"An Affair of Honor"
Daphne has clearly earned Prince Friedrich's favor, and everyone in London anticipates a royal proposal. Anthony accompanies them to one of Will Mondrich's boxing matches, where Simon is also in attendance and encouraging people to bid on Will. Friedrich and Daphne chat about their families, where he shows himself to be family-minded and willing to stay in England. At the gentleman's club after Will prevails, Lord Featherington is revealed to have gambling debts after the boxing match, Benedict is drawn more into the art world, and Friedrich comes to ask Anthony for Daphne's hand. Sensing that Daphne is not enthused about the possibility of marrying Friedrich, Violet prods her about Simon. Daphne confesses their ruse. Meanwhile, Lady Danbury scolds Simon for potentially letting Daphne slip through his fingers.
Marina is receiving several gentleman visitors, but to the Featheringtons' surprise, Mr. Finch calls on Phillipa. Eloise expresses interest in discovering Lady Whistledown's identity and suspects it to be one of the servants, who reacts with disbelief.
At a ball hosted by Lady Trowbridge, Prince Friedrich begins to propose to Daphne, who feels overwhelmed and exits to the garden, where Simon finds her. The two discuss Daphne's life choices and proceed to kiss, only to be found by Anthony. The viscount attempts to force Simon to marry Daphne; when he refuses, Anthony challenges him to a duel to protect Daphne's honor. Daphne's jealous rival Cressida has also seen the couple.
Marina confides in a jealous Penelope that Colin might propose to her...Lady Featherington learning her husband has gambled the girls' dowries away notwithstanding.
Benedict and Will are recruited to stand second for Anthony and Simon respectively. Anthony visits Siena and tells her he may have to flee the country. Daphne convinces Colin to take her to where the duel is being held; she rides in the middle at the last moment, preventing anyone from being shot. Daphne tells Simon that Cressida will ruin her reputation if he does not marry her. Simon refuses, telling her he cannot give her children, but Daphne instead tells her brothers that they are to be wed.
Tropes:
- Dowry Dilemma: Philippa's betrothal and courtship are put on hold because her father lord Featherington's gambling has reduced them to being Impoverished Patrician.
- Dramatic Necklace Removal: At the beginning of the episode Friedrich gifts Daphne with a lovely diamond necklace. When Prince Friedrich is on the brink of proposing to her, Daphne, feeling overwhelmed, runs into the garden and tears it off.
- Eating the Eye Candy: Daphne can't help but watch Simon roll up his sleeves ringside.
- Fluffy Fashion Feathers: Eloise derides the custom of wearing feathers in one's hair, because it makes them look more like birds being paraded around.
- Held Gaze: Longing gazes are thrown between Simon and Daphne, and Anthony and Siena at Lady Trowbridge's ball.
- I Have Brothers: Played With. Friedrich expresses surprise that Daphne can stomach boxing, unlike other young ladies. Daphne comments that he must not have sisters, since growing up around women running over each other has made her used to brutality.
- I Need a Freaking Drink:
- Violet downs a glass when she sees Daphne with Friedrich, and another when she sees Anthony staring at Siena. Later she is seen being tipsily helped home by Colin.
- After agreeing to a dual for Daphne's honour, Simon goes looking in the boxing ring for brandy.
- Innocently Insensitive: Marina is very happy with the idea of marrying Colin, not realising Penelope has feelings for him. Even worse she's happy because marrying him would mean she would continue to live in close proximity to the Featheringtons, allowing her to still see Penelope daily.
- Parents Know Their Children: Violet can see that Daphne is upset about something even before her daughter confides the truth of her and Simon's pretend courtship.
- The Power of Love: Lady Danbury attributes the societal changes that allowed for people of color to be elevated to the nobility as the result of King George's love for Queen Charlotte.
- Rule of Symbolism: Not coincidence at all that Simon and Friedrich are rooting for different opponents at a boxing match Daphne (the woman they are both interested in) is in attendance. It's a metaphorical Cock Fight: Simon looks dismayed when she roots for the prince's man, though of course Mondrich wins out.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Mr Finch compliments Philippa by comparing her dress to Gloucester cheese. Rather than seeming put-off, Philippa finds this charming while they both agree how much they enjoy it.
- Ten Paces and Turn: Because of a perceived slight to Daphne's honor, Simon and Anthony duel. They are both shown walking away from each other with guns in hand. Simon attempts to delope, Anthony aims at him and is hesitant long enough for Daphne to interrupt the duel just in time. Then again, Anthony's hand is visibly shaking and Simon says later that he was always a terrible shot.
- This Is Reality: When Eloise believes that one of the Bridgerton housemaids is Lady Whistledown, and demands the truth from her — the housemaid finds it hilarious, and has to explain to her that no working-class person with a fulltime, incredibly busy job would be able to find the time and resources to also research, write and publish a regular gossip sheet. Also, it would be very stupid to do so because if such a secret was discovered, they'd be fired and blacklisted from all available work.
- Trespassing to Talk: while technically it's inside her own home, Lady Featherington surprises and scares her husband by waiting for him in his office, in the dark, to confront him about the family finances.
