Bridgerton: Profess Your Love to Me
written by: nakayla monét
Dearest Readers,
As you prepare your heart and tissues for the latest installment of Bridgerton, let’s indulge ourselves in the formalities of love within the show.
While Shondaland’s hit tv show may be remarkable by the musical score, iconic fashion, scathing drama, and fiery relations amongst the Ton, it’s made unforgettable and truly in a lane of its own when it comes to adept professions of love. I love professions of love, especially from unexpected places. As a queer woman who used to predominantly date men, I was the professor of love. It was foreign to me to see men or experience professions of love, especially ones as passionate as the one’s in Bridgerton.
In every season we were introduced to different relationship tropes, even in the spin-off, “Queen Charlotte”. Within each trope, we had a handsome, yet struggling-in-some-way man. These men were brought to their knees and weakened so much by love. Love makes even the strongest cave, myself included. I will always be a victim to love’s arrow.
In season one, Simon Basset professed his love for Daphne in a conversation with the Queen. She asked the two how they met. This is what followed:
Daphne: You see, Your Majesty, it was love at first sight
Simon Basset: It was not, Your Majesty. The young lady flatters me, but it was not love at first sight for either of us. There was attraction, certainly, at least on my part. But Miss Bridgerton thought me presumptuous, arrogant, insincere. All fair, really. And I thought her a prim young lady barely out of leading strings. Not to mention the sister of my best friend, and so romance was entirely out of the question for both of us. But in so removing it, we found something far greater. We found friendship. You see, Miss Bridgerton and I have been fooling all of Mayfair for quite some time. We have fooled them into thinking we are courting... when really, all along, we simply enjoyed each other’s company so much we could not stay away from one another. I have never been a man that much enjoyed flirting, or chatting, or, indeed, talking at all. But with Daphne... Miss Bridgerton... conversation has always been easy. Her laughter brings me joy. To meet a beautiful woman is one thing, but to meet your best friend in the most beautiful of women is something entirely apart. And it is with my sincerest apologies, I must say it took the prince coming along for me to realize I did not want Miss Bridgerton to only be my friend. I wanted her to be my wife. I want her to be my wife. And so I plead with you... not to make us wait.
Daphne: Simon.. (I’m almost certain– our good sis was melting and trembling)
Simon: Everything I told the queen was true. I cannot stop thinking of you. From the mornings you ease, to the evenings you quiet, to the dreams you inhabit... My thoughts of you never end. I am yours, Daphne. I have always been yours.
Now– having someone profess their love is one thing– but in this manner, in front of the QUEEN HERSELF? Whew. And to then continue it by asking for her hand in marriage and saying, “I have always been yours.” Simon was weak for her. On fire for her. Down bad for her. As were the next gentleman I’m going to speak of.
In season 2, this love match was a bit different. It started off very weird, but when it got there? It absolutely got there and the fans were in love, with this couple likely being the fandom’s top pick. Anthony is the oldest Bridgerton son, meaning he was the one to watch. He was the one who had to set the example, yet he had yet to find love– until Kate Sharma rode into life.
Anthony is the strongest man, or what a man should hope to be within the Ton, but Miss Sharma had him begging and weeping for her. Anthony said multiple things, as he was a man of WORDS, but I’ll sum it up in his top two:
Anthony: “I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment we raced each other in that park. I’ve loved you at every dance, on every walk, every time we’ve been together, and every time we’ve been apart. You do not have to accept it or embrace it or even allow it. Knowing you, you probably will not. But you must know it, in your heart. You must feel it, because I do. I love you”
Anthony: “Listen to me, ‘ he said, his voice even and intense, ‘and listen well, because I’m only going to say this once. I desire you. I burn for you. I can’t sleep at night for wanting you. Even when I didn’t like you, I lusted for you. It’s the most maddening, beguiling, damnable thing, but there it is. And if I hear one more word of nonsense from your lips, I’m going to have to tie you to the bloody bed and have my way with you a hundred different ways, until you finally get it through your silly skull that you are the most beautiful and desirable woman in England, and if everyone else doesn’t see that, then they’re all bloody fools.”
I WISH someone would tell me they BURN for me and then proceed to tell me more ways in which they desire and want me?! The original Bridgerton author, Julia Quinn, and Shonda Rhimes really did the damn thing with their love tropes.
In Queen Charlotte, we got pure love from the Queen herself and from the King. George dealt with some mental illness so this season was a lot more tender and tugged on the heart more than the others. The other seasons had a lot sex and passion, while Queen Charlotte was full of tender love and care. Their love was just as tricky as the others, but it took time to grow– and it was so rich and full when it fully bloomed. Here are some of the couples’ best professions:
George: “I love you, Charlotte.” He took her face in his hands. “My heart calls your name.”
George: “From the moment I saw you trying to go over the wall, I have loved you desperately. I cannot breathe when you are not near. I love you, Charlotte.”
Charlotte: “George, I will stand with you between the heavens and the earth. I will tell you where you are.”
Both of them:
G: “You have half a husband, Charlotte. Half a life. I cannot give you the future you deserve. Not a full me. Not a full marriage. Only half. Half a man. Half a King. Half a life.”
C: “If what we have is half, then we shall make it the very best half. I love you. It is
enough.”
G:“And I have kissed you but once.”
C:“At our wedding.”
G:“I have been longing to do it again.”
C:Her eyes met his. “You have?”
G:“Every minute”—he stepped closer—“of every day.”
C:“Why?”
G:“Why?” he echoed.
She gave a little nod.
G:“Because you exist,” he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I saw you, and I met you, and I spoke with you. I am enchanted. I can barely breathe for wanting to kiss you again.”
These two lovers truly made me (and viewers) believe in unconditional love again. The way Charlotte held George’s madness close to her heart, and took him as her husband and partner was immeasurable. The way George tried his best to shield Charlotte from him, although he was every star in his skin was commendable and gut-wrenching. We all hope for unconditional love. Someone to be our heaven on Earth.
In the most recent installment of Bridgerton, we see a love that comes from familiarity and makes us think, “DUH YOU LOVE EACH OTHER” as soon as it happens. This love is none other than Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. Not only do we get a begging-esque scene from Penelope that makes Colin realize who he truly loves, but we get one of the steamiest Bridgerton scenes we’ve seen in a long time.
Here are the professions of love from our newest love match:
Colin: “I am not the man I was last season, and I am most certainly not ashamed of you, Pen. I seek you out at every social assembly because I know you will lift my spirits and make me see the world in ways I could not have imagined.”
Colin: “I have not been able to sleep, not been able to eat. I can barely speak these days. My entire thoughts consumed by...By our kiss. By you.”
Colin: “For Godsake, Penelope Featherington are you going to marry me or not?”
This friend’s to lovers trope is not only beautiful, but it’s so real and so endearing. It makes viewers long for the friendship between these two in their partners and future love matches.
Bridgerton ignites the hopeless romantic in all of us and while fiction, reminds us that love is out there. It shows men in raw states. Vulnerable states. Baring all for the loves of their lives; the women of their dreams. Allow yourself to love and dream harder. Allow yourself to be more passionate in love and remind the men in your lives’ to do so as well as you indulge in the latest installment of the series.
love and godspeed,