Daphne Basset (Netflix) (2024)

This page is about the Netflix character. For the book character, see Daphne Basset

Daphne Basset (née Bridgerton) is the fourth Bridgerton child and eldest daughter.

History[]

Childhood and Father's Death[]

When Daphne was a child, her father died. When her grief-stricken mother went into labor, she tried to comfort her sister, Eloise, by singing to her to drown out their mother's screams.

1813 Social Season[]

At the start of the 1813 social season, Daphne made her debut in front of the queen. Queen Charlotte looked at her and declared her flawless, instantly making her the most promising young lady in the circuit. This was also supported by Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, a leaflet being written by an anonymous society lady and distributed throughout town, which declared her the season's Incomparable.

Daphne attended social events, meeting potential suitors. She quickly grew frustrated at her brother, Anthony, for dismissing all of her options. After escaping a conversation with Nigel Berbrooke, she ran into Simon Basset, who believed she was faking when she said she didn't know who he was. Then her brother appeared and recognized Simon as an old schoolmate, now the Duke of Hastings. Anthony introduced them, but soon afterward took Daphne home for the night, insisting that she leave the suitors wanting more.

The next day, Daphne and her family awaited callers. Some came, but cowered under Anthony's stare. This was not helped by Lady Whistledown declaring that Marina Thompson, not Daphne, was the season's Incomparable. Daphne wanted to attend future social events without Anthony, but her mother said he'd already set their calendar through June, so Daphne confronted Anthony about him ruining her prospects.

She attended another event, where she and her mother were invited to sit with Lady Danbury during a performance. Her mother and Lady Danbury used the opportunity to set up a match between Daphne and Simon, leading to Simon coming to the Bridgerton house to dine.

While her mother liked the match, Anthony refused to support it, claiming that Simon had no intention of marrying anyone. Instead, he insisted that Daphne marry Nigel. Daphne fled the conversation and went to a secluded place to get some air. Nigel followed her and proposed marriage to her. She refused him, but he tried to force himself on her, prompting her to punch him and knock him out.

Simon arrived just at that moment. Nigel woke up and asked Daphne to marry her, which Simon called the least romantic proposal. Out in the garden, Simon instead proposed that, as a solution to both their problems, they pretend to be courting each other. It would make her look more desirable to other suitors while also allowing him to settle his father's affairs without the mothers of the town harassing him to meet their daughters. Simon and Daphne then re-entered the event together, drawing lots of attention.^[2]

With Daphne seemingly courting a duke, her social capital raised and she suddenly had many potential suitors vying for her attention. She and Simon continued to meet up often, making plans for future appearances together to keep up the illusion of their relationship. This influx of new suitors angered Anthony, who insisted on Daphne marrying Nigel, saying Simon would never marry her. Despite Daphne's insistence that she didn't want to marry Nigel, Anthony continued to push her toward him until he learned what Nigel had done in the garden with Daphne. He quickly forbade Nigel ever to speak to Daphne again.

Despite this, Nigel acquired a wedding license for the two of them and presented it to Daphne, making it clear he'd start a scandal for them if she refused him. Backed into a corner, Daphne accepted her fate. After hearing the queen say her butler was a huge gossip, Violet had an idea. She invited Nigel's mother to tea with her and Daphne. While they socialized, Daphne's maid learned from Nigel's maid that he had an illegitimate child he refused to support. Daphne and Violet then spread this gossip until Lady Whistledown picked it up, at which point everyone in town knew and believed it. Nigel was forced to flee London, ridding Daphne of the problem. She and Simon then continued their arrangement.^[3]

Simon and Daphne's arrangement worked as intended, drawing in a slew of new potential suitors. They continued their arrangement, with Daphne saying it would need to continue until she found a suitable husband. She still considered all her options, telling her family she didn't want to narrow herself to Simon prematurely, as he had not proposed. She was not impressed by most of the attention she drew, but then Prince Friedrich arrived and she drew his attention. He pursued her, but she was reluctant to let him court her due to her relationship with Simon, especially after they had a moment together while looking at artwork.

They continued their ruse until Simon ended things, feeling like he was holding Daphne back from a great match, particularly a prince. After taking a night to grieve, Daphne picked herself up and went to the next event, where she immediately drew eyes. She granted her first dance to Prince Friedrich.^[4]

Now on the prince's radar, Daphne and her mother were invited to the palace to meet with him and the queen. At the meeting, the prince gave Daphne a necklace. As he put it on her, she imagined he was Simon. Daphne then went home and fielded questions from Hyacinth, who was excited at the prospect of being the sister of a princess.

Daphne went with Anthony to a fight. After they arrived, he left her more or less on her own so she could sit with the prince and talk to him. As the fight began, Daphne ended up watching Simon instead of the fight and they watched each other as they cheered for opposing sides.

