3. Kindness Personified

"You alright, my dear? You look pale." "Oh, I'm fine, Father. It's just…" I hesitated here for a moment, not sure if I should continue. My eyes wandered downward, then anxiously returned back up to my father's pondering gaze. I nibbled my bottom lip slightly. "Father, do all men…. despise getting married?" "What?! Course not! Wherever did you get an idea like that?" He gasped alarmed. My eyes drew down again. "I don't know. I'm just worried that my fiancé will resent me because he's being forced into this marriage. What if he doesn't want to get married? What if…. he doesn't want to marry me?"

Father stared at me, then took a step in my direction. All of us were waiting in the right wing, anxious for the ballroom doors to open. It would be the first time we saw the eligible bachelors on the other side….. Our future husbands. The very idea made my heart skip a beat, and not in a good way. Ever since I heard what those men said before outside, I'd had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. It dawned on me that I might be paired with someone who hates me just for the fact that we were matched together. It was a terrifying prospect really….

But Father's gentle hand reached out to grab hold of mine. He gave it an immediate loving squeeze as his smile shown down onto me. "You're worrying too much, darling. I know you're scared; I was too when I attended my first Season. But the truth is that any man would be the luckiest creature alive to be matched with you." "Father," I grinned, side-eying him playfully. His eyes lowered a tad. "It's true. You're a gift, an angel, a beautiful English rose without a thorn, Daphne. You are kindness personified. Only a fool would think to dismiss your infinite virtues and charms." "Father…" My eyes lowered tenderly. He's so good to me. If I learned kindness, it was from him. All from him.

Father gave my hand another tight squeeze. "Never forget, dearest, that you are first and foremost a Bridgerton. You are a Bridgerton, and you are my daughter. My children hold their heads up high and remember their worth, regardless of the circumstances. No matter what may come, know that you are most treasured, most beloved. You will never be alone, so long as your siblings and I are alive. And so long as I breathe, you are now and forever more, my leading lady….. Just as your mother was." "Father," I repeated in a low, adoring voice. His smile stretched so naturally in the corners. "I want you to have the same kind of love your dear mother and I were so fortunate to share, but we don't always get what we want; I've lived long enough to know that. But even if your husband does not love you, I still expect you to be kind and act as a viscount's daughter ought to. But I do not need to tell you that. You've always shown everyone kindness, even when you knew there would be no reciprocity. You are kind, Daphne….

You will show your husband a kindness he's never seen before."

A tear trickled down my cheek which his thumb wiped away. We simply, effortlessly smiled at one another until the announcer proclaimed it was time to open the doors to the ballroom. Father came to stand right at my side, taking my arm in his. We were still staring at each other right before it happened. "Your brothers and I will be right here with you, every step of the way," he cooed. "I know you will," I replied with the most tenderness my voice could muster, giving his arm a cuddle.

Then the ballroom doors simultaneously opened.