Chapter Text
"Mum! They're here, they're here, they're-"
"Here?" Violet Bridgerton finishes, rubbing the side of her head as she heads downstairs just in time to see the butler open the door for her eldest daughter and her husband, Simon Basset.
A handsome man, Violet always notes, happy that her daughter has her wish of being with an attractive, wonderful, kind, hard-working man. She's got the golden marriage, much to her knowledge and she knows the whole world is jealous of her husband who no one really knows about because of their insistence on privacy.
Violet doubts they know they have four children, three girls and one boy. Amelia, Belinda, Caroline and David. Daphne's taken a leaf out of her mother's book by naming her children alphabetically.
"Take him," Daphne literally begs her mother as Violet hurries to take the only boy from her into her own arms. "I need the loo!"
Violet chuckles and babbles at the child. "Hi, Simon," she says, giving him a one-armed hug as he puts their third child down to hurry into Hyacinth's waiting arms.
Simon hands a bouquet of flowers to Violet, pressing a kiss on her cheek. "Happy Birthday."
Tutting, Violet chuckles warmly and leads the family, sans Daphne who is using the toilet, into the informal living room. She has snacks and treats for the children and she can hear Simon muttering to himself about hyperactive kids.
"Just for today," she assures him to which he relents with a smile and helps Amelia to a chocolate bonbon.
When the doorbell rings again, she puts David down and he immediately hurries for the bunch of Haribo sweets. She heads towards the door, narrowly missing Hyacinth snapping selfies with Caroline shyly grinning on her hip.
Seventeen-year-olds , Violet thinks with a roll of her eyes. So obsessed with their phones and social media!
The butler opens the door and she beams when she sees Anthony and Kate on her doorstep with Edmund and Miles. Not only them but there are flowers and gift boxes present too and Violet gives her son a disapproving glance when she knows they're expensive gifts. She's old, she's meant to spoil them or at least their kids!
"Happy Birthday, Mother," Anthony says, turning to his wife who nudges their sons forward.
"Give Nana a hug," Kate encourages her shy boys before tutting and hugging her mother-in-law first. "They're just grumpy because we said 'no McDonald's'."
Violet snorts as Kate ushers the boys in, allowing her to accept cheek kisses and a hug from her eldest. "I have burgers at the ready. I'm no McDonald's but I hope they'll accept it."
"They better," Anthony mutters, giving Daphne a grin when she appears from the loo. "Hi, you! Let me guess who you're wearing."
"Anthony!" Daphne blushes, emitting a chuckle from their mother. She spins around to humour him.
"You look wonderful," he tells her, hugging her as she chuckles. "Where's Simon? We need to talk-"
"Just go," Daphne sighs, rolling her eyes as she gestures to the living room and helps her mother take the gifts and put them in the formal living room for now. "If I hear one more word about the match, I'll throttle someone."
Violet laughs. "Remember when your dad would dance with whoever walked into his path whenever his team won?"
"Simon is terrible ," Daphne bemoans. "He's even thinking about inviting the guys over for the FA Cup! Can you imagine Will, Anthony, Benedict and Colin ruining my carpets with their beers and their crisps and whatever men eat during stupid football matches? I finally got my fur rugs from Italy!"
Violet sighs wistfully. "What I'd do for your father to bring his friends around."
Daphne immediately winces and she hugs her mother. "Sorry. I shouldn't complain. I love my husband, his best friend and my brothers but surely you agree that some rooms are best kept neat and tidy."
"Don't you have children?"
"We built them a whole extension for their toys," Daphne says casually. "As long as they do not ruin my fur rugs."
Violet sighs, chuckling. She can never fault her daughter's 'prim and proper' ways. She loves Daphne but even Daphne knows she is too much sometimes and Lord knows how Simon handles that. Probably by getting her pregnant every time because Daphne is suddenly made humbled whenever she's pregnant much to her family's surprise.
The doorbell rings again and Daphne gasps in excitement. "If that's Eloise, I'll need to borrow her for a second," she says, leading the way to the door as Colin and Penelope enter. "Oh, it's you." It's mostly aimed at Colin and he gives her one beguiling smile and she launches herself into his arms.
"There's the reaction I wanted," he says before hugging his mother tightly. "And here is my favourite mother! Happy Birthday!"
"Thank you, sweetheart," Violet replies. "And I'm your only mother."
"Mum! Where are my socks?!"
Colin glares up the stairs. "Probably where you left them, Gregory!" Then he gasps, turning to the three women before him. "I'm not even a father and I'm..." He gags. "Acting like one!"
Violet snorts. "Thanks for responding to that knucklehead," she says lightly. "And I'm sure it will happen soon."
Penelope smiles wryly. "Yes, I'm sure," she says tightly, giving her mother-in-law a quick hug. "Happy Birthday."
Violet beams and accepts her present to which she scowls at Colin. "Your latest book?"
"Open the first page!" Colin exclaims.
Violet sighs and does as told before gasping and reading the words. "' To my mother, the best woman I know. I love you, this is dedicated to you'. " She pouts. "Colin!"
"Figured it was time," he says, his cheeks staining red as his sister and wife smile at him warmly. "I hope neither of you is insulted for not being the best woman I know. Penelope's obviously in second place."
"That's so sweet, Colin," Daphne says. "I only got her a designer handbag and matching gloves and scarf set."
"Daphne!" Violet exclaims, flattered. Where she berated Anthony for spending money on her, she never does with Daphne for some reason. Perhaps since Daphne was always spoiled and always wanted the best and truth be told, her husband was quite wealthy in his own right and her fashion designing career was going splendidly.
