to thine own self be true @ladywinsomes - Tumblr Blog

Goodness, LADY LYDIA MOWBRAY has arrived in London. SHE is 28, of the WEST SUSSEX MOBRAYS. Though they are RETURNED to the Season, we can only describe them as BOISTEROUS and DEDICATED, dear reader. Accompanied by HER PARENTS, they have settled in and are accepting social calls. But be warned: they are known for their JUDGEMENT. (Tay, 27, she/her, EST)

About Lydia | Family | Skills | Timeline

#theseason;introduction

thetonhq

Welcome to Meme Friday at The Ton! 🧣 Each Friday, we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme specifies that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Feel free to reblog and answer memes until end of day Sunday. After that, save what’s left over in your inbox for the next Meme Friday. Enjoy!

Card Suits

The meaning behind each of the cards in a common deck of cards is not a commonly known thing. Send in a card and a suit for the corresponding headcannon related to each one’s meaning.

♥️ Hearts

Ace - How easy is it for any sort of relationship to develop with your muse?

Two - How often do things go well for your muse in their relationships?

Three - How cautious are they with newfound relationships of any kind? How about older ones?

Four - How often does your muse travel? Where do they typically travel to?

Five - How would your muse react to learning that someone close to them was jealous of what they had?

Six - How does your muse handle blossoming feelings for another?

Seven - How does your muse react to having promises broken?

Eight - How often does your muse accept invitations from others? How do they react to unexpected guests?

Nine - What is the one wish your muse wants to come true more than anything else in the world?

Ten - How does your muse act when their luck is at its absolute best?

Jack - How does your muse view their friends, both old and new?

Queen - Does your muse pay back kindness that is offered to them? If so, then how do they go about doing so?

King - Does your muse often give out advice? How do they react to being given some?

♣️ Clubs

Ace - How frugal is your muse with their money?

How often do they run out?

Two - How does your muse react to being challenged? What about hearing gossip, be it about themself or someone they know?

Three - How would your muse feel about their partner having more money than them?

Four - How does your muse react to learning things are being hidden from them by those closest to them?

Five - How often does your muse rely upon new friends for support rather than old ones? Do they use this as a method to test how much they can trust them?

Six - How does your muse handle success when it comes to financial related matters?

Seven - How does your muse react when financial success causes issue with their relationships?

Eight - How does your muse handle difficulties in multiple aspects of their lives at the same time?

Nine - Does your muse ignore new opportunities that present themselves in their quest for what they desire, or do they take them?

Ten - How does your muse react to unexpected things happening to them?

Jack - How far could the one closest to them go before they decide to stand against them?

Queen - What is the breaking point for a romantic relationship with your muse?

King - How much trust does your muse place into those older than themselves?

♠️ Spades

Ace - How does your muse think their life will end?

Two - How does your muse handle tough decisions in life?

Three - How faithful is your muse in a relationship?

Four - What is the worst promise your muse has ever broken?

Five - Does your muse quit in the face of difficulty, or do they push through whatever obstacles come their way?

Six - Does your muse take the small victories in life, or do they ignore them in focus of the large ones?

Seven - How does your muse handle loss?

Eight - How would your muse handle betrayal?

Nine - When has your muse’s luck been at its absolute worst?

Ten - What is the worst piece of news your muse has ever had to deal with?

Jack - What is the rudest thing your muse has ever done?

Queen - How would your muse react to losing their significant other?

King - How far into their darker side would your muse go to achieve their goals?

♦️ Diamonds

Ace - Does your muse actively try to improve themselves, or do they knowingly allow themselves to remain in their same habits?

Two - What does your muse do if they disapprove of another’s relationship?

Three - How much legal trouble has your muse been in? What caused it?

Four - How does your muse treat items left to them by another member of their family?

Five - Does your muse work towards improving their skills in what they do for a living? Do they manage to maintain a happy home life while doing so?

Six - How often do previous relationships cause problems for your muses newer ones?

Seven - How does your muse react to road blocks in their career?

Eight - Does your muse believe in “love at first sight” or do they believe that it only comes with time?

Nine - Would your muse ever ditch an employer for another without notice?

Ten - What does your muse define as being “well off” in life?

Jack - Does your muse use unreliable methods for “high risk high reward” gains or do they go the safe route with things?

Queen - How often does your muse find themselves being flirted with?

King - What does your muse want to achieve before settling down to live the rest of their life doing things?

themarquessofislay:

Kenneth said nothing when she sighed. Whatever she was keeping must be quite serious if she could not look at him. He almost reached out, wanting to provide comfort of some kind, but Kenneth held himself back. It might frighten her more.

