The Duke and I - Post Episode 8 stories

Morning Delights

            It was early morning, the slowly rising sun making its small appearance through the window. Daphne had woken earlier than usual, much before the sun, and enjoyed those quiet moments in bed. Simon's arm was draped over her stomach, as she lay on her back not moving a muscle, not wanting to avert his position in any way. She loved how small she felt beneath him, the way his hard body seemed to melt softly over hers. Daphne turned her head slightly to look at his face, and felt her heart thud in her chest. She knew her husband was gorgeous, perfect really, but this had to be her favourite angle of his. The way his eyelashes splayed across his cheeks, his lips parted slightly, the worry line on his forehead smoothed like silk. Peaceful.

She urged to touch him, to run her fingertips lightly across his cheeks, to his full lips, and

his sharpened jawline, which provided her more pleasure to look at than she'd like to admit. Her mind wandered to the various women who may have goggled at her husband the way she is now, how many were lucky enough to have spent the night with him and witnessed this. Jealousy was a feeling she knew quite well, and there it was creeping its way into her mind. Daphne knew it did not matter, for they were the past, and she - his present and future, but jealousy was something easily felt between the two of them. They knew the rarity of their love, and were possessive of it, of each other. Daphne thought of the moment this became apparent to the both of them, recounting the emotions of their lips.

It was a few weeks after they had found out Daphne was with their first child, Adam, when they went to London to announce the news to their Bridgerton family. Word had gotten out fast, and within a day the Queen was requesting their attendance at a celebratory garden party for the two of them. As much as neither of them wanted to attend, they knew they had no choice in the matter. If the Queen is hosting an event for you, you will go unless it is your wish to be shunned from society. The event was quite beautiful, and it was nice to see faces that Daphne had not seen in a while. But, it was a bit overwhelming as well. She found herself missing the quietness of the country, and being alone with Simon. So, when Lady Danbury stole Simon away from her side, she took the chance to retreat to the outskirts of the crowd to breathe. The serenity did not last long, as a young man approached her.

"Good afternoon, enjoying the event?" he asked, walking towards her with bright blue eyes that were running laps around her chest.

Daphne groaned inwardly, but channeled the gracefulness of a Duchess, and politely replied "Of course I am, and if you had looked at my face you would have seen it so." She did not have the patience to be nice to this man, who appeared to not recognize who she was. She quickly scanned the crowd for Simon, but could not find him anywhere.

"My apologies, but how can one not appreciate the sight of you," he said, a smile spreading across his lips.

"My husband does, very much," she replied, her voice finding the strength she didn't know she had in her.

"My apologies come once more, I assumed you were alone, but if you ever are, my name is Nicholas" he said, tipping his hat to her, then heading back in the direction he came from.

Daphne let out a breath of relief she did not realize she had been holding. But before she could even process the tension in her body, she could feel Simon coming up behind her. She turned quickly, and half ran into his arms.

"Daphne, what is it?" he demanded, holding her arms with his hands as he scanned her body to see if something was physically wrong.

Daphne took a steadying breath, it really was nothing, but she couldn't shake the eerie feeling that man had given her. "Men are disgusting, that is what," she sighed.