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Bridgerton Estate, Kent – 1802
Edmund Bridgerton was far more than just a viscount. He was beloved by all who knew him. His easy charm and singular sense of humor were among his most defining traits.
He had a habit of inviting friends to his home now and then. Never all at once, of course—his household was already quite full and entirely chaotic with seven children running amok in every direction, and soon enough that number would grow to eight.
That afternoon, Edmund was already beginning to regret having invited one of his friends, Henry Sharpe, to his home. Not because he disliked him—quite the contrary, he adored the man. Henry owned a modest print shop in Bloomsbury, and that simple fact had never stood in the way of their friendship.
What truly troubled him was the unsettling quiet that had fallen over his six-year-old daughter, Eloise. Silence, in Eloise’s case, typically signaled that something was about to explode, break, or become permanently sticky.
“Eloise, do come here a moment!”
“Yes, Papa?” She entered the drawing room with a curious expression, curls tousled and her stockings mismatched. A perfectly ordinary day.
“I should like you to meet someone.” Edmund stepped aside, revealing a boy about her age. “This is Theo, Mr. Sharpe’s son.”
Theo gave a brief, polite wave.
“Hello.”
Eloise tilted her head, studying him with narrowed eyes.
“You look dreadfully dull.”
Theo blinked.
“And you look remarkably loud.”
Edmund opened his mouth, then promptly closed it. He glanced at Henry and murmured under his breath, “Well. That was unexpected.”
Minutes later, Eloise and Theo were outside—barefoot, covered in mud, racing one another to see who was faster.
“Whose idea was it to bring them together, again?” Henry asked, laughing as he watched from the terrace.
“A mutual mistake, no doubt,” Edmund replied with a sigh, though amusement tugged at his lips. “One that will surely result in chaos.”
“Undoubtedly loud chaos,” Henry agreed.
Bridgerton Residence, London – 1806
“You’re cheating!” Eloise shrieked, chasing Theo through the hallways of Bridgerton House. Both of them were breathless with laughter as they ran.
“I am not!” he yelled back over his shoulder. “You simply cannot stand losing!”
“You only win because you’ve grown taller!”
“I have not!”
“You have, and it is terribly rude of you to do so without my permission!”
They barreled into the drawing room, startling Violet Bridgerton so thoroughly that she dropped her embroidery onto the floor.
“Children! You are both covered in dirt!” she scolded, her eyes wide as she took in their disheveled state.
“At least it was worth it,” Theo whispered to Eloise, grinning. “I won.”
Across the room, Edmund lowered his newspaper, his attention fully captured by the scene. His daughter threw her head back, laughing with a freedom and wildness entirely unbecoming of a young lady. Theo laughed with her, never once taking his eyes off of her.
“They are pure chaos,” Violet said as she sank onto the sofa beside her husband, shaking her head fondly. “But they adore each other.”
“Yes,” Edmund agreed, his eyes still fixed on the two children now collapsed in laughter on the settee. “And that both comforts me... and terrifies me.”
Bridgerton Residence, London - 1811
It was a rainy day when Theo’s world began to crumble.
Eloise stayed by his side throughout the entire funeral, dressed in black with her arm around his shoulders. Everything had happened so quickly. One moment, he was happily reading with Eloise in her family’s library, and the next, he was receiving the devastating news of his parents’ tragic accident.
He did not cry, not even when the coffins were lowered into the ground. But that night, in the darkness of the Bridgerton house, Edmund found him sitting in a chair, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees.
"I never got to say goodbye…" he whispered when Edmund approached.
At first, Edmund didn’t say a word. He simply sat beside him. A heavy silence lingered in the air. After all, he was just fifteen.
"You don’t have to leave tonight," Edmund finally spoke, his voice soft. "You may stay as long as you need."
"My uncle wants me to live with him," Theo replied. "He said I should learn about the business, to eventually take over my parents' printing press."
Edmund nodded.
"That’s fine. But know that our home will always be yours."
Theo’s voice faltered.
"You speak like my father."