It was as if a rock was forcing its way down his chest, as she explained. Kenneth could not move, as she described it further. Losing a child, he could not imagine a worse pain. Malcolm is the center of his world. If Kenneth lost him, if he had lost Elena and the baby, he would’ve been devastated.

Lydia went on, and the blame she received from her husband, had him seeing red. His breathing became labored. No one intends to lose a child in that situation. Heathcliff should have supported his wife. How selfish could that man be to not think about the wife, who suffered the same loss. She probably blamed herself, and he threw that back in her face. Kenneth could feel his face turning red. “Dobber.” He mumbled.

He squatted down, trying to get her to look into his face. "Ye hae naethin’ tae apologize fur.“ He said softly. "I dinnae min’ listenin’. Naethin’ ye said is yer fault.” His heart ached at seeing her cry. She carried this pain for so long, carrying this weight without support. Kenneth wanted to cry with her.

None of this was how he imagined it would happen. Those three words held so much power and he longed to hear them and say them back, but in this context, it did not feel like the right thing to say in this moment. “Ye hae nae idea how happy those words make me.” Kenneth offers a small smile, taking her hand. “Yoo ur th’ best hin’ ‘at has ever happened tae me. Whatever fears an’ wounds ye hauld, Ah want tae ken abit them. Ah dinnae gie scared easily, sae dinnae be afraid tae shaur yer burdens wi’ me.”

♡♡♡♡

Lydia did not even realize she had sunk to the ground until Kenneth had knelt down beside her. His soft words were like salve for her burn; were exactly what she needed to hear. Oh but how stupid she had been, allowing him to see her in such a state? The floodgates had opened, and five years of pent up contempt and anger spilled right out. “You must think me waspish and undesirable.” Lydia hiccuped producing handkerchief from her sleeve. She dabbed at her eyes and heaved another weary sigh.

They sat there for a second and suddenly it hit Lydia...she had told him that she loved him! She had said “I love you” to the Marquess. The memory of her confession made her stomach roil. If her sudden outburst had not driven him away, then a premature I Love You would. She was about to attempt an explanation when Kenneth opened his mouth to speak. Lydia braced for the rejection that was surely coming...

...and then he said he was happy? He took her hand and said that she was the best thing that has ever happened to him. Her chest clenched with adoration for the gentlemen before her. Lydia shook her head. “Don’t say that, you have a beautiful child. And if one of us is the lucky one, it is me.” She looked down at their hands. His was rough and calloused, but it was warm and gentle. Hers fit into it perfectly.

“I know I must seem out of my mind, but I have held that secret for so long. And it’s one thing to say I can tell you anything, but I just hope that this does not hinder your opinion on our relationship.”

#Lydia and Kenneth #themarquessofislay

viscountessxia:

“Unfortunately, I have learned to be wary of compliments that seem too good to be true,” Xiomara mentions airily, not wanting to touch on the subject too deeply, but too jaded from the events from last season not to say anything. One learn and one grows, even when those lessons are not the ones would have liked to learn. “I do apologize, however, I know you, and therefore know your words are true so I should not have insisted otherwise.”

Her head tilts ever so slightly to the side, a questioning gleam on her eyes as she looks at the older woman. Xiomara considers herself quite honest, if a question is asked and it’s appropriate for her to answer. And yet, she has also built her masks quite carefully since her last summer in Arundel, so she supposes she can agree to Lydia’s descriptor, even when knowing that she comes off as mysterious strikes her as discordant. She is herself, as simple as that is. Her thoughts and problems might be more complicated now than they were before, but what matters most remains.

“I can give you that,” she finally admits, a small but true smile on her lips as she nods in acquiescence. “I have, perhaps, learned the art of etiquette a bit too well. Rather helpful when dealing with the Ton, but it creates a bit of obfuscation. Does it not?”

Xiomara raises her cup again for another sip, and takes her time gathering her answer. It’s a relatively simple one, if she is to ignore the nervousness that been seen brings.

“I have mostly worked on preparing for the Season, as well as talked to my solicitor regarding some business. Nothing of note quite yet,” she admits, almost wistful for she does want something of note to happen. Something good. Her eyes flicker towards Lydia and an eyebrow raises inquiringly. “Might I inquire what you have been doing?”