Back at home, Daphne talked about how the fight went and pretended she didn't notice if Simon was there as she was focused on the prince. Anthony then came in and said the prince had asked for his permission to propose to Daphne and Anthony hadn't objected. Sensing Daphne's hesitance, Violet came to Daphne and asked if she liked the necklace the prince gave her. When Daphne admitted that she wouldn't say she liked it, Violet said wearing it would tell people that she was taken, specifically Simon, and she might not want to limit her options. When pressed, Daphne admitted that she and Simon had concocted a scheme to make it seem like they were courting to attract better matches for Daphne. And it had worked, because she had a prince interested in her. Violet still believed that what Daphne and Simon had was love, which is what she wanted for Daphne.

At the next ball, Cressida Cowper, who had been making progress with Prince Friedrich before Daphne changed her mind, confronted Daphne, upset because Daphne had many options and had taken the one Cressida wanted. Daphne merely told her that the prince had made his choice. Daphne went to dance with the prince. While they were dancing, Daphne became overwhelmed and went outside for air. She pulled off the necklace as soon as she was outside. Simon then approached her. He told her he was preparing to leave England. She told him she was going to marry the prince and became upset when Simon asked her if she'd be happy doing that. She tried to leave, but he followed her into the garden and kissed her. Daphne then kissed Simon and Anthony found them still locked in a kiss, knocked Simon to the ground and insisted that he marry Daphne. Simon said he couldn't, leading Anthony to challenge him to a duel to protect the family's honor. Daphne was upset at the prospect of a dangerous duel and hurt that it appeared Simon would rather die than marry her. Anthony pretended Daphne had a headache and took her home early.

While speaking to Colin about the duel after Anthony and Benedict had left for it, Daphne realized that Cressida had seen her and Simon in the garden, meaning she had to marry Simon or be ruined. She and Colin quickly rode to the location of the duel. Daphne rode between the two men just as Anthony fired at Simon. She explained the situation to the two men, but Simon remained insistent that he couldn't marry her. When pressed, he admitted it was because he couldn't give her children and knew that she wanted them. He said she needed to allow her brother to finish the duel. Daphne said there was no need for that as she and the Duke were engaged.^[5]

After this engagement, Daphne ran home and made it appear as though she'd been in her bed all night. When her maid came in to wake her, she asked if her mother was awake and went to see her. She told her mother she was engaged and her mother assumed it was Prince Friedrich. Daphne then corrected that it was Simon. She also said they were seeking a special license to marry immediately. Lady Bridgerton assumed it was because they were so consumed with passion they couldn't wait and Daphne went along with that explanation. Her mother was thrilled that her daughter would not only be gaining a title but marrying for love.

Prince Friedrich came to see Daphne and she apologized to him, saying she and Simon just couldn't help from falling in love.

Daphne and Simon then went for a walk with her mother and Lady Danbury. They met up with others, who seemed to notice the couple wasn't as happy as they purported to be. Daphne then went to see Genevieve to get a wedding dress which would be beautiful. Lady Bridgerton also said Daphne would need new nightdresses, which Daphne didn't understand, Genevieve explained it was for the honeymoon. Cressida came into the modiste and quietly confronted Daphne about what she had seen, though Daphne denied everything. She then told Cressida firmly that she will be a duch*ess in a number days while Cressida is still going to be unmarried and without a title so Cressida could either be a friend or an enemy to a duch*ess.

Daphne was shocked to learn their special license had been denied, though Lady Danbury knew immediately that the queen was behind it and said Simon and Daphne need only appeal to her directly, being honest without begging. Daphne and Simon appeared before the queen. Daphne started off saying that they simply loved each other, but Simon interrupted, saying they had an initial attraction, but then they found friendship while fooling everyone. And then the feelings grew from there. He then asked the queen not to make them wait. The queen then asked Daphne if she wanted to marry Simon.

The family gathered for Daphne and Simon's wedding, with her mother and siblings on her side and Lady Danbury, Will, and Alice on his. They were quickly married. At the reception, Anthony told Daphne about Simon refusing her dowry and said the money would be put in trust for her to use, perhaps for their children. The mention of children brought Daphne to the brink of tears and she left the room. Her mother found her in her bedroom and began to tell her about the expectations of her wedding night, specifically an act that leads to children, while refusing to speak in specifics about what that entails. Daphne wondered if that act would still happen if someone couldn't have children.

Daphne and Simon then climbed into their carriage. Simon said his estate was too far, so they'd be staying at an inn for the night especially since the roads there are unsafe after dusk. He reserved them separate rooms, but he came to her room later in the evening and an intense discussion revealed both loved each other but believed their love to be unrequited. At their declaration they begin to kiss passionately and make love.^[6]

After their night at the inn, Daphne and Simon continued their journey and arrived at their new home. Simon surprised Daphne by sharing his intention for them to share a room, where he immediately took her. Daphne finally pulled herself out of their bed to attend to her duties as the new duch*esss. Mrs. Colson gave her a tour and she talked about the rooms she wanted to redecorate to her tastes.