"I hope that is a compliment," Edmund smiled gently at the boy.
Later, Eloise entered his room quietly, tiptoeing and sitting beside him on the bed. Her hand found his once again, holding it firmly for the second time that day.
There were no jokes, no teasing.
"I’ll always be here," she whispered. "Even if everything around us changes."
Spring, Bridgerton Gardens - 1814
"Wait, say that again," Theo murmured.
Her cheeks flushed, a soft rosy hue spreading across them. Her small bonnet had fallen off her head as she leaned over the stone bench where she sat beside Theo.
"I said," she responded, teasing, "that the smell of paper and ink from your printing press is far better than Anthony's colognes."
"I’m not sure that’s quite the compliment you think it is."
"I’m not known for being kind," she averted her gaze.
"No," he agreed, his voice quieter now. He reached out, gently cupping her chin to make her meet his eyes again. "You’re known for being honest, brilliant, and impossible. Like a storm in a teacup."
She gave a small smile, her voice sweeter than usual.
"Aren’t you afraid of that?"
"I’m never afraid of you, Eloise Bridgerton."
He looked at her deeply, as if he could see every part of her through the mere exchange of glances. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her lips parted as if she might speak, or perhaps lean in closer.
And she did.
At first, their lips met softly and delicately, but it soon deepened, as if they had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Her hands found the collar of his shirt, while his hand slid from her chin to the back of her neck. It was something new, but somehow it meant everything.
Neither of them noticed when a figure watched them from behind the vines.
Edmund hadn’t meant to spy. He was merely walking through the garden, intending to call them to dinner, but when he saw them sitting together, he couldn’t help but smile.
Then he stopped. And then he saw the kiss.
He froze. For a moment, he thought about walking over to them, but simply shook his head, turned back, and let out a soft laugh.
Because of course, this was Eloise’s way of loving.
Later that night, after dinner, Violet lay beside her husband, her eyes studying the smile that played at the corners of his lips.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing," he replied.
"You’re smiling differently," she raised an eyebrow.
"Define differently."
"Edmund."
"Violet."
He took a sip of his wine before answering her.
"Our daughter is in love."
"What?" She sat up in bed, her eyes wide as she studied him more closely.
"It’s Theo," he shrugged.
"Our Theo?" Violet blinked, clearly surprised.
"Apparently her Theo now."
Sharpe Printing House, Bloomsbury – 1814
Days after the event, Edmund made his way to Theo's workplace. He entered the printing house quietly, observing the young man as he worked with ease around the machines. Theo only noticed his presence when he lifted his eyes from the press.
"Lord Bridgerton," Theo said quickly, straightening his posture and wiping his hands on a cloth.
"No need to panic, Theo," Edmund said calmly, "unless, of course, you’ve written a pamphlet on the various ways you’ve teased my daughter over the years."
Theo blinked.
"I-I... What?"
"I’m just kidding," Edmund said, picking up one of the freshly printed pamphlets. "Your techniques have improved. I remember your first attempts."
Theo let out a breath he didn’t even realize he’d been holding. Then Edmund looked at him again. He wasn’t angry, nor disappointed—he simply... knew something.
"I saw you two. In the garden, last week," Edmund said quietly.
"Sir, I... It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. I respect her; I would never—"
"Relax, Theo," Edmund raised a hand. "If I thought you were dangerous for my daughter, we wouldn’t be having this conversation in a printing house. You’d surely be tied to a tree by now."
Theo blinked.
"Sir—"
"I knew your parents, Theo. I know the kind of man they raised you to be. I can say with certainty that they did an excellent job."
"Thank you." Theo swallowed hard.
"You may be eighteen now, but I’ve watched you grow alongside my daughter. Somehow, you’ve managed to stay by her side for over a decade. I know my daughter’s temper very well, and it’s truly a miracle that you’ve lasted this long."
Theo smiled, and Edmund knew he was thinking of his daughter.
"Eloise is complicated to deal with... but every second is worth it."