♡♡♡♡

“Xia, I fear you are not realizing your own strength, but I know you and know you will come out on top... so I shall not worry on it further.” Lydia was encouraging herself more than her friend with this. And she would never want to make her friend feel guilty for anything, as she is as innocent as fresh snow in the Patroness’ eyes.

She laughed, tipping the teacup to her lips and sipping. “I suppose we have more to tell to one another than we originally had thought.” The next words gave the patroness cause to sit upright. She set down the teacup quickly. “My dear Xia, do not apologize, I beg you. As you say, you are simply expressing the demureness that is engrained in you.”

Lydia hummed with interest while her friend talked of her recent time in London. “It probably sounds rotten of me to talk of how exhausting preparing for a Season is, when I have a staff that I probably do not deserve.” she admitted halfheartedly. “But I have embraced scandal and fallen into the arms of courtship with a wonderful gentleman.” The smile she tried to hide was just a bit too strong-willed.

#lydia and xia #viscountessxia

sovereiigna:

“That is exactly what I was afraid you would say,” Marina sighed, heavily. She tried to force the corners of her lips up into another smile, but the anxiety in the girl’s face was almost palpable.

“The Ton will do as it has always done. I can only hope to navigate it with as much grace as Mama and the remainder of her court… It is not the talk, so much, that worries me… A sovereign must learn to hold their heads high, even in the most violent of storms… It’s only…” Despite her best lessons and breeding, Marina bit her lower lip. For an instant, the trappings seemed to fall away, and for that instant there could be glimpsed the very young woman, hardly out of girlhood, hidden underneath. “If… there isn’t anyone? Who can… see me. As I am.”

Again, she searched Lydia’s face, but her own expression was guarded, unreadable. “I understand what people expect of me. What many of my suitors, and others will seek to gain from placing themselves within my sphere. If what The Queen has hinted to me is true, more of them than not will likely be false flatterers. They will have… little interest in me. If I am being… honest… I do not believe most people have any sort of interest in me, except for what I can offer them. What I mean as a symbol. A promise for the future…” The admission stung so badly, Marina was forced to drop her gaze again. “I do not want to be paraded out in front of the Ton, only to discover my only worth is as a picture of status,” the princess breathed. “But I’ve little confidence in my ability to tell when someone genuinely sees me for who I am. I’m not sure anyone ever has. The only part that seems to be visible, is the part of me that wears the crown…”

♡♡♡♡

“I...am sorry if my advice feels redundant, my lady. Though I cannot imagine what navigating a season such as yours would entail, I do have quite a bit of experience doing so.”

Lydia reached an arm around Marina’s shoulder. “It might sound like the most basic thing, but kindness and compassion only bring good.” As she said this, she thought of how she fought the oppression in her previous marriage with dignity and poise, as well as humility. Now that she was for lack of a better word, free, Lydia knew that she may not have been so lucky had she been haughty and unfaithful like most of the Ton had tried to paint her.

Marina’s words nearly shattered Lydia’s heart and she pulled her in closer. “I used to think that gentlemen only saw me for a Duke’s daughter, a prize to be won. Some even seemed to think I was but a pawn in their game. Even my late husband treated me like a trophy to be ogled, and while that felt nice in the beginning, it grew weary.” What had initially started as a light conversation about the season had quickly turned into a bearing of the souls, and Lydia was all the more grateful for it. “I know it seems impossible now,” she spoke closely, “but one day you will find the right person. And you will think about this moment and I think it will amuse you that you were ever worried in the first place.”

#Lydia and Marina #sovereiigna

margaretmulgrave:

Her brows raised slightly in delight. It was true in there correspondence over the winter they had spoken around Lydia and Lord Ridel’s interest in one another, but this was stark confirmation. Margaret opened her mouth, wanting to inquire further about what made the courting crystal clear, how all was going.

Instead she had to listen to a trite joke about spilled milk from one of the many ladies at the table, and turned when schedule was announced so seriously.

“The Queen’s Ball, of course. Early arrival is crucial.” Celestia’s gaze lingered on Lydia for an extra moment before Lady Kedley continued on for her.

“Her Majesty does enjoy an established posse. Do remember we are only there to observe and support unless the Queen asks otherwise. And husbands or companions are strictly…”

Margaret pursed her lips, daring a poke into Lydia’s ribs, “So, Lord Ridel will be seeing you to the Queen Introductions then?” Even if they weren’t being presented, they clearly had their own parts to play here.

