Bridgerton ABO AU
Chapter 7: An Affair of Honour (Omega Daphne and Alpha Simon) Part II
Dynamics: Alpha!Edmund/Omega!Violet, Alpha !Anthony, Omega! Benedict, Alpha!Colin, Omega! Daphne/Alpha!Simon, Alpha !Eloise, Omega!Francesca, Alpha!Gregory, Omega!Hyacinth
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Growing up as an only child had been tough for Simon. Having lost his mother before he could ever meet her and only being able to get to know her through his godmother was heartbreaking. His father never wanted to speak about her, or the other ‘failures’ she gave birth to. Obsessed with the idea that in order for him to have a successful heir, it must be a male alpha, and even as he was born an alpha, the only time he ever spent with Simon would be with him yelling or hitting him.
The staff and servants were too afraid of his abusive father to ever say anything about it, but he can count with only one of his hands, how many times he was ever put first in his life.
He had been around 4, learning how to read, but darn it. He was a stutterer. No matter how many times he tried, he would always stutter while his father was around.
He remembers when he was struggling after his father had once again called him a disappointment, his godmother had grabbed him by his hands and told him, “My dear, you have to promise me. That when you grow up and step into the light, you will be worthy of the attention you command.”
And that’s exactly what Simon did as he grew up. He outgrew his stutter, befriended many alpha friends, would often participate in many boxing fights with his lads and certainly went to too many nightclubs and spent his company with many beautiful omega women.
Thanks to Eton it had helped him to see what a real family was supposed to feel like. Meeting his close friend, Anthony Bridgerton at the age of 15 and being allowed to spend a week at his family’s home was the best thing to ever happen to Simon.
He remembers his first time at Aubrey Hall, and meeting the Bridgerton family. The moment both he and Anthony stepped off their carriage he saw how Lord Bridgerton embraced his son close. For the first time in Simon’s life he had never felt so much envy.
“Well, introduced your friend, son.” Lord Bridgerton, a very strong and tall Alpha who’s comforting scent overshadowed his stature, he said as he clapped Anthony on the shoulder, and Simon was surprised when Anthony did not flinch or jumped away from the gesture. Instead he returned it with a soft elbow to his father’s side, “Father, this is my close friend, Simon Basset. We are room mates at Eton and he will be staying with us before we go back.”
Walking inside, Anthony’s heavily pregnant mother had slowly managed to join them by the entrance hall, “Hello my dear, any friend of Anthony is a friend of ours.” She smiled turning to where her other children had suddenly appeared behind her, “This is Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca and my second eldest, Benedict.” The latter curtsied, “My Lord”.
“Oh please, no need for formalities.” He smiled warmly, Benedict beamed back at him. “Alright!” Anthony suddenly exclaimed interrupting them, he grabbed Simon by his arm tugging him towards the outside once again, “I promised Simon that we would go hunting, Father!” Benedict excitedly went and grabbed onto their father’s arm, “Can I come too, papa?-”
“-No!” Anthony interrupted them, “Only Alphas can hunt, Ben! that’s the law!” Benedict pouted at him distressed, “What type of idiot made that a law?!”
“Benedict Bridgerton! mind your language in front of our guest and the children!” Their mother with a shocked and embarrassed expression turned to Simon, “My apologies, dear.”
Simon shook his head laughing softly, “No problem, Lady Bridgerton.” turning to Benedict who looked crestfallen he said, “A very, very stupid person indeed.”
Turning to Lord Bridgerton he mentioned casually, “It is technically not illegal in your own lands.” Anthony who had been gloating at his younger brother turned to him in utter betrayal.
Benedict ran up to him and excitedly grabbed onto his arm, “Simon, you are now my favourite of all of Anthony’s friends and just for allowing me the pleasure of annoying my dear big brother, mama can we please have the cooks prepare our famous gooseberry pie.” And with that he dragged Simon away, Anthony followed right behind them, frustrated at his brother, and also a very protective Colin, running to catch up to them and lightly pushing Benedict off of him.
————
Now as he actively became part of the social season due to his godmother’s push he realized how much he hated it. He was never going to get married and if he did he felt sorry for the poor omega that would be wed to him. As he had made a promise to himself that he would never sire any children. He knew that is the only thing in the mind of omegas these days.
To add on, Simon was already getting tired of omega debutants throwing themselves at him for every ball he attended. He had been reluctant to attend tonight’s ball but having Lady Danbury as a godmother now that he was back in Mayfair, saying no to one he might as well wish he was dead. As he took a stroll outside for a few minutes of quiet and peace he heard shouting coming from the gardens.
“Do you think yourself better than me? A Beta?!” Simon stopped on his tracks.
“Mr Berbrooke! It would be in your best interests to leave right now!” That was Miss Bridgerton, he thought. What could she possibly be doing alone with a man?
“You should be on your knees, grateful that a Beta like myself is your last hope! No one wants you- not even the influences of your older brother being Viscount and the other one a Countess can help you!”