That evening, they dined together. Simon was surprised by how formal the dinner setup was and was told that's how the previous duke liked it. Daphne simply moved her plate to sit closer to Simon so they could talk. He encouraged Daphne to redecorate however she wanted and advised her that she need not be so formal in their home. They started kissing at the table and eventually left the table and had sex outside. They continued to have a passionate relationship.

Daphne and Simon attended a fair. Daphne was tasked with choosing the best of a group of pigs. When she learned that the one she chose would be slaughtered, she declared it a tie. She and Simon then wandered the fair, sampling people's wares. A farmer approached them and said it was hard to make ends meet with the rent being tripled and Daphne assured him they'd find a solution.

Daphne and Rose worked together to put together gift baskets to hand out to the residents while Simon looked over everything that had been mismanaged in his absence. Once the baskets were put together, she tried to distribute them, but the villagers rejected them. When Daphne came upon a villager she'd met the day before, she asked about it and Joanna told her that traditionally, the owner of the pig chosen at the fair got the pork contract for the year from the estate. She didn't choose a pig, which meant no one got the contract and the associated income. Daphne then went to make amends with Mrs. Colson, whom she felt hated her, and welcomed her guidance for how to proceed as duch*ess.

After an encounter with Simon in his new office, Daphne went to Rose and asked how a woman gets pregnant. When she learned, she realized why Simon had been pulling out and finishing outside her body. Hurt at his deception, Daphne positioned herself on top of Simon, leading to him ejacul*ting inside of her for the first time. They argued over his apparent deception in telling her “I can never give you children,” implying that he was physically incapable of having children rather than that he had chosen to not have children, as well as Simon's feelings of being trapped by Daphne into possibly having a child. Daphne felt similarly trapped by his deception into a life without children with a husband who misled her about whether he was capable of fathering children. They ended up sleeping in separate beds.^[7]

Daphne and Simon's relationship remained tense, with them communicating through servants or not at all. Daphne asked to have her things moved out of their shared bedroom, which Simon objected to, saying he wanted her there because she was his wife and he wanted to be kept apprised of her efforts to have a child. When the next issue of Lady Whistledown's paper came out, Daphne told Rose they had to pack immediately and return to London as her brother was involved in a scandal, and Simon insisted on going with her, saying "separate bedrooms may be tolerated, separate households will not be suffered. I shall not let you out if my sight until we know whether you are with child."

When she returned home, Daphne immediately spoke to her mother about the need to improve the family's public image and made plans to attend the queen's luncheon with her family, which would show they still held favor with the duke and duch*ess. Daphne then went to Colin and told him he was lucky to learn about the deception before they were married instead of after. When he asked to speak to Marina, Daphne said she might be able to arrange a chaperoned visit.

Late that night, Daphne was unable to sleep and seeing Simon returning to the house she questioned where he'd been. He refused to say, making her wonder whether he was with other women. She took this to mean there was nothing left of their marriage. They ended up kissing frantically and then he went down on her in the staircase. She asked him to come to the bedroom and finish what he'd started, but he refused. He told her if she was pregnant, he would stay and support the child, but if she wasn't, they would remain married in name only, while living separate lives.

Daphne chaperoned a visit between Marina and Colin, where they made peace with what had happened between them. From there, she went to the queen's luncheon with Simon. While they were there, they dutifully played the happily married couple. Seeing the ease with which Simon lied about their efforts to have a child unsettled Daphne. At the luncheon, Daphne also spoke to Lady Danbury, who noted that Daphne's plan worked and their return meant people weren't talking about Colin and Marina anymore. She then invited Daphne to a party she was throwing for the married ladies of the ton.

The now disgraced Featheringtons enter the luncheon and are promptly asked to leave. Cressida snidely says "that ought to teach them," leading Daphne to pointedly respond "teach them what? Judging not, lest we too be judged?" before walking away as Simon looks on with admiration.

Daphne walks to a quiet spot in the garden and stops in front of a statue of Athena, the goddess of war, wisdom and practical reason. She's followed by her mother, who appeals to Daphne to tell her what's troubling her. Daphne is critical of her mother's refusal to tell her any of the specifics she needed to prepare her for married life, telling her "you sent me into the world no better than a fool." Lady Danbury walks in on the discussion and Lady Bridgerton attempts to cover the dispute as Daphne walks away, claiming the duch*ess is overcome by the heat. Lady Danbury gives her a dubious look.

