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English
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Published:
2021-04-04
Updated:
2023-04-02
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20,884
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10/?
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Without Sight

Summary:

UP FOR ADOPTION
“’It is a good thing Daphne is so taken with the Duke. Cressida would never have a hope with the Prince if Daphne went for him.’
She could have him. She knew exactly what to do, how to speak, how to move, to draw his attention. He wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off of her.

Simon would have no idea what hit him.”

Daphne seduces Simon after he tries to break it off.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: Swept Up

Chapter Text

Daphne sat on her bed, staring at the white rose Simon had given her only the day before. The day had started off so well. She had felt so confident. After finishing her latest composition on the pianoforte, she had resolved to try and truly have Simon court her. He had said he would never wed, but as her mother had said, many men made such declarations. She had been so happy to see him standing there.

And then her heart had been shattered.

What could have possibly changed? She knew she had not imagined their connection, the comfort and ease they had shared. So why had he been so cruel?

“Ugh!” She hurled the rose away from her, horrified at the new agony the delicate petals now caused her. Yesterday then had been a source of joy, of….

Pleasure.

Now, she never wanted to look at another flower ever again.

She lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, recalling the words he had spoken.

“… a young lady barely out of her leading strings…. a diversion…”

He knew what he was doing, she realized. He had chosen the words that would hurt her the most.

And he could not have chosen better, she thought.

Why? He said they had accomplished their goals, that she had the attentions of the Prince…

But it was not the Prince’s attentions she desired.

It was like she had been struck, as if the knowledge had been slammed into her. She did not want the Prince, she wanted Simon. She wanted the easy conversation, the calm friendship, the lack of pressure to be as perfect as society expected. She wanted his playful yet intense gaze to follow her about a room, she wanted the intriguing flirtations, the ones that inspired her curiosity.

She wanted his love.

 

His love? What!?

And there was no reason to desire his love unless she was in love with him herself.

“Well, this is terribly inconvenient!” She cried as she stood. She needed to move, she needed to pace. It was terribly inappropriate for a lady, but she was alone, and if she didn’t move, she might dissolve into tears again.

This was meant to be a ruse, they were not supposed to love each other, they were using each other! She had known after last night that she felt more than she should. She had woken with a new understanding of their relationship, she had wanted to explore it further. She hadn’t allowed herself to think of why.

What could she do now? Simon had ended their ruse, had ended their relationship. She could not go and see him herself! What was she to do?!

“Daphne, we must be going, we have an appointment with Madame Delacroix.”

Her mother’s voice from outside the door reminded her that there would be consequences to faking the attachment, likely ones she hadn’t even thought of.

 

 

She stared at her reflection, trying to come to grips with…. being in love. She had no idea what else could explain her behaviour, her heart’s giddy reaction to seeing him,

Her heartbreak at what he had done.

His words had cut her to the core, as he had likely known they would.
But why?

They had agreed that their time together was temporary, that their ruse would have an endpoint, but it was supposed to be once she had identified her potential husband, when she had made a decision, and she had not decided anything, he had made that decision for her, that the Prince was ‘perfect' for her.

She could decide what was perfect for herself!

“Daphne, is everything alright? You look quite upset,” her mother noted.

Daphne tried to school her features into a neutral mask, “I am perfectly well, Mama, merely anxious about tonight,”

Tonight, she needed to have gained control of herself by the time she saw him tonight. He had clearly chosen his words to drive her away, even a blind man would have been able to see that Simon wanted to push her away. Rather than simply ending their ruse, he had wanted to sever all connection between them. He had been uncomfortable, unhappy, though she had no idea why. Even in a false courtship he still had so the greater share of power.

Why had he done it? Why had he ended it, and why had he chose to hurt her?

She couldn’t force the issue, couldn’t call on him,

“Ah, Lady Bridgerton.”

“Lady Cowper”

Perhaps she might be able to speak to Lady Danbury, she had helped raise the Duke, Daphne knew. She might have some insight as to his intentions. She wouldn’t know about the ruse, but she might know why he had chosen now to end it. Maybe…

“I must say, it is a good thing Daphne is so taken with the Duke. Cressida would never have a hope with the Prince if Daphne went for him. We all know my darling might have the fortune, but it is your Daphne that has the face.”

What an odd thing to say. Was Lady Cowper trying to bait her? Surely she would want all potential rivals of Cressida’s out of the way, why suggest that Daphne could have him?

She could have him. She knew exactly what to do, how to speak, how to move, to draw his attention. He wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off of her.

Simon would have no idea what hit him.