“LET GO OF ME!” And that was his queue, breaking into a run towards their voices, Simon stopped abruptly as he saw Miss Bridgerton land a clean punch to Berbrooke’s face knocking the bloke on the ground with a loud crack.
Simon couldn’t help but crack a smile, These Bridgertons, born fighters the load of them.
Daphne shocked at what she just did, looking up, she locks eyes with Simon, “Your grace, please this is not what it looks like.” She says trembling.
“You? a young lady, knocking out that climp flat out? Oh please I am impressed.” He nodded approvingly, smiling at her in reassurance.
“Impressed of what, your grace?.” She eyed him, “That I committed an act of violence towards him for simply telling me the truth?” She scoffed, which was very unladylike.
She looked down at her hands that were still shaking from the adrenaline of her encounter, holding them close to her body to keep her grounded.
Simon scoffed in disbelief making her look up at him, “What truth? Please Miss Bridgerton, they are plenty of gentlemen interested in a young lady like yourself.”
“What other gentlemen? He is the only one who has offered to marry me. My brother made sure to keep everyone else away.” She admitted defeatedly. ‘Impossible’ Simon Thought. Anthony Bridgerton, who had always cared and put his family first above anyone and anything, even himself, scaring away all of his sister’s prospects? Putting her future and his family’s in jeopardy? That did not sit right with Simon.
She continued, interrupting his thoughts, “And unlike you, your grace. I cannot simply just declare that I do not wish to marry. I and many omegas like myself, do not have that privilege.”
And she was right. As an Alpha and a man, he had that privilege. He could spend all of his fortune on pleasures and never care about taking a wife and continuing the Hastings line because there would always be someone to take it.
Noticing his silence, she took a deep breath, “Especially with Lady Whistledown, writing about me in her papers. Everyone in the ton knows about my lack of prospects. It has gotten so bad that my brother in law wrote to us suggesting an engagement with one of his friends.” She shuddered, “I thank Benedict every day for putting his foot down and shutting down any more discussion of that with his husband,regarding that matter.”
Simon agreed, “That dreaded author.” and he couldn’t help but be honest with her after all she shared with him, “She also wrote about me being this ‘prize’ of the season and now all the mamas and their omega daughters are all over me like I’m the prey in a lion’s den.” He rubbed his eyes in frustration.
She laughed softly and Simon couldn’t help but look at her once again. “Do not worry, your grace. I am sure once the season is over you can go back to your country state and not deal with the madness of the social seasons.”
Then they hear something in the distance, shaking her head she begins to back away from him, “Well, you go that way and I will go this way-”
“-I know how we can solve both of our Lady Whistledown problems.” He interrupted the young lady, instantly peaking her interest.
He continued, “We can pretend to form an attachment! With you by my side, all the omegas and their mamas would lose their interest in me while the gentlemen, become interested in you.”
That is a not such a bad idea, she thought.
“And you presume Lady Whistledown will just what-?” She was still bewildered by his insane idea.
“-I presume she will find me unavailable, and you…… desirable.” He interrupted her gently.
Daphne thought about it. Having a Duke pretend to be interested in her would allow her to have more suitors to choose from, many that are not Nigel Berbrooke and certainly not a friend of her despicable brother in law.
“It is an absurd plan.” She admitted.
Simon looked at her in disbelief, “I actually find it quite brilliant.” He corrected her with a smile, which she returned in agreeance.
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Hand in hand they walked back together to the garden. Where everyone stopped mid conversation and stared at them, some of them openly gawking. As they made their way to the dancing floor, Simon found his godmother smiling proudly at him.
To her side was Lady Bridgerton with an equally warm and delighted smile, what almost stopped him in his tracks was the person who was besides her. His closest friend, Anthony Bridgeton. Who by the looks of it, he was already planning his murder. He could see his friend was about to storm over to them and probably tear Miss Bridgerton off of him, if it wasn’t for a hand that stopped Anthony altogether.
And now Simon would make sure to send Benedict Bridgerton an amazing and grand gift, as thanks to him, their insane plan can actually be put into action and Simon can live to see another sunrise.
From the corner of his eyes he saw Anthony turn to his younger brother in betrayal. Benedict only smiled sweetly back at him before turning to Simon and nodded in assurance.
With his blessing he took their younger sister and they danced and danced until Lady Bridgerton came to take Daphne away. Write about that, Lady Whistledown.
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It was the next morning at Bridgerton House.
“You have to tell us everything, sister!” Little Hyacinth had cornered Daphne the moment she entered their family room.
Daphne could only smile and pinched her sister’s cheek with love, “What can I say, dear? I was approached by the Duke for a dance and we danced.” She said it simply.
“You are no fun, sister.” Not satisfied with her answer, the youngest Bridgerton pouted at her before making her way to Benedict who had been sitting with their mama and sat on his lap whining about Daphne being mean to her.