♡♡♡♡

The parchment before Lydia was barren of anything aside from scribbles. In her early days as a Patroness, the new bride found taking detailed notes to be as helpful as anything to keep herself up to date on the happenings of London. As the years passed and it became clear that the ladies would say one thing and mean another, so her notes became fewer and far between. Yet she kept the habit for nothing else if not to appear invested.

Lady Selwyn spoke of the first ball and Lydia became a little less detached from the conversation. If she were honest, the ball had been in her thoughts more than it normally would. The last one, Lydia had attended with her late husband who, after their one opening dance, escaped to the men’s gaming room and proceeded to steadily lose a great deal of her inheritance. Now the thought of arriving with the Marquess and dancing the night away with him thrilled her to the bone.

The grunt emitted as a result of Margaret’s friendly jab was luckily not loud enough to draw attention to Lydia, and she covered it with a smile. “He has not formally asked to accompany me yet, but I would be lying if I said I haven’t planned my night around him already.” She replied.

🥝 : does my muse have any ‘ unusual ’ habits, interests, and / or talents? do they hide it, or are they proud of it?

Lydia is a skilled oil painter. She hasn't painted in a long time - since before her first marriage. Nothing of hers is extraordinary, so she doesn't speak of the works, but she would happily pick it up again now that she has certain inspiration.

#this got HIDDEN #answered #margaretmulgrave

1801 is a crucial year for Lydia’s presentation to the Queen. She has returned as a patroness of Almack’s and recently began courting her Scot. She’s chosen an icy blue satin gown and her neck is adorned with her latest purchase- an elegant amethyst necklace.

#queen’s introduction 1801

TTL!

1. I have a raspberry allergy

2. My mama is the youngest child in her family

3. I was born with eleven toes

#answered #viscountessxia

TTL

Hmmm…

I have a painting hung in the national gallery

My horse as a child was named Bunty

One of my paternal cousins shares my birth date and year

#answered #themarquessofislay

thetonhq

Welcome to Meme Friday at The Ton! 🧣 Each Friday, we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme specifies that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Feel free to reblog and answer memes until end of day Sunday. After that, save what’s left over in your inbox for the next Meme Friday. Enjoy!

Let’s play Two Truths and a Lie! Send ‘TTL’ and my muse will tell two real facts about themselves and one lie. Your muse will have to guess which is which!

OR

Send me two truths and a lie and I / my muse will have to guess which is which!

viscountessxia:

Her thoughts flash back to Arundel briefly, and for a moment, Xiomara yearns for what once was. She was much younger, on her last visit, much more innocent. The Ton and their disregard had yet to wear away at her defenses and she had been confident her love match was around the corner. And for a moment, it had almost been, but she had grown too shy, too fumbling, too self-conscious by the whispered words of her plainness, and rather than offer any sort of vulnerability, she had ran. It was one of her biggest regrets, how she had left things. For years, it had been the one regret she had not been brave enough to face. And yet, things had changed, she had changed. Gone are the last vestiges of the innocent girl she once was, and while she still hold a secret hope within her chest, she knows better now. She had been the one too scared to let herself be vulnerable, and as such, she is the one that must apologize to the youngest Mowbray.

If the opportunity presented itself, but it seemed he is as keen to avoid her as she had once been.

Xiomara did not blame him. It is her turn to lay on the bed she had made for herself.

“Now, now,” she tuts in mock disappointment as she shakes her head, already falling back into the familiar patterns of her friendship with Lydia. “You know I don’t lie to my friends. Flattery is nice, but there is nothing better than honest compliments amidst friends, wouldn’t you agree?”

The smile she sends Lydia’s way is warm and full, both similar and dissimilar to her society smile. It’s a smile she tends to reserve for her friends, or for those who do not know her rank. It’s a true smile, born from the deepest sentiment.

“I will accept radiant,” she finally acquiesces at the compliment, choosing to interpret it as an allusion to her warmth. Xiomara has to admit, though, that being called sharp does fill her with pride, head lifting ever so slightly in renewed confidence. “Although, mysterious? That is a new one.”

Tentatively, she places a hand over Lydia’s and squeezes softly, before she pulls back and takes her teacup.

“If that is the case, I am glad, you deserve happiness and more,” she says simply. Then, she shakes her head at Lydia’s repeated sentiment. “No need to apologize. As I said, I do believe we were both partly to blame. What matters is what we do from now, don’t you think?”

“My friend, I urge you to be more open to compliments,” said Lydia breathily. “I know this much is true, at least in my case.” She cocked her head to the side and a wry smile on her lips. “You are most definitely mysterious, Viscountess. We grew up side by side and now I feel as if we are getting to know one another for the first time.”

