Samuel Albarron, the first son and heir of the Viscount Brooksbury is born.
December 1, 1757
Tolivander Gabriel Albarron, the second son of the Viscount Brooksbury, is born (hereinafter referred to as Tolly)
Spring, 1771
Mayra Albarron, the first daughter of Viscount Brooksbury, is born.
Fall 1775
Viviana Albarron, the second daughter and youngest child of Viscount Brooksbury is born (hereinafter referred to as Vivi)
Tolly begins his education at Oxford.
Spring, 1779 - Spring, 1786
Tolly becomes a field surgeon and nearly loses his life more than once on foreign soil.
Summer, 1786
The Viscount Brooksbury, Matthew Albarron, dies suddenly.
Samuel ascends to the title.
Tolly returns home but is unable to settle.
Winter 1786 - Spring 1788
Tolly travels extensively seeing many parts of the world and offering his skills, as limited as they are, as a field surgeon to those in need.
Eventually arrives at the hacienda of his Mother’s family.
Tolly finds himself at home for the first time in his adult life and settles in
He begins going by his middle name, Gabriel, as it was easier for the locals to pronounce and it became an easy way to distinguish himself from his life as an English Gentleman.
Summer 1789 - 1799
Tolly forms a romantic relationship with a couple, Guilia and Alessandro. He develops a paternal relationship with their daughters.
He tends fields, manages extensive investments ably and assists when he can at local clinics and hospitals where the physicians and nurses need a hand.
He visits his family in England every few years and is eager to return to his comfortable life where he can shuck rigid propriety for the family he has built for himself.
March, 1799
Tolly’s lovers - Guilia and Alessandro contract influenza
April, 1799
Early in the month Alessandro dies
A week later, Guilia dies
Tolly buries them in the graveyard at the hacienda along with many of the family retainers and their children. The influenza struck hard this year.
Recovery is slow and he is focused on caring for Guilia and Alessandro’s daughters (who are now young women).
November, 1799
Tolly receives a letter advising him of his brother’s death, which had occurred some months prior, and that he is the new Viscount Brooksbury
December, 1799
Tolly travels with Guilia and Alessandro’s daughters to Mexico City where he leaves them in the care of family friends.
January, 1800
Tolly sets sail for England.
March, 1800
Tolly finally arrives in early March where the usual travel time of 6-7 weeks has been radically extended by storm after storm on the open sea. The ship miraculously makes it back to England with all hands alive and accounted for.
Tolly is reunited with his mother, Aracela, and sisters, Mayra and Vivi.
April, 1800
Preparations begin to join the Season in London in the hopes that Tolly will find a suitable wife since his brother failed to do so.
June, 1800
Tolly attends the Derringford Picnic Auction
July, 1800
Tolly feels encouraged to pursue a courtship of Miss Margaret Mulgrave
Miss Mulgrave accepts the proposal of another man.
Tolly keeps a running diary of his impressions of the other members of Society that is regularly updated. The Diary may be found on his page. [Diary]
Adelson Jacobs →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: Very handsome young man.
Alexandre Mortier →
First Meeting: Many years ago and in what feels like a world away.
Current Impression: An affable, gregarious man of intellect and wit. Also quite handsome.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Fraser →
First Meeting: Overseas when we were perhaps both more in our element than this world we currently inhabit.
Current Impression: While a man of good spirits and fine intellect that I am pleased to count among my acquaintance, he also bears considerable grief. It is something I understand all too well and I would not wish such melancholy on anyone.
Archibald Howard St. John →
First Meeting: We met overseas as well when I assisted in a minor medical treatment for the man. He failed to charm.
Current Impression: Persistent and might be tolerable if he would just not be so... Effingham.
Atticus ‘Kit’ Thorne →
First Impression: At the Derringford’s picnic where the young man was a frazzled mess.
Current Impression: Outside the hotbed of a Society event, he is excessively pleasant and intelligent. A fine companion and one I would be pleased to call a friend, although it would as of yet be presumptuous to apply such a label. I maintain my optimism.
Aurelia Merchant →
First Impression: She spared me a trouncing in Vauxhall.
Current Impression: A delightful, witty and intelligent young lady whose company is a delight. Always sensible to maintain a friendship with a young lady who has already spared you a terrible indignity while never forfeiting her own grace and ready smile. I confess I do not care for her sister in law - she looks as if she has been pickled in vinegar too long, so sour is her expression and demeanour.
Caroline Hale →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular, although she is a very pretty young lady.
Catherine Lockhart →
First Meeting: We met at the market where we had a most pleasant conversation.
Current Impression: We travelled together on the same vessel to Margate and it was delightful to further our acquaintance. She is a woman of elegance and sweet charm. I understand her to be engaged to my dear friend Hastings and I am so very pleased for both of them.
Conrad Mowbray →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular, although he is a handsome man.
Dulcinea Hallivand 🦉 →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular.
Diana Bartlett →
First Meeting: We met some time ago during a leisurely morning stroll.