To cheer her up, Benedict said, “Well darling, I planned something very fun for us-”
“-And what would that be, that I wasn’t informed, brother?” Inquired Anthony when he entered the room alongside Colin, both wearing their fencing outfits.
“I invited Penelope for tea.” Eloise who had not been interested at all, suddenly put her book down.
“Why did you ask her? She’s my friend” She asked confused.
Benedict and their mama shared a look together. “Well.” He started softly. Everyone held their breaths. Out of everyone in their family, Eloise was most like Anthony. Even when both of them seemed to never get along, they both had the same temperament.
“I was talking to Penelope yesterday during the ball, and she told me how she doesn’t really have many debutant or omega friends who she can seek guidance from.” He said.
“And because Daphne and her are out together at the same time this season, I thought it would be great.” Colin and Anthony seeing that they were no longer involved in the conversation started walking away.
Benedict noticing this stopped his conversation with Eloise and called out, “Colin, dear. Where are you going?” both stopped dead on their tracks, Slowly Colin turned towards him with a cheeky smile.
“..Fencing?” More of a question than an answer, their brother smiled at him, which made him look like their mother when she was scheming against them.
“No you’re not. You will join us actually. Anthony could you please take Charles and William with you? They said they wanted their uncle Anthony to teach them how to fence, and Gregory too please, he has been wanting to spend more time with you, boys.”
Shrugging Anthony abandoned Colin and made his way to get their nephews. Eloise still confused, abruptly asked, “Why does Colin even need to be here for?”
Sharing another look with their mother, and turning to Colin he said, “Go change please.” who dutifully went, to Eloise, “Well, Penelope also mentioned her lack of prospects-”
“-YOU ARE NOT THINKING OF MATCHMAKING PENELOPE WITH SOMEONE LIKE COLIN?!” She stood up fuming at both of them, her alpha scent turning sour.
Daphne and Francesca who had taken a seat together at their pianoforte winced from the powerful smell. But unlike both of them, their brother and mama had simply looked at Eloise with a stern look, releasing some of their calm scents to sooth them both and Eloise.
“Eloise, young lady, sit back down and listen to what Benedict was about to say.” their mama reprimanded her. Eloise sat down slowly, with a dark tint on her cheeks in frustration but also in defeat.
“As I was saying. She was very upset about not being approached by any suitors because she is a beta, so I suggested she come here to have some tea with us. So we can ease any of her worries and also by having her here, where we have eligible bachelors, it would increase the interests of other gentlemen in the ton.”
Eloise huffed, “Fine. But we will sit together away from Colin and discuss this new book I have been reading-”
"-Actually you won't be here, my dear." Their mama interrupted her this time with a soothing voice. "We know how you really do not enjoy discussing marriage, children or even society gossip, we both thought it would be best if you joined Anthony with the children. As you are an Alpha as well."
Daphne could count in her hand how many times she had seen Eloise cry and it would be so little, but as she knew her little sister, wiped the tears from her eyes and pushed their brother once he tried reaching towards her in comfort.
"Alright." She said simply. Straightening her dress, she moved to leave their family room but at the same time, a nicely dress Colin arrived. Eloise starred at him with narrow eyes, "You better not make her sad." She warned him, Colin confused turned to look at them. "Ignore her" Benedict made his way towards Colin and kissed him on his cheek, smiling proudly at him, "You look very handsome, little brother."
------ Several days had passed since Simon and Daphne had decided to 'pretend' to be interested in each other. Anthony was still so upset that he even sparred with Simon and had almost given him a black eye.
Many suitors had returned their interests on her and were lining up to call upon her, many came with amazing gifts that were kindly accepted by her which further confused her mama and brother. "Why are you still accepting their gifts, sister?" Benedict whispered to her as they made their daily promenade. "I thought Simon would be proposing by now." She raised her brow at him, exhaling loudly she gently grabbed on to his arm. In truth, she wanted to be honest with him, but she and Simon had promised to each other that no one else but them would know about their plan. "Why would he be proposing, Benedict?" "Because you both have dance for almost every ball? have promenade together almost every other day? You both seek each other for a conversation, the moment you see each other? darling, honestly. He should've already proposed!" "Why? because that's what brother in law did?" She mocked in self defense at his questioning, and almost immediately she regretted as she saw him winced. "Brother, forgive me. I do not know why I said that." He smiled at her but she could tell his smile did not reach his eyes, "No fault of yours my dear, I am sorry if it seems that I am interrogating you but I just do not understand why do you keep entertaining the other bachelors of the ton while there is one right in front of you." He suddenly gasped, talking to himself, "Unless, is what Anthony warned me about Simon, true?" he whispered. She looked at him curiously, "What did he tell you?" "Ignore me, please. I do not what I am saying." Deciding not to keep insisting to know what he meant, Daphne could not help but ponder. What was so important that Anthony had to warn Benedict about? and why did he fail to inform her about it, if he was so fixed on not allowing Simon to be near her?
--------- I KNOW!!!! It took so long but this chapter gave me a writer's block. <3 Hope yall enjoyed it!