Daphne then went to the Featherington estate to speak to Marina privately. Marina told Daphne about George and how she loved him. Daphne offered to contact the general and see if she could find out where George was and bring him back to take responsibility. Marina was dubious, but Daphne said she was capable of more than people thought. She checked with Rose to see if the general's wife would be at Lady Danbury's party as she prepared to go. Rose said it was highly likely, so Daphne said she'd attend the party.

At the party, Daphne met several ladies, the general's wife, Kitty, among them. They drank and gambled over card games. Daphne asked Kitty about her husband, but she admitted he was rarely home, which she liked. She did say she could tell where Daphne to write where she might get a response.

Daphne came home to find Simon with a cut over his eye from a fight with Anthony. As she began tending to his wound, the two move closer and kiss as Daphne sits in his lap. She asks, "Why won't you unfold yourself to me?" adding that a child would be a blessing, but he pushes her away. He told her his father cared more about carrying on the title than he ever cared about Simon. On his father's deathbed, he vowed that the family line would die with him. Daphne was angered by this, as he'd made a vow to her as well. She then told him her courses were due in a few days and then they would know if they'd be miserable together or happy apart.

Daphne wrote and sent the letter to the general. When she told Marina about it, Marina asked if she'd signed Simon's name as well, knowing it would be taken more seriously if she had. Marina didn't believe the general would write back, but Daphne wasn't sure he wouldn't.

Daphne and Simon went to a concert together, but parted ways after their arrival. When the concert started, they sat together and Simon surprised Daphne by holding her hand. Daphne then realized something and got up in shock. She left the room, where she pulled her dress up and wiped herself, coming back with blood. She started crying and continued to wipe herself. Her mother found her and held her while she cried. In his opera box, Simon hears his wife weeping at the loss of her chance to have children and he looks quietly miserable.^[8]

Daphne and Simon posed for a portrait together. Henry Granville noticed the tension between them. They quietly talked about Simon's departure from London. Henry then stopped painting and adjusted their pose. When they made eye contact, Henry told them they were the picture of devotion.

Daphne then told her mother that she and Simon were going their separate ways. Her mother pleaded with her to consider forgiveness, but she said Simon was choosing a grudge over happiness. While they were talking, they were approached by Lady Featherington, who expressed her daughters' sadness at not being invited to the ball. Lady Bridgerton suggested she tell her daughters why that was, but Daphne said maybe they could make more room. Daphne then overheard Lady Featherington learning that a Mr. Crane was at her house. Believing it was George there for Marina, she accompanied Lady Featherington back home.

Daphne arrived to learn that it was not George, but his brother, Philip, bringing news that George had died on the battlefield. Marina confided in Daphne that Philip had found a half-written letter in George's things promising that he loved her and they'd get married and raise their child together. Because of Daphne's inquiries, they'd been able to find Marina and deliver the news to her.

While Daphne was busy preparing for the ball, she spoke to Simon and asked him what his father did to make him vow never to produce an heir. He just told her he was doing it for Daphne's own good. Curious, Daphne searched the house until she found the letters Simon had sent his father, left unopened. She opened them all and read them. She then asked Lady Danbury about them and learned that Simon had difficulty speaking as a child and his father rejected him as he wasn't perfect.

The next morning, Simon was surprised to find Daphne in the dining room having breakfast. She told him she'd be going to her family's home to welcome Francesca back. She asked him to join her and he agreed. They had a happy visit with her mother and her siblings.

Simon and Daphne looked at their newly-finished portrait and agreed it was an excellent likeness. Daphne noted how good Simon was with her young siblings, but he simply said that children loving him didn't mean he wanted his own. As guests started arriving, Daphne told Simon they had one last dance.

As the ball got underway, Daphne spoke to Eloise, saying she looked beautiful, but acknowledging Eloise's discomfort and giving her permission to spend the rest of the evening in the library. Eloise in turn thanked Daphne for being perfect so she didn't have to be.

After a conversation with her mother about the grief she felt after the death of Daphne's father, Daphne found Simon for their last dance together. As they danced, it began to rain heavily, but Daphne refused to be escorted to shelter. Seeing their interaction, Lady Danbury told the guests that the party was over and it was time to go home. Simon apologized to Daphne because the rain had ruined their party, but she told him that just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean it's not worthy of love and she hated that his father taught him otherwise. She told him she couldn't stop pretending she didn't love him. He could choose to love her back as much as she loved him.

Simon later went to Daphne and told her he didn't want to be alone, but didn't know how to be the man she needed him to be. Daphne assured him that he did know and they'd get through it together. They started kissing and then undressing. They proceeded to have sex and when the moment came, he didn't withdraw.

