A#1NewYorkTimesBestsellerFrom#1NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorJuliaQuinncomesthestoryofDaphneBridgerton,inthefirstofherbelovedRegency-setnovelsfeaturingthecharming,powerfulBridgertonfamily,nowaseriescreatedbyShondalandforNetflix.IntheballroomsanddrawingroomsofRegencyLondon,rulesabound.Fromtheirearliestdays,childrenofaristocratslearnhowtoaddressanearlandcurtseybeforeaprince--whileotherdictatesofthetonareunspokenyetuniversallyunderstood.Aproperdukeshouldbeimperiousandaloof.Ayoung,marriageableladyshouldbeamiable...butnottooamiable.DaphneBridgertonhasalwaysfailedatthelatter.Thefourthofeightsiblingsinherclose-knitfamily,shehasformedfriendshipswiththemosteligibleyoungmeninLondon.EveryonelikesDaphneforherkindnessandwit.Butnoonetrulydesiresher.Sheissimplytoodeucedhonestforthat,toounwillingtoplaytheromanticgamesthatcaptivategentlemen.AmiabilityisnotacharacteristicsharedbySimonBasset,DukeofHastings.RecentlyreturnedtoEnglandfromabroad,heintendstoshunbothmarriageandsociety--justashiscallousfathershunnedSimonthroughouthispainfulchildhood.Yetanencounterwithhisbestfriend’ssisteroffersanotheroption.IfDaphneagreestoafakecourtship,Simoncandeterthemamaswhoparadetheirdaughtersbeforehim.Daphne,meanwhile,willseeherprospectsandherreputationsoar.Theplanworkslikeacharm--atfirst.Butamidtheglittering,gossipy,cut-throatworldofLondon’selite,thereisonlyonecertainty:loveignoreseveryrule...Thisnovelincludesthe2ndepilogue,apeekatthestoryafterthestory.
