- MARIE WINCHESTER -
- dependant blog for thetonhq -
(Aiysha Hart) Goodness, Marie Winchester has arrived! She is 30 , of the HEREFORD WINCHESTER FAMILY, and a Dowager Viscountess. They are returned to England and the season and their family holds the Viscounty of Hereford. This author has heard they are ALLURING but also SCHEMING. Accompanied by HER LADIES MAID , there is much talk of their arrival and accepting calls but be warned: I have heard they are ambitious and will stop at nothing to get what she wants!
Bio and info under the cut...
BIO:
NAME: Marie Winchester nee Everist
FAMILY: House Winchester, the Viscounty of Hereford.
ROLE IN SOCIETY: Dowager Viscountess. (Lady).
Sexual Orientation: Ambiguous.
Languages: English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Family-
First Husband: Mister Robert Lass, deceased.
Second Husband: Lord Hugo Winchester, recently deceased.
Son-in-Law: Mister Enzo Winchester
Brother-In-Law (and secret ex-fling): Mister Rodrigo Winchester
Marie is the only child of a rich family who wanted to tie their wealth to a noble family or another rich one. There were no other prospects and her first husband was a successful businessman who was known for his wealth and had great connections with the noble families. When they married, she quickly found that he did not have the money he said and was in a lot of debt and that her dowry was exhausted within two months to pay off his debts. After that, he discarded her and never bothered with her, making it clear he only cared for her money and was going to live the life he wanted because he was now free of financial burdens. The only happiness she found in her life was in the company of men that weren’t her husband so she would cheat on him with any chance she’d get.
One day, she met her husband's business partner. A Lord who was older than she was and it didn’t take long for Marie and Hugo Winchester to start an affair. He was widowed and wanted to marry her but couldn't due to her marriage. He already had a son who was close to Marie’s age and a brother who she was also close with but she had heard the whispers that the heir may not be Hugo’s true child but nobody in the Winchester family spoke of it so she didn’t get it confirmed.
Her marriage to Hugo was built on love and freedom they gave to each other. They had a secret open marriage and knew about each other's extra-marital partners. About two years into her marriage with Lord Hugo, he died unexpectedly and since Marie and Hugo did not have a child to secure her status, she is left in a vulnerable position made worse upon reading that her second husband had secret debts that she must manage. To try and solve the Winchester problems, she is determined to find a wealthy match for her step-son and wants to use that to her advantage.
"I know, I know!" Junho laughed. "I just focus on other things on my walk- or I'm with my siblings, so I don't need to pay attention..." He mumbled that last bit. He really should. While he's walking alongside her, He makes sure to focused a little more on where they are going for the next time.
"What! am I not allowed to let women know that she's pretty?" He asked with a rather sweet gaze. He clearly is just a playful young man." Which you clearly are by the way." He even gave her a wink.
"So you need a constant companion, a friend, to help you get from one place to another? I think it can be quite a good thing. Yes, you're easily distracted it sounds like or you're so focused on one thing that everything else is blinding. That's a strong mind. Determined, even."
"You are and I'll take any compliments you have! Just make sure you aren't so..." she tries to think of the best way to say it without causing any offence. "Obvious. People here can take a compliment and think it means you have intentions."
Ceara appreciated Marie’s understanding, especially since she knew exactly where she was coming from. Men *were* disappointing and she was convinced there was no one who wouldn’t disappoint her. Well, maybe one man wouldn’t, even if she barely knew him yet… “I would appreciate that,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. There was no harm in trying something new, it was how she learned best. It was how everyone learned best, sometimes.
The woman’s enthusiasm to speak about her past experiences made her laugh as she diligently listened. Her heart broke, understanding that familiar feeling. At least he waited longer than a week to show his true colors, but alas, she still felt for Marie. But she also knew she had an excellent point, despite being hard to admit such a thing. Perhaps she was allowing the bitterness and his existence to be in the way of her own happiness. Ceara found herself wringing her fingers, expression thoughtful and more serious now. “I suppose I’ve been letting my hurt rule my life the past seventeen years,” she noted, letting out a deep sigh. “What if I’m not ready yet?”
“It’s been some time since I’ve been involved in society circles but my husband's name still carries weight and so does my status even if it is just a dowager. I can help find someone suitable but you have to tell me what you want. What you truly want. Not the same drivel about love matches that the romantic headed ladies keep repeating. It will stay between us and trust I won’t judge you.” She truly wouldn’t judge, she understood that women needed to survive and their lives less in their control than they’d wanted so she wanted to help Ceara get whatever control she could use for her own ways.
The laugh was a surprise but she didn’t mind it. Now, she could laugh at her first marriage and how naive she’d been but at the time it angered her beyond any reason. “Being ready,” she sighs, waving a hand as if to dismiss the notion. “How do you know you’re not or what would you need to do to get ready?”
