Chapter Text
Daphne closed her eyes as she leaned back against the wall to take a moment to herself. Even having been raised for a life in business since she was born, it could still get overwhelming.
It was the networking and drink events like tonight that made her regret going for her Master’s. Even though she was just a fellow student, so many of her peers took advantage of nights like tonight to pester her about her family's company and her brothers.
Because what does it matter that there were full-time business employees in the room. None of them held the name Bridgerton.
“Daphne.”
For God’s sake, was all Daphne could think as she stood up, fix her posture, to one her Mother would approve of. Her Mother’s saying ‘Good posture is a Woman’s battle armour girls.’ running through her mind.
“Nigel.”
“I noticed you left the gathering, and well a pretty girl like you should know better than to go anywhere alone at night.”
Daphne gave Nigel a blank stare as she tried to process his ‘compliment’, After four years you would think he would have got the hint that she just wasn’t interested.
“You’ve met my brother’s Nigel so I’m sure it comes to no surprise to find out Anthony convinced Mama, it is necessary all the girls in our family have to take self-defence classes as teenagers. So I would like to think I could handle myself. Especially In a building, with security available and cameras. We aren't exactly in an abandoned dark alley.” Daphne would never thank Anthony to his face for enforcing the classes, but she did appreciate them.
“Still if you were my girl, I wouldn’t want you to be walking around by yourself it’s a man’s job to protect the women in his life.” Nigel was so smarmy and boastful as he spoke Daphne almost wanted to throw up in disgust.
“Good thing I’m not your girl then.”
“You will be though when you eventually come to your senses, I’m your only option, Daphne. I may find you pretty but we both know I’m the only one. Your just average Daphne who most only find attractive for your status as the eldest Bridgerton Daughter. No one else has asked you out others won’t even come near you because Anthony scares them off. He hasn’t threatened me so he must approve. You need to respect that the men in your life know best and agree to be mine.”
As Nigel spoke which was clearly turning more into a threat every sentence, he walked closer to Daphne until he was practically on top of her and reached out to grab her shoulder.
Daphne waited until his hand made contact with her shoulder to grab his wrist and twist it as her knee came up to make contact between his legs Unfortunately Nigel had had a drink in his hand which in the struggle Daphne ended up covered in.
But the end result was Daphne on one side of the hallway the front of her dress drenched but relatively fine. Nigel on the other side hunched over groaning in pain.
“You’ll regret that Daphne when I charge you for assault if you don't see reason.” Nigel’s threat may have been more menacing if he wasn’t groaning between every other word.
Before Daphne could respond another voice interrupted startling them both.
“That wouldn’t be a wise decision.”
Daphne turned to see who the newcomer was shocked when she recognised him. It may have been six years but standing down the hall was Anthony’s oldest and dearest friend Simon.
“I don’t know who you are sir. But this crazy woman just assaulted me I am well within my right to press charges.” Nigel then turned to look at Daphne before adding. “ Which would ruin your career Daphne, but I would consider not pressing charges if you agreed to be mine.”
At his suggestion Daphne was tempted to walk back over and knee him again he was obviously recovering too quickly. Before she could make a decision Simon was speaking, he had come closer to them as Nigel had focused his attention on Daphne and was only a few steps away from Daphne at this point.
“I assume the reason you want Daphne to be your’s so badly when she shows no interest is because you know she is a Bridgerton correct?”
“Of course everyone knows she is a Bridgerton, unlike how I have no idea who you are?”
Daphne had to turn her head as he tried not to laugh. Nigel was trying to be all alpha even though Simon had quite a bit of height and muscle on him, and he was Simon Basset.
“He is Anthony’s best friend Simon Hastings, his father is William Hastings.” Nigel went pale as he realised who was standing in front of him.
Simon may not have a lot of clout, but everyone knew his Father was a powerful politician while never having led his political party as Prime Minister was the one in the background pulling all the strings. William Basset was not a man to anger.
“I see you recognise my Father’s name, and we have established you know Daphne is a Bridgerton. So you are aware of Anthony, Benedict, and Colin. Now I may not know who you are and I don’t care. Frankly, I am tempted to convince you to file an assault charge against Daphne. As a lawyer, I can tell you with the surveillance camera, and mine and Daphne's statements you would stand no chance of successfully pressing your case. But Daphne would be able to then quite easily file a restraining order." Daphne had never seen Simon in court but if this was his attorney's voice no wonder Anthony said he was so successful.
“Now if you have an active restraining order against you that isn’t going to look good for anyone. But when the names of the people filing the order are Bridgerton and Hastings, I’m sure you can imagine no one would want to hire you. So here is what I suggest you leave and ignore Daphne from now on.”