"The latest season," Daphne tells her. "And it won't ever go out of fashion. One of a kind."
Violet almost swoons. "Let's go and see everyone-"
"The doorbell rings and she answers it herself since she's there already. Behind the door is Benedict, Sophie and their sons, Charles and baby Alexander. She gasps and squeals and brings Alexander into her arms before dismissively waving at his parents.
No one wins when it comes to babies and Alexander is only just two months old.
"Happy Birthday, I guess," Benedict mutters lightly, greeting his siblings present in the foyer first since his mother is too busy swooning over Alexander. Even Charles pulls at her dress to get some attention. "Come on, bud. Nana will say 'hello' soon."
They all head into the informal living room, Benedict and Sophie greeting everyone along with Colin and Penelope. Violet counts heads, her eldest four are here, along with her youngest two. Only Eloise and Francesca have yet to arrive.
Francesca has an excuse. She's driving all the way down from Scotland but Eloise...
"Where is Eloise?" She wonders aloud, gaining Anthony and Benedict's attention. "Never mind me."
"I was going to say," Anthony says cheekily. "Not even Fran has arrived yet."
Violet lightly scowls but he isn't wrong as she takes a seat on her favourite armchair with Alexander in her arms. She might as well enjoy the company of her grandchildren as her children and children-in-law converse and catch up.
So far, she's picked up on the fact that Anthony is thinking of becoming a partner at his law firm, Benedict's just bought a new art studio in the City, Colin has obviously released his new book dedicated to her, Daphne's working on a new lingerie line, Gregory's trying to start a penpal club at university, and Hyacinth is looking at choices for university with Anthony and Benedict informing her that only Cambridge and Oxford are her only choices (much to Hyacinth's disappointment at her faux fathers' decision). If she had it her way, she'll manipulate her brothers just as Francesca managed to do when she went to study Medicine in Scotland. But her brothers are stricter on her as the youngest and the only child not to have met their late father as he died when she was eight months in the womb.
Violet gives Hyacinth a reassuring glance when Anthony says that he'll call up some old friends and ask about the girls' halls of residence at Cambridge to see if she'll like it.
After learning of her children's lives so far (two of which she already knows as they still live with her), she learns about their spouses. Kate is finally returning back to work as a solicitor at Anthony's firm after her one dropped her during her maternity leave, Simon's making a lot of money doing whatever he does (he still hasn't told anyone but Anthony and Daphne what he does exactly and it's quite funny since it isn't illegal but just because he likes taunting the rest of the Bridgerton children), Penelope is writing her own novels and seeking fertility advice and Sophie is... Well, Sophie is Sophie.
Sophie is a stay-at-home mother, supporting her artist husband in his career as she mothers their two sons and right now, she's enjoying life with their new addition. She could accept a role at Daphne's company but she's tired of the working life, something she has never explained to anyone but her husband as to what she means. But Violet knows it's not entirely good.
The doorbell rings and soon, Francesca arrives, starting up the process of catching up and learning what every sibling and spouse are up to during the time they've not seen each other.
"If Eloise doesn't come, just start opening your gifts anyway," Anthony says impatiently, checking his golden watch and shifting in his expensive loafers.
Violet snorts at his appearance in his tight grey suit and simple white shirt with no tie as he starts tapping his foot impatiently. He looks like a father alright. He has the glare, the impatience, the comments under his breath all perfected. Even looking at his watch.
"She will be here," Violet assures him. "We can wait."
"What if she's got into an accident?" Hyacinth asks casually, pouting and snapping a selfie.
"Hyacinth!" Her siblings cry out.
"What?" She asks innocently. "It wouldn't be the first time..."
And that is true. Once, Eloise ran away from home and got herself into a terrible car accident. She miraculously survived without injury but everyone fretted over her, calling her on the daily, hourly and even stopping by with food and whatever she needed. She had loved the attention.
"I think she will be okay," Benedict says, assuring everyone to not think of the worst. "She's unbeatable. A force to be reckoned with."
"Hmm, yes," Violet mutters, noticing that Alexander's fast asleep and she smiles fondly.
After an hour, Violet sighs and opens up her presents, everyone's ears open in case the doorbell rings. By the time she's opened the last present, the doorbell does ring and the Bridgerton children all fight for the door as Violet calmly stands from her chair and parts them like the Red Sea.
"Could she walk any slower?" Colin mutters as they follow behind.
Violet waits as Humboldt, the Bridgerton butler, opens the door. "Eloise..." Violet's brows raise when Eloise smiles nervously behind the door, a man and two children behind her.
"Hi, Mum. Happy Birthday!"
"Oh, th-thank you," Violet says, at a loss of words. "And who might these be?"
Her other children all peek behind her shoulders to get a look at their sister and her guests. Quickly, their eyes narrow at the male behind Eloise, emitting a frustrated tut from Eloise's lips.
"Stand down, guard dogs," she snaps and they immediately do. "This is Philip and his children, Oliver and Amanda."
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Philip says, kissing the back of Violet's hand and making her flush and giggle a little. A little charm went a long way.
Fixing her hair slightly, Violet smiles. "Likewise," she says, glancing at the children. "And I do adore children!"
Eloise beams. "I know... Mother, brothers, sisters..." She starts, avoiding Anthony's stern glare when she knows he knows where she is going with this. "Meet my husband and my new stepchildren."
At least two of the Bridgerton women faint and neither one is Violet.