Season 2 - The Duke's life beyond the screen
Chapter 1: Arthur
Hastings House, Summer 1815.
It had been a long day. Whilst this was nothing unusual, especially as of late, the duke of Hastings sighed with relief as he slipped into the duchesses' chambers. He smiled when he saw his wife's slightly rounder-than-usual shape underneath the thick blue covers. Her favourite colour.
Not knowing whether she was still awake, he quietly moved to the opposite side of the bed she was laying on and disrobed. As he left behind the burgundy fabric, Simon couldn't remember the last time he chose to sleep in night clothes, and he sure kept up the tradition once he married Daphne. After all, sleeping without clothes did have even more perks now.
The room was almost entirely enveloped in darkness had it not been for the faint light from the candle he had brought in with him, and which now clearly illuminated his wife's beautiful, peaceful features. She looked like an angel to him when she slept. Awakened too, if she wasn't scolding him for his shooting practice disturbing her practice on the piano forte, or his inability to express his emotions beyond the grunts that he had come accustomed to. In Simon's humble opinion, they had always been a very effective form of communication that made him seem mysterious to the people of the ton, and who wouldn't have that continue?
Another sigh of contentment escaped Simon as he lay his head on the pillow and scooted closer to Daphne, so he could wrap her in his arms.
It had been a long day, and he had missed her terribly.
Gently tucking a strand of stray hair behind her ear, Simon's smile widened as she slowly opened her eyes. She had not been asleep after all, and sooner rather than later her bright smile matched his. Hers hinted at mischief, however.
"Your grace, Mrs. Coleson would have your head for coming to my bed again" she said, acting outraged.
Simon gave her the benefit of a small laugh. "Your grace must know by now that nothing will keep me from spending my nights with my wife".
With that, his lips covered hers in a long-anticipated kiss that quickly deepened. He couldn't help but think about her every waking moment of the day. They had been married 3 months and 2 years and he was convinced this deep feeling, this burning need, for her, would never go away.
As his hands began to wander and his kisses moved to her neck, taking in the scent of her long curls, Daphne giggled. "It is custom for the duchess to rest in her own chambers while she is with child. Alone. So she can, indeed, rest". Daphne failed to sound as stern as she would have liked to and gigged lightly instead. A soft moan escaped her, betraying her words further, as Simon's hands worked their magic underneath the silk fabric of her nightgown. First over the slight curve of her belly, and then further downwards, a feather light dance she had come to know so well, yet always made her gasp for more.
"And it has been a fond tradition of mine" he retorted in between hungry kisses and skilful touches "to ignore this custom. It sure did not hurt the first time". He lost count of the many times he had had a similar conversation with his teasing wife when he came to her room at night. Even though Simon knew Daphne loved his nightly company and was only jesting, a shudder overcame him as he thought of Mrs. Coleson catching them in the act. Again. Last time, she had all but dragged him back to the Duke's chambers, chastising him for not letting his poor, expecting wife rest. "It is not good for the baby" "A husband needs to know when his services are no longer required" "Can a wife not rest between bearing children" "Do you have no honour".
Simon pushed the old woman from his mind in time for Daphne to turn her head so her mouth could cover his again. He moaned as her hands, too, started to wander. When he was sure he could not wait a single second longer to feel her bare flesh against his, a loud cry broke them both apart. Daphne sighed and looked physically pained, while Simon's mood changed instantly. "Let me" he said and was back on his feet before his wife could stop him.
"What on earth have we got the nurse for? You have sent her away most every night!" Daphne complained, clearly not happy that her husband had left her hot and bothered with no intention to finish what he started.
"And the day I will ignore my son's cries will be the day you will have to pry him from my cold, dead hands" he said dramatically before giving her a cheeky smile that took up half of his face, and practically sprinting out of the room.
Daphne shook her head. Before having Arthur, Daphne had spent hours, even days, worrying about what it would do to Simon and their relationship. Never having known a true father himself, Daphne was worried that Simon would eventually resent his new role, or her, for having convinced him to be a father in the first place. She could not have been more wrong.
Almost 3 months after saying their marriage vows and the turbulent weeks which followed on from them, Daphne had told him that she was with child. He had not said a single word, but covered his mouth with his hand. Daphne was terrified that he would be scared, or worse, be angry, or that he had changed his mind. Instead, his eyes had filled with tears and he had hugged her tightly to himself "I am going to be a father" he had whispered so gently that she had barely been able to hear him "I am finally getting the chance to prove that I am not like him". Simon hadn't needed to explain that he had referred to the former duke of Hastings. The monster that had haunted Simon's entire childhood and young adult life. The monster that Daphne would have gladly killed herself if his frail heart hadn't completed the mission in her place almost 3 year prior.
"I love you" he had whispered into her hair and Daphne's breath had caught in her throat. It had still been a rarity that he uttered those three words, despite the fact that Daphne knew with her entire heart that he meant them. Even now, when he did say I love you, it always marked a special occasion for her.
Before Daphne would let her physical frustration get the better of her, she slowly rolled out of bed, having decided to join her husband and son. After all, this may speed up getting Arthur back to sleep, which meant Simon back under the covers with her, which would mean she may find that desired release still.
Daphne sighed heavily at the extra effort it took her to get back on her feet. She wasn't expecting to deliver their second child for 3 or 4 months yet, but the exhaustion was certainly getting the better of her. She lovingly stroked her little bump and smiled to herself. All of it was worth it. Before she reached the door to the nursery, a tired and dishevelled looking nurse came rushing towards her from the servant's quarters.
"Your grace, I got up as soon as I heard the young Lord…" she tried to explain, but Daphne cut her off with a kind smile.
"No need to rush, Miss Dynevor, his grace has already got it in hand".
The young woman somewhat looked relieved, but insisted that Daphne ring for her if they wanted her to take over.
Daphne promised and bid the woman goodnight, before she gently opened the door to her son's nursery. Her son. Sometimes, Daphne had to remind herself that all of this was not a dream. Was it not her dream come true? Before the door was fully open, she heard her husband's soft singing voice. One of Simon's many hidden talents.
Daphne quickly recognised the Bridgerton lullaby that her mother and father would sing to her and her 7 siblings. She fell in love with her husband all over again, perhaps for the millionth time. It meant the world to him to uphold her family's tradition with their children, which in turn meant the world to her. It was no coincidence that their first child's name was Arthur Colin Edmund, Lord Basset, and why the child that was still safely tucked away underneath her heart this very moment, would be guaranteed to have a name beginning with the letter "B".
Chapter 2: A summer at Aubrey Hall and why Simon won't be joining the festivities