "You're not what I imagined, when Kate told me she'd met someone."

Anthony's heart stuttered, "Is that a good thing?"

Mary just shrugged, "They were all rather... creative types. You seem a bit more..." Uptight, prim, a grumpy arsehole "polished. And it didn't work out with any of them."

Something settled in Anthony's chest. "I really like your daughter, Mrs. Sharma."

Mary chuckled, "Oh I can see that, I'm not worried about that. And she wouldn't have brought you here if she didn't feel the same."

Anthony's eyebrows shot up, "You've never met any of her exes?"

"No, I have. It's just... this, Sunday mornings, this is family time."

His stomach jolted, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude- she asked me and I-"

Mary waved him off, "I'm glad you're here, if she wants you to be, it's just, different."

Silence settled between them before Mary hummed, narrowing her eyes.

"How old are you Anthony?"

"Twenty nine, Ma'am. I'll be 30 next september."

She nodded, "And you do what for work?"

"My family owns a publishing... conglomerate, I suppose. Aubrey Hall."

Mary's eyes widened, "I see. And you manage it?"

He nodded, "I'm responsible I promise."

"What kind of car do you drive?"

"It's I- have a range Rover, but I haven't driven it in a while, I don't usually, It's difficult to find parking, It's only for when I go to the country."

She smiled, "So not a heinous sports car then."

He flushed, "No, ma'am."

"And your parents are in London?"

"My Mum is yes, my father passed away about a decade ago." It still stung at him.

Mrs Sharma softened, her eyes filled with grief, "I'm very sorry, Anthony. We lost the girls father a few years ago, it's very difficult."

He nodded, "I try my best to look after my siblings and my Mum like he would've done."

"That's very admirable." She smiled gently, "How many siblings do you have?"

"Seven. four sisters, Three brothers."

"Goodness your mother must be a saint, not a day goes by I'm not surprised Kate and Edwina made it to adulthood." She smiled gently, motherly, and Anthony couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Kate was very young when you met Mr Sharma?"

She looked surprised by the question, surprised he knew maybe, he couldn't tell, but the softest smile crossed her face. "I worked in my parents bookstore, and one day the most beautiful little girl marched up to me, with a book tucked under her arm and said You're very pretty, would you like to marry my Papa? And I don't know, I fell in love with them both. She was so easy to love."

Anthony felt it echo in his own chest, "She is definitely that." He cleared his throat, "I know how I must seem to you: A privileged white man, with family money, and people like that, christ some of the people I went to school with even, are exactly what's wrong with this country but I'm a good man, Mrs. Sharma. I look after my family, and I try to make them happy, and I can't even believe she gave me a chance because she's amazing and incredible and I am falling in love with your daughter."

Mrs Sharma blinked back at him for a very long moment with the oddest look on her face before she smiled and said, "You had better call me Mary then, sweetheart."

_____________________

It was risky, Daphne knew, to show up at Anthony's house unannounced on a Friday morning before breakfast even, but she really did need those jeans she'd left there.

She waved to John the doorman, who swiped his keycard and pressed the button, an inconvenient security measure but given the lift opened right into his living room she supposed it was necessary. She let her mind wander, running through the list of things she had to do today, Take simon's tux to the drycleaners, confirm the catering for the party next week, on and on, the lift dart upwards through the building, her fingers drumming on her handbag, sighing to herself as The doors slid open.

She didn't hear it at first, though maybe she should have, the feminine giggle, the masculine chuckle, but it's probably just as well, that'd send her right to therapy.

"Ant! It's just me!" She called out, scooting further into the living room, making her way through to the guest room where she knew she'd left her jeans when she and Simon had stayed the night, their own flat having a burst pipe.

Woof!

Daphne let out a sharp squeak of surprise as a dog scrambled off the sofa, darting to sit in front of her, looking up at her with a curious expression.

"Daff?!" Anthony's voice sounded a little panicked, but she didn't notice, she was too busy trying to process when the fuck Anthony had gotten a corgi.

"Ant! When did you get a-?"

Anthony scrambled through his bedroom door, looking absolutely disheveled his hair standing up in a million different directions, boxer shorts thrown in haphazardly, his cheeks flushed, his neck and chest littered with red marks and bruises and-

"Daff, hey, Daphne, Daphne hi, my sister Daphne is here!"

Daphne's brow furrowed, "why are you being so weird?"

"I'm not being weird. you're being weird." Anthony huffed, his arms crossed over his chest.

"If you're not being weird, who's the dog?"

"That's... not a real dog." Anthony said quickly, as the dog put his paws on her legs, tongue lolling happily an odd noise echoing from the bedroom. Anthony sighing, "Damnit, Newton."

