The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1)

by Julia Quinn

Simon’s speech still occasionally slipped, but by then he’d grown remarkably proficient in covering up his mistakes

But the duke never even wrote him a letter. Simon supposed his father had grown so used to ignoring his son that it didn’t even matter that he wasn’t proving to be an embarrassment to the Basset name.

Simon followed the natural progression to Oxford, where he earned the reputations of both scholar and rake. Truth be told, he hadn’t deserved the label of rake any more than most of the young bucks at university,

He was intelligent and athletic,

people judged him to be arrogant, just as a future duke should be.

but when he did say something, he had a quick and often ironic wit—just

He was called “supremely confident,” “heartstoppingly handsome,” and “the perfect specimen of English manhood.”

Everyone thought this of Simon Basset, the duke.

The women swooned at his feet.

enjoying the company of all the young widows and opera singers who sought his attention—and

the Duke of Hastings had already begun to grow interested in the progress of his only son. He requested academic reports from the university and hired a Bow Street Runner to keep him apprised of Simon’s extracurricular activities.

one day the duke realized that his son had turned out rather nicely, after all. The duke puffed out with pride.

The old duke never cared for Simon. He was never there, through his whole childhood. He has finally, realized that he turned out wonderful.

He should have known that Basset blood could not produce an imbecile.

Upon finishing Oxford with a first in...

icy blue eyes

Simon Basset's eye color.

Simon might as well have been the king of society.

Simon began to hear bits and pieces of gossip that warned him that his relationship with his father might soon see a change.

“Naturally. He’s a Basset.”

And then the two came face-to-face at a London ball.

Simon has not seen his father in years.

But no one had the ability to crush his confidence like his father,

embracing him with a heartfelt, “Son.” Simon had left the country the very next day.

And he refused to act the part of his son after having been denied a father for so many years.

He had no plans to marry. Ever.

Simon Basset never plans to marry.

he felt he owed some loyalty to Lady Danbury after her many kindnesses during his childhood,

Simon had no great desire to be anyone’s hero, but even he could not let such an insult pass.

If no one needed saving, he certainly wasn’t going to charge forward like some bullish fool.

“But I love you!” the young man cried out in a passionate voice. “All I want is to make you my wife.”

Nigel Berbrooke will not take no for answer. He's in love with Daphne Bridgerton, and wants to marry her.

“my brother has already told you that I cannot marry you.

“Dash it all! If you don’t marry me, who will?”

As proposals went, this one was decidedly unromantic.

“it’s not as if there aren’t dozens of other young ladies in Lady Danbury’s ballroom right now. I’m sure one of them would be thrilled to marry you.”

“You have to marry me!” Nigel cried out. “You have to! I’ll never find anyone else—” “Nigel, stop!”

It looked like he was going to have to rescue the chit, after all.

“I believe the lady asked you to stop,” rested on the tip of his tongue,

it seemed that he wasn’t fated to play the hero tonight,

the young lady pulled back her right arm and landed a surprisingly effective punch...

she had large, equally dark eyes, and the widest, lushest mouth he’d ever seen. Her heart-shaped face wasn’t beautiful by society standards, but something about her quite simply sucked the breath from his body.

Daphne Bridgertons description.

Nigel Berbrooke was seen at Moreton’s Jewelry Shop purchasing a diamond solitaire ring. Can a new Mrs. Berbrooke be very far behind?

she’d managed to trip over Philipa Featherington’s foot as she tried to make her escape,

he’d immediately started hurrying across the ballroom. Daphne had hoped, no prayed that she could outrun him and make it to the ladies’ retiring room before he caught up with her, but no, Nigel had cornered her in the hall and started wailing out his love for her.

She’d never seen him before, so he had to be new to London.

Of course, this man could be married and therefore not on Violet’s list of potential victims,

His face was quite simply perfection.

His eyes were oddly intense—so blue they practically glowed. His hair was thick and dark, and he was tall—as

This was a man, Daphne thought wryly, who could quite possibly steal the gaggle of twittering young ladies away f...

Maybe it was because she knew a man like him would never be intereste...

“My intention had been to be your rescuer, but you clearly had no need of my services.”

“Laffy, oh Laffy. I love you, Laffy.” “You’re Laffy, I presume?”

she was quite an attractive little thing,

“You did say you aspired to be my rescuer, didn’t you?” “So I did.”

“Shall I drag him out into the street?” “Of course not!”