Harriett blinked a couple of times. So maybe she had to learn how to hold her tongue back or she'd get more in trouble than she intended. She should have figured she'd get caught eventually. She cleared her throat a bit. It probably also didn't help that she was out, alone with no chaperone and now making a scene.
"Was just looking to get some fresh air," she avoided the older woman's eyes and scuffed her shoes together in the dirt. So maybe she was right, this would only create trouble. "Thought I'd escape a bit from the rest of the gossip..." she finally looked up.
"Fresh air, of course," she nods but her eyes narrow looking at Harriet but she pretends to have a satisfied look on her face quickly before she changes and has a suspicious one one instead. "And I assume that your fathers know that you are out absent a chaperone?" She lets the question linger before carrying on, a smile growing slow on her face. "You can say I was chaperoning you if you want. Every girl should have some freedom and if anyone asks, I'll say I watched you like a hawk and you were a true lady."
Ceara had only told one or two people about her prior relationship, if she could call it that. She parted her lips to speak but only shook her head. “I have given up on the institution of marriage and love from anyone. I’ve only been disappointed in the past and considering another is…painful.”
Why was she admitting this to this woman she had just met? She was comfortable with her already, but…she barely wanted to think about her avoidance of love and relationships, let alone tell anyone. “It’s quite the long and troubling explanation,” she laughed, though there was no ounce of humor behind it.
“Oh, that I know very well,” she sighs and slightly rolls her eyes. “You shouldn’t feel bad about that and if you do, I’m sorry that I’ve presumed something about you. Men have disappointed so many people when it comes to love and marriage. I’m familiar with it.” Why did she feel something for this girl? Normally she wouldn’t but she couldn’t help but like her and maybe even want to help her. “You just need someone to show you some good people or ones that will give you a good life. I’ve some connections if you want a guide.”
Marie nods, not pressuring her to say more. “Well, let me tell you mine or some part of it. I’d not want to bore you with it all!” She says flicking her hair out of her way. “My first husband promised the world and was completely loving in the courtship but after our first week or so of marriage, he showed he was a useless glutton and I could tell he wanted to discard me.” Knowing that and what happened with him made her smug and satisfied. “I thought all were like that and then I met my second husband and I didn’t let my marriage stop that.” The timing was gossiped about when it first happened all those years ago so she didn’t care if people did now. “I was happier because I didn’t let someone who hurt me stop me from being happy.”
Lysander, admittedly, lost his cool ever so slightly in shooting Marie a disdainful look. "Well, luckily for him, he won't have to suffer your company, Lady Winchester. He's... indisposed. For a time, at least - long enough for you to lose interest." Was it snide? Perhaps. Did he care, at this hour? Not at all. He was tired, in a bearable, yet uncomfortable amount of pain, and this was not a conversation he wished to be having with her, much less on the street.
"It would be better than suffering yours and I speak from regretful experience." With nobody else around she felt like she could admit, even a small amount, that they had something of a past. "You think I'm easily distracted to lose interest in anything? Well, I've never been accused of that before."
A list was something Dominic used to put things into perspective. A potential husband or wife of his was needed to represent the family; they needed to be perfect. “Tolerable for one, but they would need to be clever and accomplished with at least three languages known.” There was more to his list, but Dominic didn’t want to overwhelm Marie. A desire for children was needed, of course, but as long as Dominic had at least two sons, he’d be happy. “My mother also has a list, but hers is more detailed.” Lady Daniella had her expectations of each of her sons. Dominic's, of course, was more rigorous, but they all knew he’d be up to the challenge of expectation.
Dominic scoffed loudly at the mention of Mary. It was either a cruel joke or some experiment to announce her as the diamond. “That’s surely an error on Lady Whistledown’s part,” evidence by the fact that none of his brothers were picked as the bachelor. A woman on the shelf and a railroad car heir. It had to be a joke. “Miss Mary Barnett wasn’t suitable for my brother, and her family can’t offer a suitable dowry, unless Lady Whistledown is funding the Barnetts." Dominic said the last part deliberately loudly. He didn’t believe it, but it may be enough to cast doubt on the Barnetts again. “I have no information on Miss Elizabeth’s match,” he explained, clearly disinterested, "but I do wonder why the Barnetts are so desperate." It makes me believe their finances are more dire than I’d believed.”
“Tolerable gets rid of so many people here,” she says quietly with a roll of her eyes that’s subtle enough for not many around them to see it. “The rest of your list is good enough and there’ll be plenty of people who could meet that. I’m not surprised your mothers list has more requirements. I’m sure my list is triple the size of my sons. I want to get rid of any fortune hunters so they have to have an impressive dowry for him. The rest, I just hope they aren’t simple minded or irritating and have a brain. It’s not too much but I know it would scare many people away but I only do it because I want everything good for him.” And for her. A big dowry would mean she could take some of it for herself but that was getting less likely the more time went on and she tried her best to keep things going and relaxed.