A few months later, Daphne labored and gave birth to a son. After holding him, Daphne handed him to Simon. When Daphne asked about a name, he said he supposed it should start with an A, as they had a family tradition to carry on.^[9]

1814 Social Season[]

Daphne accompanied her family for Eloise's debut. Eloise was extremely nervous on the way to the palace, but Daphne tried to calm her down and give her advice for when she approached the Queen. When Eloise's entrance was interrupted by news of Lady Whistledown's return, sending the guests into chaos, Daphne simply joked that she would not miss the drama of the social season now that she is wed. She wished Anthony good luck in finding a bride among the debutantes before returning home to her husband and child.^[10]

Daphne returned to her family's country estate for their country party, bringing baby Augie with her. Daphne became excited upon hearing that Anthony had invited a potential bride and her family to their party, hoping it meant he was smitten with her. She greeted Lady Danbury and the Sharmas when they arrived at the estate. She saw Anthony speaking to Kate Sharma and mistook her for Edwina Sharma, the girl he was courting. She was corrected and introduced to Edwina. Later, Daphne spoke to Kate and Edwina about the game they were to play and how her brothers and sisters competed in it every year. During the game, Daphne watched Anthony and Kate leave to retrieve their balls from a nearby bog. Daphne went on to win the game.

After the game, Daphne talked to Anthony about his relationship with Edwina. He said it was going well and Daphne said if he truly believed Edwina was right for him, she was happy for him. At dinner, Daphne noticed that Anthony kept looking at Kate, despite Edwina sitting right next to him.^[11]

Hearts and Flowers Ball[]

Daphne helped her mother prepare for the family's annual Hearts and Flowers Ball. When Daphne suggested a change to the flowers, Violet was impressed and said she'd taught Daphne well. As they greeted their guests, Daphne commented that she hadn't really gotten to know Edwina and didn't think Anthony had either. Wanting to get to know Edwina better, Daphne played cards with her, Mary, and Lady Danbury. They talked and Edwina said she thought she knew what she wanted in a match and Anthony matched that. Daphne commented that Edwina didn't seem to know Anthony at all. When Edwina mentioned that Kate had gone hunting with Anthony to get to know him better, that got Daphne thinking.

Daphne later told her mother that Edwina was certainly a diamond, but she pictured Anthony being with someone more like himself. She felt that Anthony was a Bridgerton and part of all of them would always require a challenge, a statement Violet agreed with. Daphne then went to Anthony and asked if they really knew each other well enough to get married and wondered if he couldn't find someone he had more in common with. He told her not to concern herself with it.

After watching Anthony get emotional while dancing with Kate and then catching the two of them alone in a room together, Daphne pointed out the similarity between that and when he caught her with Simon. Anthony said it wasn't what she thought and he was planning to propose to Edwina and nothing happened with Kate, despite Daphne knowing he held affection for her. He denied it, but she said it was obvious there was something between them.

Before the Sharmas could leave, Anthony retrieved the ring and proposed to Edwina, who happily accepted. As this unfolded, Daphne and Violet shared a knowing look.^[12]

Anthony and Edwina's Wedding[]

Daphne came back to town for Edwina and Anthony's wedding. She apologized for being late, saying she had doubts it would go forward at all. She told Anthony that Edwina deserved to know the truth, but Anthony said he'd gone too far to turn back. It would ruin Edwina and scandalize their own family. Daphne asked him about Kate, but Anthony said she had her own plans that didn't involve them. Daphne said she wished their father was alive because he was the only one Anthony truly respected and when he died, Anthony changed. Daphne told Anthony he could still choose to be happy, but he said he needed to fight for the family he had, not the one he wanted. She said she was sad for him.

When Edwina abruptly left in the middle of the ceremony, the family gathered to try to figure out what was happening. Violet saw Anthony glancing at Daphne, and realized that Daphne knew something and demanded that Daphne tell her. When the guests learned the wedding would not happen, they gossiped about why Edwina had called things off. When Violet overheard some of these remarks, Daphne came to her an escorted her home.^[13]

Pall Mall Game[]

Daphne returned to Aubrey Hall again the next year for another game of Pall Mall. When newlyweds Anthony and Kate were late to the game, Daphne commented that six hours was nothing for newlyweds. When Anthony and Kate embraced after arguing over the game, Daphne took it as them cutting out, but they insisted that they weren't.^[14]

Personality[]

The picture-perfect young debutante has been waiting her entire life to make her grand debut on the marriage mart. Poised to be the season of 1813's forthcoming Incomparable, Daphne's set to take the town by storm - but not everything goes exactly as planned for this diamond of the first water. Her brother Anthony's overzealous public vetting of every potential suitor eventually scares off most of the Ton's better prospects, but not even Anthony anticipates the effect of his sister literally running into a certain Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings.

