inbox. duplicity.

[sheening]

Daphne Bridgerton

Please leave all correspondence here, action threads as well. While new to the game, her voice-mail message will be automated, and it may take longer than usual for her to reply to texts, videos, and phonecalls.

Comments

an actual letter

[alwayspullsout]

[Where did Simon get stationary and a pen to write this letter? Unclear. He very possibly had to bribe someone to send it, being that he is without a contract still. But the letter arrives a few days after the party. It was sent the next day, if the post mark is to be believed.

It is impeccably penned. Or it starts that way, anyway. ]

Daphne,

I must beg your forgiveness for my delay in corresponding with you. I have startrd this letter countless times, yet each attempt has found me dissatisfied with its contents whether through my own lack of grace or the haste in which I feel I must address you. As this is now my final remaining sheet of paper, I must speak plainly, and I pray you will forgive any frankness in my form of address.

To begin, the invitation to your family's ball was quite gracious, and I played the fool by avoiding you. I pray you will forgive me. This ball was a far preferable celebration than those held at the ton to showcase the marriage mart, and I was most impressed by your skill in organizing such an event without the ample assistance of your (perhaps our?) staff. I only regret that I did not tell you as much in person.

Since arriving, I have been fortunate enough to find myself reacquainted with your siblings, including those I did not know well such as Eloise, Benedict, and Colin. I can say with full certainty that you and your family are undoubtedly the kindest fortunate to have each other for support in so strange a city as this.

[ He should probably stop before it sounds like he slept with the three of them. Because he didn't! He didn't even sleep with Anthony, really, though fucking on the lawn still counts. The next part of the letter is not entirely a smudge, but it is clear that Simon made several attempts on how to start it, before ultimately scratching out and starting anew.

He believes he has no right to ask her anything, really, before they speak of this thing between them. ]

Did you enjoy yourself as well?
All those I spoke to had only praise for your efforts
A familiar scene was almost welcome
I only wish I could
I find myself wishing to hear how you achieved such a feat

I find that, though I spoke to many Bridgertons this last eve, in avoiding you I missed the very heart of the evening. And though I know it is not within my right to ask this of you—to speak to you as though there is not this thing between us that must be addressed—but I wish to know if this ball made you happy. My heart aches to realize I do not know you well enough to assume the answer.

But I digress. This letter grows long, and the remaining space on this page ever short. I have strayed from the purpose of it as I did in all my previous attempts. Brevity fails me when I employ the use of a pen, it seems.

I shall thus be brief. I am aware that my presence here is a hindrance to you. Our marriage, which was known to all but myself, lies at the heart of this. Yet it is far too complex a matter to be addressed over paper, or text, or voice messages as has been suggested to me. This shall be a conversation to be had in person.

You deserve no less.

But I fear I am not yet ready, and I fear this means you have married a coward. In truth, a coward is the kindest of insults I should grant myself. Your brother would have far worse. And is it true he and I nearly dueled for your honor? I fear you may have married a fool.

[ His writing gets hastier the closer he gets to the end. ]

I am distracted once more. Forgive me. I do not know when I will be able to have this conversation with you, but know that it weighs on my mind gravely. As does your happiness.

I hope you have found it here.

Respectfully,

Simon Basset

[ He wrote all that just to be like "I'm a fool and a coward and I don't know when I'll actually talk to you, OK, bye" I'm so. Sorry. ]