“An error? I can’t think why.” She played innocent, like someone who didn’t know what was going on and even tried to put on a positive outlook which was far past how she really was. “The girl is pretty, comes from a family with history, now she has the wealthiest person in London sponsoring her. If you didn’t have past issues with the family, you must surely see how that is appealing to everyone?” Everyone knew the Barnett’s finances were all gone and she thought it was obvious the match was an arrangement. A title for money. Not the first time that happened or the last.
“Precisely,” Ceara agreed proudly, glad someone else shared her sentiments. Most of the things she heard about Whistledown were from people whispering about the contents in the streets. She wasn’t interested in indulging in gossip unless it genuinely benefited her.
Her cheeks were visibly flushed at the notion alone. Immediately, she shook her head and insisted, “Politeness. I have no intentions to marry and I know little of your stepson.” As far as she was aware, anyways. Not to mention her conversation with Dominic had pushed her further away from the concept of marriage. But thinking of him always did that and interacting with him just worsened it.
"Is there no handsome Lord or beautiful Lady that has caught your eye? I wouldn't blame you. Most of them are rakes who have said loudly that they don't want any commitment of that kind. Or not one that they can get out of easy." She liked Ceara, thought she had a smartness about her and a good wit. "Or maybe the opposite? If any of them have turned you away from the idea I wouldn't blame you. They can be awful."
Junho sighed just a bit dramatically. "I should! Aera says I should have, since I've done this walk many...many times before," It's actually kind of pathetic...oh well.... " Just these two streets look similar," He tells her as if that's reason enough. "Oh, I'm sure there is an artist, but how embarrassing would it be to hold a map while here? People would notice!"
"Please do, they must know I'm very gentlemanly to a *pretty* dowager like yourself," He rephrased for her while he stayed in step with her. "My mother should know how well I'm acting like a proper British gentleman, "He smiled at her. He's not so embarrassed anymore. He's very at ease next to her.
"You walk somewhere hundreds of times but if you aren't paying attention, it never stays in. I like to know where I am. I know its not as spontaneous but I think it gives security to be that way. Or I might just be a bit too boring now I'm a widow," she chuckles making sure she's as friendly as she can be to him.
"Mr Lytton are you flirting with me?" She pretends to be shocked and a forces a flash of surprise on her face but can't keep that up. "You only say that out of kindness, I'm sure! Most of the other Dowagers are double my age or close to it."
"I'm not…that new" Junho looked even more embarrassed. " I'm just not so good with directions….Tim is always so much better at this sorta of thing. He was just so busy today, so I figured I'd go down alone." He sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest. " He says I need a map," and maybe Tim is right about that….
" Well, I'm trying my best," He said as he slightly lifted his head in a proud movement." you outta make sure my mother knows that!" He said as he gave her a smile. very charming man. He seemed so relaxed and maybe a little loud (even if he's embarrassed and nervous) compared to most English gentlemen- maybe it's the American part of him that has him like this.
"Really? If you are so experienced, shouldn't you know the way?" Marie teases, giving a little smirk that's so slight she wouldn't blame him for not seeing it. "I don't think a map exists. Everyone here is very local or they have maids and servants running errands and they normally have carriages taking them from place to place. If you have enough money, you could commission a map. I'm certain they'll be a starving artist type happy to take the money," it's a slight tease but its all so very true.
"I haven't met your parents but I do, I'll make a point how gentlemanly you've been to an old dowager like me." A joke, again, but she can never really get her voice to give that.
Noting the casualness in her voice, Ceara assumed her first husband wasn’t exactly worth mourning. She heard they typically weren’t when marrying young, so it wasn’t shocking that the Viscountess spoke of being a widow so calmly. There was an air of maturity and lived experiences about her that she liked, found comfort in.
“It sounds like people here want something to be upset about. Not matter the circumstances,” she said, mouth downturned now. “It grows tiresome, surely. But have you? Found a proper match for your stepson?” Ceara wasn’t part of that world so she found anyone part of it quite interesting.
From what she knew of being a widow, she had thought that it wouldn’t be much different between the first and if there ever was a second but it was. The second husband she knew she’d mourn forever even though the rest of society wouldn’t see her doing it. They’d have their thoughts but she didn’t care. Not having a dowry meant she couldn’t remarry again and Marie didn’t mind that, she just wanted security of some kind.
“You are so perfectly right! They don’t see it that way but I think that’s why that damned paper is so popular and why people here read it cover to cover the second it's in their hands.” The question gives Marie a particular look in her eye. “Well, I haven’t found anyone as of yet. He’s titled so I’m not too concerned if his match has one but they’d have to bring something interesting. Are you asking out of interest or just to be polite?”