Relationships[]

Romantic[]

Simon Basset[]

Daphne first met Simon Basset at Lady Danbury's ball as she was trying to escape the attention of Nigel Berbrooke. When Daphne was pursued and attacked by Nigel at the next ball, she punched him just as Simon walked in on them in the Dark Walk. Fearing what would become of her reputation if she were caught alone with two men, Daphne made haste before Simon came up with a plan to form a false courtship to make Daphne more desirable in society and himself less likely to be pursued by debutantes and their mothers.^[2].

During their ruse, Daphne and Simon developed feelings for one another.^[3] They attended more balls together, allowing Daphne to gain more attention from potential suitors, including Prince Friedrich. During a break from dancing, the two looked at art pieces Simon had donated. Looking at a misty landscape painting that was a favorite of his mother's, Simon confessed to not being sure what about the work appealed to her. Daphne regards it thoughtfully, saying, "it is very beautiful. It reminds me of waking up in the country, first thing in the morning, when I'll alone. I haven't yet spoken to a soul. I look outside the window an it is...serene. As if I could be the only person left in the world and yet somehow I am not lonely. Certainly the others are grand and impressive, but this one - this one is intimate." As Daphne speaks about the painting, the camera slowly zooms in on her face and Simon's. As Daphne's explanation gives Simon new insight into his mother and into Daphne herself, they slowly reach out and take each other's hands.

As their friendship blossomed, Simon explained to Daphne what happens on a married couple's wedding night. Following a conversation with Lady Danbury, who urged him to walk away if he had no intention of marrying, Simon abruptly ended their "courtship" the next day and apologized for his suggestion, all to Daphne's dismay. The two attended the next ball separately, where Daphne made a grand entrance down the main staircase and danced with Prince Friedrich as Simon stormed out in quiet jealousy.^[4]

Despite his rather cold dismissal of her, Daphne could not forget Simon, fantasizing about him even when with Friederich. When the prince was about to propose, Daphne ran into the gardens, where she met again with Simon. When she declared she was going to marry the prince, Simon went after her and kissed her, which she returned. Anthony caught them and commanded Simon marry Daphne to restore her honor. When Simon refused, Anthony challenged him to a duel. Daphne tried to talk Simon out of it, but he told her he couldn't marry her because he could not give her children. Despite this, Daphne declared she would marry him.

She later married Simon, and became the new duch*ess of Hastings. On their wedding night, they discussed their feelings and discovered they both loved each other, but each had believed their love to be unrequited. They consummated their marriage and arrived at their new home.^[7]

Nigel Berbrooke[]

Daphne met Nigel Berbrooke on her first ball as a debutant. He introduced himself to Daphne but right afterwards he made Daphne feel awkward and disgusted with him due to claiming he'd been keeping an eye on her since the time he was at school, when Daphne had five years old, and inmediatly avoided him for the rest of the evening. Much to Daphne's distaste, he visited her at the Bridgerton estate. Daphne at first tried to be left alone with him by taking Eloise's hand forcing her sister to stay by her side but their mother insisted with the excuse of going out with Penelope. Daphne had no other choice but to receive Nigel and listen to him while he was trying to persuate her to marry him. The next day, during an event at Vauxhall Gardens, Anthony informed Daphne that he'd promised her to Nigel Berbrooke. In the need to have a moment for herself and some fresh air, she left and hide in the garden. There, Nigel approached and while Daphne assured him she'd never marry him despite of what her brother has said, Nigel acted as if he was doing her a favor as if he he's her last hope. Daphne punched him in the face when Nigel grabbed her knocking him out at the same time Simon arrived to help her.^[2]

During Daphne and Simon's ruse in order to give Daphne many choices of marriage, Nigel was concerned about it since Anthony had promised him his sister's hand to marry him. Nevertheless, during an event, Simon confessed to Anthony what he tried to do to Daphne, which he responded by calling off the engagement and demanind Nigel of never approaching Daphne ever again. Despite this, Nigel, managed to get a special license and threatened Anthony with spreading the rumor of Daphne being alone with him at the Vauxhall Gardens, which would ruin Daphne as well as her entire family's reputation. Feeling with no other choice, Daphne reluctantly accepted marrying Nigel, despite of much she despises the idea. However, Violet came up with a plan in order to get rid of Nigel Berbrooke for good inviting his mother and her lady's maid to have tea together. They found out Nigel had an illegitimate son with a maid, refused to provide for and sent both the maid and child away to live off scraps. So, Violet had Mrs. Wilson to start talking spreading the gossip. Their plan succeded, with Lady Whistledown writting about the rumor of Nigel's bastard son, this lead Nigel Berbrooke to leave town, disappearing of Daphne's life for good.^[3]

Prince Friedrich[]

The queen introduced Daphne to her nephew, Prince Friedrich of Prussia, hoping to match her nephew with her latest diamond. Sadly, Daphne paid little attention to Friedrich, as her heart belonged to Simon, until the latter broke off their agreement and left her heartbroken. Daphne welcomed Friedrich's attention after that, and they began properly courting. Friedrich planned to propose to Daphne, but a series of events led to her choosing to marry Simon instead. She apologized to Friedrich, saying she couldn't help but fall for Simon, and the prince left England to return home.