She meant no harm by the description, and surely Xia knew this. How could she when it had been the truth. The two ladies were a pair, for much of their youths. Xia had started to pull away even before Lydia had gotten married. In fact, the very last summer they had spent together at Arundel, Xia had begun to pull away, and become distanced. She probably didn’t mean to, that was always clear. Yet...something had happened and it caused her to leave weeks earlier than planned.

Lydia had her suspicions, but was never able to confirm them. Until now. Still, the last thing she wanted to do was spring this hypothesis on her friend just as they were coming back together. That could make things even more awkward between them, and Lydia was determined to make things right.

A loose curl escaped Lydia’s coiffure and she quickly tucked it behind her ear before it could fall into her tea. “You are right, we must put things behind us so that we can move forward properly.” She said. “I shall start. How have you been spending your time now that you are back in London?”

#lydia and xia #viscountessxia

margaretmulgrave:

༻✦༺༻✧༺༻✦༺

Margaret made room for Lydia, much to Lady Selwyn’s annoyance of being pushed further away from the most recently wed patroness into the new season. Celestia had already nearly misspoke once, Margaret was not keen to continue listening.

“Not much of anything, truth be told.” Margaret muttered. “Just a recount of the news from our riveting Lady Gossip.” She would assume that Lady Mowbray already perused the paper herself, and smirked to herself. “It is a relief not to see either of our names appear, of course. Either we’ve been on good behavior, or Lady Whistledown is simply bored by those who return.”

Her attention drifted for a moment to play her hand, gaze flicking to Celestia only when she heard the slight hitch of breath that was a clear giveaway to the other woman swiftly losing coming her turn.

“What kept you Lady Mowbray?” Lady Kedley interrupted curiously.

“Ah,” Lydia half smiled and sat back in the chair, hands folded in her lap. As she politely took her tea, the feeling of every pair of eyes staring her down was nothing short of embarrassing, but what could she do? She was late to the first Patroness meeting of the season, and if there was ever a time when her position was compromised, it was now. Lydia had all but renounced her membership in the group when she failed to attend nearly every meeting the previous season. It was a miracle that the queen had allowed her to keep her seat at the prestigious table. It was even more of a relief that she now had Lady Harcourt to keep her company during the gossip sessions they called “meetings.”

Lydia liked Margaret. There seemed to be a sort of kindredness between the two of them. Their correspondence during the winter felt light and natural. “I find it surprising that I am not included in this news, though I suppose that since the Marquess is now courting me, nothing we do can be too suspicious.”

At the mention of her name, Lydia sat upright and looked to Lady Kedley. “I am afraid my tardiness is due to a novice driver and an overturned milk cart and not something more scandalous. She regretted bringing up the new driver, as he did not deserve any true blame. The elders at the table nodded understandingly.

Lady Selwyn cleared her throat, commanding the other ladies’ attention. “I do believe it is time we begin.” Her mature face glanced around the table. “What is on the schedule for today, Celestia?”

#Lydia and Margaret #margaretmulgrave

😞 = Finding an orphaned child would your muse opt to take them in, find someone more qualified, or just leave them?

Oh Lydia would not hesitate to take in a child. She is a natural caregiver and adores children. It would not even cross her mind that others may gossip about it or look down upon it. Every child no matter who they are or where they came from is a blessing in her eyes.

#answered #viscountessxia

🍳 = What kind of family gatherings does your muse prefer and why?

While she loves a soiree, Lydia truly enjoys a nice intimate drawing room party. She likes to be seated comfortably around the room while her family laughs and reminisces. Her favorite thing is when they strike up a game of charades or other parlor games.

Her immediate family is on the smaller side, but every once in a while her aunts and uncles will bring their families for extended stays at Arundel and Lydia loves this because she adores spending time with her cousins and their children.

#answered #margaretmulgrave

⚰️ = How would the loss of a family member affect them? Does it vary based on type of family member?

The toughest loss Lydia has experienced is definitely that of her late husband, Heathcliff. It was not his actual death that devastated her, but the aftermath of having to answer over and over why they never produced children.

The family member that Lydia would be crushed to lose would be her mother, whom she considers her best friend.

#answered #themarquessofislay

🍌 : is my muse inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? what makes them this way? has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them?

Lydia considers herself extremely charitable. She is always looking out for the needs of others and thoroughly enjoys giving her time and money to those less fortunate.

#answered #viscountessxia

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to thine own self be true