It was too late for her to hope that no one spotted or recognized her around the park. Whistledown already had noticed her sneaking out at night, something that she had been quite careful about. She had avoided her parents for the most part, hiding where she could manage. But as soon as she decided to leave the house, she knew that her sisters, her fathers, anyone who read the pamphlets would look at her differently.
She dragged her feet towards the stables, deciding that if she was going to be in trouble, she might as well enjoy herself a little bit. Harriett snuck in, climbing into the back door when she heard a sound, the presence of someone else. "I didn't do it!"
"What on Earth..." Marie mumbles to herself when she spots a young girl around the park. Immediately she looks for a chaperone and her mind races when she can't see one. It bought her right back to when she was a girl and she did that same thing countless times and the late hour was the best time to do it. People rarely went out but she'd fancied a walk in the night air and part of her was glad of it if only to save the girl any scandal.
"Do what?" Marie asked stepping forward and when she saw Harriet, she thought of the recent revelation in Whistledown. "Weren't you just written about for sneaking out and now you're doing it more? Your family won't tell you this but I admire that kind of fire."
Dominic wasn’t opposed to marriage. He knew it would happen sooner or later, he just expected more to choose from. “I don’t have anyone in mind,” He said with a heavy sigh. “Only a list of requirements for a match and no one has met them yet.” Dominic didn’t need a titled spouse. He had his own legacy to continue, but he needed someone suitable. Someone to match himself, or his standing either with wealth or reputation. London, it appeared, was out of options.
He’d considered going after Elizabeth’s match, but the time needed wouldn’t be worth the pay off. Mary and Frederic were separated and new money only lasted so long. Dominic needed to be patient, but that wasn’t ever one of his virtues. “No, they aren’t worth my time,” He shrugged. It sounded harsh, but it’s how he saw it. The Barnett’s were all but washed up and a sudden influx of cash would go as quickly as it came. “I just question the speed of things. I didn’t know they’d been courting for long before the announcement.”
“A list? Oh my. That sounds quite particular but I can’t exactly judge when I have a specific list that I want for my step-sons future match. We all have standards and we shouldn’t diminish them for the sake of rushing down the aisle.” She appreciated someone else having a list, for some reason it made her feel less strange about her own and thought it would give hers some kind of validity. “Tell me what is on yours and I’ll tell you what’s on mine.”
“They aren’t? I thought they would be now that the one your family shamed so publicly is now the apparent diamond of the season.” She can feel that she’s stirring up trouble but it could be entertaining and she couldn’t wait to see where it would go. “I thought the reason for the rush in that match was the family being poor and the other party desperate for a title. Do you think it's something else? Oh please tell me! You must have some information from your business.”
Juhno does give a little pout, but he could tell she was being friendly, so he lets it slide. He's alright because he /is/lost even if he didn't like admitting as such. "Well, maybe, you've got a point..." He sighed a bit as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
He's heard that name, but he can't remember quite where he heard it. He knows that a family his parents would want him to get to know. He winced, thinking about how his mind went to how his parents work. the connections he could make.
He perks up, and he smiles even more." Well, I can't have a lady go unaccompanied !" He said easily as he stepped next to her. If he just says he's helping her back then it's a little less embarrassing!
"I often do but you're new to town, you'll find that out soon enough." She says it as if its nothing, just a comment made in passing but she was sometimes good at playing flippant when it was needed. Not all the time but it was something she'd learned.
"You sound like a gentleman already, you'll fit in just perfectly fine here and with that beautiful American accent, you'll have many of the ladies and men eager to meet and learn all about you."
“And why do they not care for you, My Lady? If I can be frank with you.” The lilt in their voice gave way to her Northern Irish accent, something she wore proudly, especially here, and when she couldn’t control it.
Ceara couldn’t help but admire Lady Marie, if not for her honesty and subsequent bluntness on all matters. She barely knew her but she wanted to. The Dowager Viscountness read through the lines easily, which made talking to her easier.
"I don't have any certain ideas but I think it's because I'm a younger widow than most twice over. And that my mourning period wasn't long between my first husbands passing and my marriage to my second," she says that last part as if its no big issue and to her it wasn't. She hated the first husband. "I think it doesn't help that I'm particular when I'm trying to find a match for my step-son. They hate that too, I think, because we are similar ages. I learned early on when I was a girl that everyone around you is going to judge you so I try not to let it bother me too much."
A fire in her? That was an understatement. Azalea may have been open minded but she technically had a hair trigger temper, her not resorting to physical violence but was able to easily take down someone twice her size with words alone. "Oh well," she shrugged, "I already have enough stigma against me what's a little more?" she smirked
"Well you can't make a statement like that and not say any more!" Marie's attention was elevated instantly and she looked over the woman with so much more interest than she first thought. "What's your stigma? Mine is that I'm a widow twice over," she says as if its a secret instead of common knowledge.
