Netflix史上最熱門影集【柏捷頓家族：名門韻事】原著小說

　　紐約時報暢銷作者茱莉亞‧昆恩的羅曼史經典系列，以攝政時代的英國為背景，描述柏捷頓家族在英國上流社會的浪漫事蹟。

　　在攝政時代的倫敦，上流社會分子的一舉一動都受到各種規則的約束，孩子們從小就學會如何與王室貴族們應對進退。不過有更多規矩是從未被公開，但卻深植在眾人心裡的：例如，公爵應該要有點跋扈，最好板著一張臉令人難以親近。而年輕未婚女士應該要溫婉而開朗，但又不能太大方。

　　達芙妮‧柏捷頓是家族中排行老四的長女，開朗的她與倫敦眾多黃金單身漢都成了好朋友。大家都喜歡和善良聰明的達芙妮做朋友，卻沒有人想把她娶回家，原因竟然是她太好相處：「妳跟其他的女人不同，妳簡直太正常了。」問題就在於達芙妮不屑、也不願意玩弄眾多追求者的感情，更不想為了金錢和頭銜輕易點頭。

　　「好相處」絕對不是賽門‧巴賽特的優點之一。這位最新的哈斯丁公爵從海外回到倫敦繼承父親的遺產，話少的他內心深藏不幸童年帶來的傷痛，決心終身不娶不生。不過上流社會的媽媽們可不打算放過這個超級黃金單身漢，早就盤算要如何將自己女兒與他送作堆。不堪其擾的賽門在遇到好友妹妹達芙妮之後，向她提出一個妙計：只要她同意讓賽門假裝追求她，不但能讓達芙妮的身價大漲，更有機會找到適合的丈夫，賽門也可以擺脫各路媒婆的糾纏。不過在充滿八卦與心機的上流社會，只有一件事是可以確定的：愛情，即將打破每一種規則…

　　（文／博客來編譯）

　　From New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the first novel in the beloved Regency-set world of her charming, powerful Bridgerton family, now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix.

 

　　In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

 

　　Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honestfor that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

 

　　Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

 

　　The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule...

 

　　This novel includes the 2nd epilogue, a peek at the story after the story.