Nigel looked like he was going to say something before making the first and only smart decision of his for the night and leaving.
Once he was gone through a door further down the hallway. Simon turned to Daphne. “I’m sorry for jumping in I hope you don’t think I didn’t trust you could handle it. Clearly, you could based on the way you got away from him. But hearing him speak I recognised that you could have made the same threat I just did and it wouldn’t matter. He is a sexist pig and he clearly has no respect from females and unless the threat was coming from a male he would have paid no attention. “
Daphne had been kind of peeved with Simon stepping in and taking overthinking, he was as overprotective as Anthony and didn’t think she could handle herself. So she was glad he explained herself before she made a fool of herself accusing him. Instead, she made a fool of herself stating the obvious.
“Anthony didn’t mention you were back in London.”
“I would have been surprised if he did, seeing as he doesn’t know. I only got back yesterday it was a last-minute decision. I haven't informed him yet. Wanted to be settled a bit before we caught up.”
"Did you drive or can I offer you a lift home so you can get out of that wet dress, it must be uncomfortable?” Daphne looked down at Simon's suggestion she had actually completely forgotten with everything that happened that the front of her dress was wet.
“Oh no I’m good thank you’ll I’ll just catch an Uber. “ She had meant to get a lift with one of her female classmates but an Uber would do.
“I don’t know how much luck you would get, once the driver realised your dress was soaked. It’s really no trouble at all, are you still at the family house?” He may have had a point about her dress but she really didn’t want to get a lift home with him.
“I do but it’s no trouble. I can just call one of my siblings to come to pick me up. There’s really no need to worry."
“I assure you it is no problem at all I would practically be driving past your house.”
“Look we’ve established you still consider Anthony a friend right?”
Simon looked at Daphne perplexed like he was confused about where she was going with this train of thought as he answered to the affirmative
“And I assume you want to stay friends.”
Simon continued to look at Daphne in confusion like the dots just weren’t adding up as he answered. “I’m offering you a ride home not offering to seduce you. I don’t have a younger sister. But he can’t complain about that surely if that’s what you're getting at?”
Daphne couldn’t help but laugh at that. The last time she had seen Simon she was only fourteen and as a late bloomer in puberty, she was still very much her pre-teen self. And as the oldest Bridgerton daughter she realised Simon would never have seen Anthony’s ridiculous protective older brother act.
“You haven’t seen Anthony the last couple of years he’s insane. You’ll soon learn Daphne Bridgerton is off-limits unless you meet Anthony Bridgerton’s approval.” At least he assured her he wouldn’t object if someone met his approval. But unless they were a saint she doubted anyone would.
She added, “Especially for his friends the rules are Don’t talk to her, don’t look at her, don't go near her.”
“Your kidding?” The disbelief in Simons's voice was evident.
“I wish, I may be 20 and a legal adult. But Anthony is my senior by nine years in the family and technically my boss. So it’s not worth the argument like I said I’ll just call one of my siblings. I'm sure Colin or Benedict will be happy to pick me up.”
“I don’t understand.” Now Daphne was the one confused how could Simon not understand she thought she was being quite clear. Though she had never had to explain Anthony’s rules to a man before, everyone just knew. So maybe she was explaining them wrong.
So she elaborated further.
“Look you may see it as being kind and giving your dearest friend's younger sister a lift. But unfortunately, Anthony’s condo is being renovated and this means he is staying at the family home at the moment. And he will be awake waiting for me. And when he sees me get out of a car he doesn’t recognise he will come out. When he recognises you he will be pissed.” She had never disregarded Anthony’s rules before but she imagined he would be quite angry. “And he will be angry at me for being alone in a car with you. So it’s not worth it.”
“Daphne you know me, I used to help you with homework. Your family knows me, your Mother has always loved me, You have to be uncomfortable in that dress let me take you home. The rest of Anthony's friends may be too scared of him. But believe me, I can hold my own against Anthony. “
Simon seemed so sincere and adamant. And to be truthful the longer she stood around the sticker and gross her dress felt. And at the end of the day. Anthony wouldn’t stay mad at her for too long it would be Simon’s funeral not hers.
So she finally gave in and agreed to let him take her home. Daphne explained she would just need to make her goodbyes to her lift. But that only took a matter of minutes. It wasn’t long before they were arriving at Simons's car.
Which was a rental so he requested she wear his jacket. Purely because it would be easier to get the jacket dry cleaned than the seat.
She was already getting in the car with him so wearing his jacket couldn’t be any worse.