Familial[]

She grew up in a large family, the fourth of eight siblings. She describes her childhood home as being filled with love. Atypically, the whole family dined at the table together, even the youngest children.

Violet Bridgerton[]

Daphne saw her parents as the ideal love match, and wanted to find love similar to theirs. Violet wanted to make that happen for Daphne, and both were excited when Daphne was named the season's Incomparable, helping her search. When Anthony started scaring away Daphne's suitors, Violet stood up for her and called Anthony out on hurting Daphne's future. Though Violet was excited about Daphne capturing Simon's attentions, she welcomed the other suitors who also courted Daphne. Violet scolded Anthony upon hearing he had promised Daphne's hand to Nigel Berbrooke, and relieved when Anthony called off his arrangement. When Nigel tried to blackmail Daphne into marriage, Violet was the one who came up with the scheme to get rid of him. After inviting Nigel's mother to tea, she revealed to Daphne that she had the servants get gossip from the Berbrooke maid to drive Nigel out of town. Violet then made sure the secret of Nigel's illegitimate son was spread around for Lady Whistledown to catch wind of and publish it, driving Nigel out of London.

Violet saw the connection between Daphne and Simon, and patiently waited for him to formally propose. She was quite concerned and disappointed when Daphne chose Prince Friedrich, as she truly believed her daughter to be in love with Simon, and vice versa. Violet was overjoyed when Daphne announced she was engaged to Simon after all.

The mother-daughter relationship hit a snag when Daphne learned, without help from Violet, how children are conceived, and felt like her mother had deceived her and sent her into the world unprepared for married life, which she confronted Violet for. However, in the end, their relationship was mended when Violet encouraged Daphne to fight for her marriage, encouraging her and assuring her that there was nothing she could not do. Violet even attended to Daphne at the birth of her first child, Augie.

Anthony Bridgerton[]

Anthony was overprotective of Daphne when she made her debut, scaring off many suitors and tarnishing her reputation as the season's Incomparable. She told Anthony that she faces pressure to marry well, and neither his interference nor her Bridgerton lineage helped her desperate situation. He arranged for her to marry Nigel Berbrooke, despite her clear objections. When Simon appeared to be interested in Daphne, Anthony was furious, and continued to push for Daphne to marry Nigel, until he found out Nigel had attacked Daphne in the gardens; Anthony cancelled any plans for marrying her to Nigel and threatened him to stay away from her. He was remorseful of his choice when Nigel attempted to blackmail Daphne into marriage.

When Nigel was run out of town by Lady Whistledown, Anthony loosened the reins concerning Daphne's season and welcomed new suitors to her. When Prince Friedrich asked Anthony for Daphne's hand in marriage, he simply replied that it was up to her. Anthony was furious when he caught Daphne and Simon in a heated moment, tearing them apart and demanding Simon marry her at once to restore her honor. When Simon refused, Anthony challenged him to a duel which ultimately did not go through when Daphne declared she would marry Simon.

The following social season, Daphne was delighted when she learned that Anthony had invited a potential bride to the family's ancestral house. She teased Anthony, promising to help him the way he helped her when she was looking to marry. Despite Anthony saying he was courting Edwina, Daphne noticed his attachment to Kate. When she walked in on them almost kissing, she tried to encourage Anthony to follow his heart. After Anthony proposed to Edwina, Daphne was doubtful, and tried to convince Anthony to be honest about his feelings for Kate and Edwina.

Colin Bridgerton[]

Daphne gets along with Colin due to being the sibling who is closest to her age. At her first ball as a debutant, Daphne was excited after hearing Colin's plans to travel around the continent. When Anthony challenged Simon to a duel, Daphne begged Colin to tell her the exact location where they would have their duel. After the secret of Marina's pregnancy became public, Daphne inmediatly returned to London to help Colin face that scandal, arranging a meeting with Marina at her place acting as a chapherone.

Eloise Bridgerton[]

Daphne and Eloise could not be more different in terms of goals and interests. Daphne, proper, gentle, and a true lady of her time, is the ideal noblewoman and bride who wants nothing more than to find true love and have a family of her own, excited for her social season. Eloise, independent, sharp-tongued, and honest to a fault, is completely disinterested and outright opposed to the idea of marriage altogether. Eloise at first wished that Daphne might never marry, knowing that after she did, their mother would put the pressure on Eloise to wed. When Eloise entered her first season, she confessed that she felt as though she were living in Daphne's shadow, since she had been the season's diamond, the perfect debutante.