"Daphne frowned, confusion welling in her chest. "Okay, well I just came to get my jeans."

Anthony paled, "You- you can't have them! You left them here they're mine!"

Daphne scoffed, stepping round him, "Yeah okay, Anthony."

"I sold them!" His voice was high, squeaky, just like the time he'd told their mother that he hadn't seen Colin and Ben melting her Barbie doll.

Daphne whipped around, her eyes narrowed, realisation dawning on her with a gasp! "Anthony! You gave them to one of your hook ups didn't you?!"

"She wasn't a hook up!"

Daphne rolled her eyes, "Conquest then. Fucking hell! You've given them to some tart and Now I'll never get them back! And Gucci's stopped making that-"

"Sorry!" A female voice rang out interrupting Daphne, nearly sending her reeling backwards.

A woman had appeared a little behind Anthony, in the doorway of his bedroom, one of his business shirts buttoned over her self, her dark hair in curly disarray, her face striking, even in it's sheepish expression, a gold ring catching the light in her nose, a bright flash of colour against her sternum, as Anthony's hand settled on her waist.

"Sorry, that was my fault. And I think your brother's very gently trying to save my dignity by making it seem like I didn't come to his house and need a new set of clothes to leave in a few days later." She shot Anthony a slightly exasperated expression, before she kissed his cheek, and Daphne watched as Anthony, Anthony who grumbled like a bear woken early from hibernation smiled a little adoringly, tucking the woman closer into his side.

"He's a sweet little cutie."

A cutie?! Daphne was a little horrified.

"Anyway, I put your jeans in to get dry cleaned, they should be done by tonight."

"Sorry, you are?" Daphne couldn't help but wonder who this mystery woman was, that had Anthony wound tightly around her finger.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh shit, sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Kate."

Kate? Who was-?

"Kate's my girlfriend, Daff."

Daphne's mouth dropped open in surprise, "Right, well I- Of course, Kate, yes, I've heard so many great things-"

Kate laughed, darting forward to take her offered hand, "No, you haven't. That's alright: I'm 27, I illustrate children's books, I grew up in London, and the dog's name is Newton, and we wear the same size jeans though yours were a bit short."

"I'm really sorry I called you a tart." Daphne said quickly.

Kate laughed again, her head thrown back, but Daphne was barely paying attention, too stuck on the way Anthony was smiling at Kate as though she hung the sun in the sky. "No, it's fine." she poked Anthony's ribs, "and it's not exactly wrong, but I like this one."

Anthony darted down, kissing her forehead, before he cleared his throat, turning towards her, "Do you want breakfast, Daff? Kate'll bring your jeans back tonight."

And when she left Anthony's house 45 minutes later, with new lunch plans for next week there was only one thing to do:

The second the phone connected she was blurting it out. "Mum, did you know Anthony has a girlfriend?!"

"You've met Kate?! She's comign to family dinner tonight apparently."

"Yes, I just went to his place to pick something up and she was there."

her mother scoffed impatiently, "Well, what was she like, what does she look like?"

"She's stunning I wanted to curl in on myself." It was a little true, though Daphne knew she wasn't unattractive, there had just been something about Kate's quiet confidence. " She was witty and funny and kind And she hasn't figured out that she's way too good for him yet, we need to get this girl locked down."

"Daphne your brother is very charming when he-"

"Mum, she called him a cutie."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long moment before Violet let out a shuddering gasp, "Right, get round here, we need to plan."

[newtonsheffield]

Mollllllyyyyyyy. We have a family portrait!

We see a proudly smiling Mary Sharma!

We have sweetest pea Edwina!

We have girlboss Lady D!

We have the siblings holding hands!

We have Anthony and Kate looking every bit the Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton!

We see slightly grown up Gregory and Hyacinth with Violet!!!

😭😭😭😭 It's everything!!!!!!

Gregory and Hyacinth barely even look like babies anymore I’m 😩😩😩😩

Actual siblings being siblings over on the left 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Mary, Edwina, my sweet summer children, forehead kisses for both of you. 😚😚

Anthony, babe, you are taking this so seriously.

“This is our first official family portrait, Kate. Of course I’m taking it seriously. Why would I smile?”

And Kate’s just there like He’s so dumb and cute I’m gonna have to love him forever aren’t I?

“Why would I stay married to you? That’s the question you should be asking yourself, Anthony.”

Every Bridgerton: “That’s the question we’re all asking ourselves.”

“Hey!”

Edwina muttering through her smile like: “Do they hate one another or love one another?”

Mary: “It’s a fine line I think, just keep smiling babe.”

(Is this their wedding day? Thoughts to think)