"Her mother wasn’t exactly a walk in the park either. And we’re still together over twenty years later." Edmund smiled fondly at Theo. "Be good to her, take care of my Eloise."
"I will."
"I know." Edmund began to make his way to the door. "And that’s why I won’t deny you when you ask for her hand in marriage."
Theo opened and closed his mouth several times, unsure of how to respond.
"You know?"
"I have eight children, Theo. I know everything." Edmund opened the door, ready to leave. "By the way, you have ink on your face. You might want to wash up before I tell Eloise you’ve been kissing your pamphlets."
Greenhouse, Bridgerton Estate – 1815
The greenhouse was quiet. Which, in Bridgerton terms, meant suspiciously quiet.
Eloise’s lips were pressed against Theo’s neck, her hands dangerously low on his waist. Their breathing was erratic, matching the quick pace of their hearts.
"I’ve missed you," she whispered between kisses.
"You saw me last night. We weren’t much different then."
"This little time away from you is enough to make me miss you."
"Your way of showing love is different," he murmured, kissing her neck.
"And you should thank me for that."
"I do, every day."
Their lips met again, passionately, as Eloise pressed herself against the wall. Their bodies moved together desperately, fervently.
Until they heard a slow, deliberate cough.
Eloise flinched, pulling away from Theo just in time for him to nearly stumble over one of the pots. He straightened, his cravat askew, and lipstick marks on his jaw.
Edmund was standing in the door of the greenhouse, his hands behind his back as he casually strolled around one of the flowerbeds.
"Well," he said, "It’s good to see the vegetables aren’t the only thing heating up here."
"Papa!" Eloise flushed red. "I can explain—"
"I was nineteen once and engaged," he interrupted.
Theo looked as though he might faint.
"That’s not the point, papa," Eloise huffed.
"It is the point. You’re not married yet, but I have eyes. And I have Violet, which means I know what love makes us do. Honestly, I’d be more concerned if you weren’t sneaking around."
He smiled and made his way toward the door again.
"Just don’t let your mother find out. She’d give you a three-hour sermon."
And just like that, Theo and Eloise were alone again. They stared at each other, unsure of how to react. Then Eloise laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck once more.
"Do you think he’ll kill me later?"
"If he wanted to, he would have done it years ago. Or perhaps he wouldn’t have introduced us."
"That’s the second best thing he’s ever done." Theo hugged her waist, leaning in again.
"And what’s the first?"
"You."
Chapel, London – 1816
Theo stood at the altar, nervously fiddling with his fingers. He hadn’t slept a wink the night before. He hadn’t slept well for a week. The anxiety was eating him alive; after all, it had been two years since he’d officially asked for her hand in marriage. And now, the big day has finally arrived.
They had waited. Theo insisted they wouldn’t marry until he was financially stable. Edmund offered to help, but Theo politely refused. He wanted to show he could provide for Eloise in every way, not just because he loved her, but because she deserved the best.
Eloise was behind the chapel doors, radiant in her white gown. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her father walked toward her with a mischievous grin.
"You still have time to run," he teased.
"Papa!" Eloise exclaimed.
"I mean, just say the word. I can help you flee to Scotland and disappear."
"Stop it, you fool."
His smile softened, becoming tender. They shared a deep connection, something uniquely father and daughter.
"What I mean is, I trust every decision you make. You take our breath away, you’re impossible, and loud. And I’m so proud to be your father."
"You’re going to ruin my face" she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.
"Too late."
He offered his arm, and she linked hers through his. Together, they entered the small chapel. Theo’s eyes found hers immediately, and a teary smile spread across his face. At the altar, Edmund kissed Eloise’s cheek before turning to Theo.
"Take care of her," he whispered. "Not just in the good times."
"Always" Theo answered confidently.
Edmund joined Violet, and they watched the rest of the ceremony together. He wouldn’t deny it if someone claimed that Viscount Bridgerton cried during his daughter’s wedding.
Eloise was special, and he was grateful she had found someone as special as Theo to walk with her through life.