"After the Rain"
Daphne and Simon pose for a portrait, during which Daphne asks her husband to attend the Hastings ball, the final event of the season, to deflect suspicion about the state of their marriage. Violet tries to encourage her daughter to make their marriage work. Eloise suspects Mme. Delacroix of being Lady Whistledown. Daphne finds letters from Simon to his father and asks Lady Danbury about them. The older woman tells her of Simon's childhood speech difficulties and how he overcame them despite his abusive father. She and Simon visit the Bridgerton home as Francesca has returned from Bath.
Meanwhile, Philip Crane, the brother of Marina's lover George, informs her that George has died in battle. He proposes to her, fulfilling what he believed was his brother's duty, but she rejects him. However, she learns that she did not successfully abort the baby. Anthony tries to resume his relationship with Siena, but she spurns him.
The Hastings ball begins. Colin tells Penelope he's leaving on his Grand Tour. Eloise tries to warn the Queen and Benedict of her suspicions. Daphne and Simon begin their waltz, which is interrupted by a sudden rainfall that clears the dance floor. In the rain, Daphne makes a tearful plea to Simon; the two later reconcile and give their marriage another go.
Marina leaves in a carriage with Philip Crane, while Portia learns that her husband was done in by his gambling companions and their money is gone. She expresses shock at the new Featherington heir. Colin departs for his travels; Anthony resolves to marry and not love again. Lady Whistledown is revealed to be Penelope.
Some time later, Daphne and Simon welcome a son.
Tropes:
- Anguished Declaration of Love:When the ball in their estate is stopped by the pouring rain, Daphne tries her best saving her deteriorated marriage by confessing to her husband, Simon, that she loves him for who he is, including his scars and flaws. After spending the entire episode 7 and half of 8 resenting his wife following the marital rape incident and insisting on living separately, Simon eventually comes back to her and they earn a happy marriage.
- Babies Ever After: The season ends with Daphne giving birth to her and Simon's son. Both have sorted out their issues about fatherhood and family and look forward to raising the boy.
- Dance of Romance: A waltz begins Simon and Daphne's reconciliation, and they end the season as happily married once more.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: In this season finale, narrator Lady Whistledown says next season will surely be interesting. This can be interpreted as talking about the next London season, or the next season of the show.
- Making Love in All the Wrong Places: Anthony and his mistress, Siena, have sex in a hidden room not far from the boxing room.
- Romantic Rain: Rain falls on the ball Daphne and Simon are holding, which starts their reconciliation. Daphne makes an anguished love confession.
- Sequel Hook: The final scenes of episode 8 hint at much more story to come: Anthony and Siena's affair has officially come to an end, and he declares his intention to marry—without love, Eloise is expected to come out next season, Lady Featherington must now deal with the mysterious Featherington heir and what this means for her family, and Colin goes abroad as Penelope cries about it.