Despite all their differences, Daphne and Eloise truly care for each other. Despite Eloise not wanting Daphne to be married, she was happy when she was saved from marrying Nigel Berbrooke. Daphne tries to give Eloise advice for her presentation to the queen. Like their mother, Daphne wishes to see Eloise happy, even if her idea of Eloise's happiness is different from her own. At the ball at the end of the season, Daphne also allowed her sister to go and hide inside the library, aware that Eloise didn't like those events.

Hyacinth Bridgerton[]

Daphne is quite close with her youngest sister. Like Daphne, Hyacinth wants to find true love and form a family. Hyacinth is the sibling who gets happiest and most excited about Daphne's suitors. When Daphne was courting Prince Friedrich, Hyacinth was overjoyed by the possibility of becoming the sister of a princess.

Francesca Stirling[]

Like with Hyacinth, Daphne is close with Francesca. It is seen that Francesca looks up on her, saying that she wasn't 'like everyone else' when Daphne is presented to Queen Charlotte and called her 'flawless'. Daphne was very happy to see Francesca when she came back from practicing her pianoforte and her sister was delighted for having now the duke as 'another brother'.

Rivals[]

Cressida Cowper[]

Daphne and Cressida both entered their first season together, competing for the top pick of eligible bachelors. Daphne's fortunes exceeded Cressida's upon being named the season's Incomparable.<ref name=1x01> Their "rivalry" became particularly heated when Prince Friedrich arrived in London in search of a wife. Cressida was clearly interested, but Friedrich pursued Daphne instead. Cressida finally caught the prince's favor and was making progress with him^[4] until Daphne changed her mind about the duke and went for Friedrich, who dropped his pursuit of Cressida as a result. Cressida saw this as a betrayal, as Daphne had many suitors but stole the only one Cressida had. When Daphne had a heated moment with the Duke of Hastings in the gardens, Cressida saw, and hinted to Daphne that she knew, subtly threatening to spill the scandal and ruin Daphne.^[5] When she saw Daphne at the modiste, she taunted her, accusing her of using Friedrich to make the duke jealous and trap him into marrying her, but Daphne shut her down, reminding Cressida that she was to be a duch*ess while Cressida was to remain unmarried and untitled, so it would be unwise to make an enemy of her. Even at Daphne's wedding reception, Cressida was snide and smug, calling her keeping Daphne's secret a "kindness."^[6] During a luncheon hosted by the queen, Cressida and her mother attended while Daphne did the same with her husband. Daphne shut Cressida down for making a comment about Lady Featherington and Marina.^[8] They met again the next season during Anthony and Edwina's wedding. Despite not seeing each other for almost a year, Cressida's resentment toward Daphne had not changed anything and Cressida coldly called Daphne her "duch*ess" instead of doing it respectfully such as the rest of people there did.^[13]

Notes and Trivia[]

• Daphne excels at the piano and even wrote an original composition in Art of the Swoon.
• Daphne has won the Pall Mall game of their family two years in a row.^[11]
• Daphne is the only Bridgerton child to not have dark hair.
• Daphne practiced her balance of her curtsy by using a painting nearby.^[10]

Gallery[]

Memorable Quotes[]

Daphne: We will all need to find love one day. Indeed, a love as pure as what Mama and Papa once shared, if we are so fortunate. ^[2]

Daphne: You have no idea what it is to be a woman. What it might feel like to have one's entire life reduced to a single moment. This is all I have been raised for. This... is all I am. I have no other value. If I am unable to find a husband, I shall be worthless. ^[2]

Daphne: Would you have believed me? Or did you only change your mind about Lord Berbrooke because another man told you the truth?

Anthony: You truly esteem me so little?

Daphne: After I apprised you of my wishes and you proceeded to ignore them? Yes, Brother, I do. ^[3]

Daphne: In a matter of days, I am to be a duch*ess, and you shall be just as you are now, unmarried and untitled. So you can either be a duch*ess’s friend or her enemy. It is entirely up to you. ^[6]

Daphne: There is obviously something between you. And I know that this is not as you wish it, but you must be honest with yourself. Because one way or another, these kind of feelings always have a way of coming to the surface.

Anthony: And what kind of feelings are those?

Daphne: Well, love. ^[12]

Daphne: Well, fear not, Anthony. Seeing as though you were such a help to me last season, it would only be fair of me to return the favor.

Anthony: Is that a promise or a threat? ^[11]

Daphne: Every time I think my marriage has become simple, Simon and I find some new stone to turn over, a new foible that one of us needs the other to tease out and inspect. It is decidedly irritating. Yet incredibly gratifying at the same time. ^[12]

Appearances[]

References