"The Duke and I"
Daphne breaks the news of her and Simon's engagement, as well as her desire to obtain a special license to marry. She also politely turns down Friedrich, who gracefully accepts the news. Genevieve Delacroix informs Anthony that Siena has absconded from London, while Colin pays more attention to Marina, making Portia's plans to marry her off to an older lord who would look the other way about her pregnancy more difficult. Marina tells Portia that her plan is to seduce Colin and trap him in an Honorable Marriage Proposal.
Miffed at Daphne's rejection of her nephew, Charlotte (via the archbishop) denies the Bridgertons' request for a special license. Lady Danbury suggests appealing to Charlotte directly. Benedict is invited to a house party with artists at Lord Granville's residence, where he sleeps with Genevieve. Will finds Simon and tries to encourage him about the marriage, while we learn that Charlotte deeply loves her husband George despite his increasing senility.
With a moving speech on his end, Simon and Daphne manage to convince Charlotte of their deep love for each other, and the two are wed. At the reception, Penelope unsuccessfully tries to talk Marina out of seducing Colin, who — to Marina's surprise — proposes to her. The only problem is that he wants a long engagement. Charlotte overhears Eloise asking Lady Danbury if she is Lady Whistledown, and enlists her to uncover Lady Whistledown's identity.
Violet tries to advise Daphne what will happen on the wedding night. Daphne departs with Simon to his country estate, Clyvedon, and the two stop at an inn for the night. The two eventually confess their mutual love, and sleep together.—-
Tropes:
- Altar the Speed: Daphne requests a special license, which would skip the wedding banns and allow her and Simon to marry within a few days. Violet assumes she's slept with Simon, but the truth is that Daphne doesn't want Cressida — who spotted Daphne and Simon together in the garden — to cause a scandal.
- Anguished Declaration of Love: Daphne and Simon, pained and deeply in love while thinking they have both trapped the other in marriage, confess their mutual feelings on their wedding night.Simon: Everything I told the queen was true. I cannot stop thinking of you. From the mornings you ease, to the evenings you quiet, to the dreams you inhabit... my thoughts of you never end. I am yours, Daphne. I have always been yours.
- Confession Triggers Consummation: After confessing their genuine love for each other, Daphne and Simon finally consummate their wedding night.
- Flames of Love: Daphne and Simon's big kiss/love confession scene is lit mainly by the fireplace in the room. It's not coincidental that burning is the verb they use to describe their mutual feelings.
- Operation: Jealousy: Cressida, who was also interested in Friedrich, accuses Daphne of using him to make Simon jealous.Cressida: You dallied with the prince purely to rouse the duke's jealousy, and then you lured him into those gardens to trap him into marriage. I never would have imagined that a Bridgerton would ever come to know such shame.
- Sanity Slippage: King George makes his first appearance in the series, and seems both kind and good humored, talking lovingly with Queen Charlotte and all seems well briefly, until he starts asking for his deceased daughter who had died years ago to fever. It seems he suffers from some ambiguous disorder or is still In the Dreaming Stage of Grief years later. He becomes violent, accusing Charlotte of having done something and having to be carried away.
- The Talk: Violet bumbles her way through explaining "the marital act" to her daughter on her wedding day, which does not prepare Daphne at all.Violet: Some things that will happen that involve you and your husband... The duke, obviously. Well, he... You see... the marital act, which, now that you are married, you may perform...
