Despite the enmity and the much-anticipated engagement between Lord Bridgerton and Miss Edwina Sheffield, Lord Bridgerton ultimately wed Miss Sheffield—Edwina’s elder sister.

The two, against all odds, grew to love each other deeply and cherished one another’s company, however unlikely it may have seemed at first.

Miss Sheffield, became the Viscountess Bridgerton, excelling in her role. She secured the line of succession and hosted the finest receptions ever witnessed in Mayfair.

Kate seamlessly carved her place within the Bridgerton family—a task many would consider daunting given its size, with eight siblings in total. Yet, she was embraced by all. Some, in fact, recognized the true nature of her feelings for Anthony long before he himself did.

She forged enduring friendships with her husband’s sisters: Daphne, Duchess of Hastings; Eloise, Lady Crane; Francesca, Countess of Kilmartin; and Hyacinth, Baroness St. Clair.

Less than two years after their wedding, the couple welcomed their firstborn, Edmund, the future Viscount Bridgerton. He was named in honor of his late grandfather, Lord Bridgerton’s father.

More children followed: Miles, two years after Edmund; Charlotte, six years later; and finally, Mary, born fifteen years after their eldest.

The young Edmund bore a striking resemblance to his father, though he inherited his mother’s eyes and her cleverness. His gaze often sparkled with mischief after one of his many escapades.

Over time, Edmund grew into a charismatic young man, the object of many debutantes’ affections. He was skilled with a blade and an avid reader, charming all who crossed his path.

Yet, the years marched on, and Edmund remained unwed. At twenty-five, his mother and grandmother reproached him incessantly about his bachelorhood. Determined to help him, they introduced him to a parade of highly respectable and well-mannered young ladies.

But neither the radiant smile of Miss Mellington, the captivating eyes of Miss Newman, nor even the alluring curves of Miss Watering could sway him. He dismissed them all without a second thought.

The Dowager Viscountess and Lady Bridgerton were growing exasperated with his cavalier attitude toward marriage. They orchestrated outings, balls, and exhibitions—all in vain, for Edmund remained resolutely unbothered.

However, Edmund Bridgerton was no saint. While he entertained no thoughts of matrimony by day, by night he indulged in countless affairs.

His carnal appetites were satisfied no less than thrice a week, with an array of partners as varied as they were numerous—prostitutes, maids, governesses, even the family’s modiste once found her way to his bed.

The Bridgerton family refrained from interfering, treading delicately around this scandalous subject. Yet, their silence shattered when Edmund pursued Mary’s French tutor.

The affair came to light when a housemaid’s horrified scream reverberated through the halls, alerting everyone to a scandalous scene: the tutor completely disrobed, and Edmund in the midst of unbuttoning his trousers.

The French tutor was promptly dismissed, leaving young Mary bewildered, while Edmund faced stern reprimands.

From that moment onward, he exercised greater discretion, though his audacity remained unchecked.

Convinced that his rakish lifestyle was the epitome of perfection, Edmund was unprepared for the arrival of Claire. With her, his world turned upside down, forcing him to question everything he once believed.