Current Impression: She is an absolutely delightful companion. She has a witty, cheerful manner and always something interesting to say. Her outlook on the world is tinged with such kindness that I always feel lighter after we have spoken. I wish her very well and look forward to furthering our friendship. She may have quite the lovely eyes I have ever seen.
Emmeline Thorne →
First Meeting: We met when caught in the rain and shared a hiding spot for a short while.
Current Impression: A young lady of beauty and sense. She spared me from foolishly tipping over a railing into the Thames. She has an interesting air. She is purported to be this Season’s Diamond and it is is easy to see how that label came to be applied to her.
Frances Fitzroy →
First Meeting: We met many years ago where she incurred a very modest debt with me.
Current Impression: She is a brilliant woman of strong opinion and forthright personality. I do hope she has at least a little affection for Halifax so that their marriage has a chance of being one of contentment and not merely obligation.
Henry ‘Harry’ Cadogan →
First Meeting: We met at the Derringford Picnic affair where he was a most affable addition to the crowd of gentlemen.
Current Impression: An extremely pleasant and energetic man. I feel quite exhausted in his presence. He seemed dreadfully young to me but perhaps that is my age revealing itself. He is very cheerful company.
Henrietta Fortescue →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular, although she is a very pretty young lady.
Hugh Howard →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular, although he is a handsome man.
Jason Calloway →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular, although he is a handsome man.
Jeremiah Ackerley →
First Meeting: We met at the Derringford picnic affair where he appeared a little apprehensive about the event.
Current Impression: He does not trust me, which I suppose is fair enough, although impossible to build much of a friendship with someone who will not extend initial good opinion. I suppose it is unlikely we will meet often in future. I do wish him very well with his forthcoming (presumably) wedding to Lady Fitzroy.
June Croft →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: None in particular, although she is a very pretty young lady.
Lucy Herzog →
First Meeting: I have yet to have had the pleasure.
Current Impression: A princess worthy of the name. Dignified and beautiful.
Margaret Mulgrave →
First Meeting: We met at the Derringford picnic affair where she charmingly won my basket.
Current Impression: She makes me feel. Her smile is golden. A lady of wit, kindness and character.
Nicholas Brooksbank →
First Meeting: A recent meeting in Vauxhall where we shared a laugh over the similarity of his name and my title. Perhaps there is an old history there! A witty new acquaintance.
Current Impression: A very fine and handsome fellow I would be well pleased to know him further.
Ophelia Vane →
First Meeting: We met at a paritcularly enormous bookstore where she gave me excellent recommendations of books to pick up for the girls. An absolutely delightful and beautiful young lady.
Current Impression: I would be well pleased to consider her a friend and while we might not quite be there at this point, I believe in time we could be excellent friends who share good books and a charming conversation.
Richard Harcourt →
First Meeting: Met recently in Margate when we shared a brief swim in the North Sea. I do not believe he much enjoyed the swim. We share much in common, including our interest in a particular young lady. He made it quite clear he did not view me particularly as competition in the pursuit of such young lady, which I suppose is fair enough. He didn’t need to make it quite so plain however.
Current Impression: A handsome, intelligent man of good taste who quite obviously has no particularly positive opinion of me. I do wish him well however. And perhaps he should avoid swimming in the wild sea and stick to calm lakes.
Sarah St. John →
First Meeting: We met at Hatchards where I believed she and I shared a pleasant conversation.
Current Impression: At some point during our conversation I offended the lady, she demurred and left forthwith. We met again during the journey to Margate and once again was struck by her dislike for me. A true pity as I did quite like the young lady.
Sebastian Herzog →
First Meeting: We met at the Derringford Picnic Affair. We exchanged pleasant conversation.
Current Impression: I understand that he has recently left the country and I do understand how one’s responsibilities could take one far away but his presence is surely missed. I would have liked to know him further and wish him well.
Sidney Wyatt →
First Meeting: We shared a berth on the Lavender vessel to Margate. He is an excessively affable man.
Current Impression: I am not entirely certain I have ever met a man who held his liquor quite so well and given my history that is saying something. It was downright impressive.
Sophia Weston →
First Meeting: To be entirely fair, I have been hearing tales of the lovely lady for some time as she is friends with my dear sister, Viviana. We recently met and shared a quiet drink of lemonade.
Current Impression: My sister has sung her praises and once again my sister was proved to be entirely correct. She is a delightful young lady. Although she has no such knowledge of these things in my own life, we share a grief that may never be fully understood by someone who has not experienced it - of losing the one we love all too soon.
Victoria Howard St. John →
First Meeting: I have yet to have the pleasure
Current Impression: She is so very lovely from impression alone that I do not know how Effingham has managed to entangle her but honestly, good for him.
William Hastings →
First Meeting: I met Hastings at the Derringford picnic where he was a man of clear wit and quiet command.
Current Impression: Despite some prickles with one another, I do believe I can safely count myself as his friend. He is recently engaged and I am terribly delighted for him.
🙅♂️ - for something my character is dreading about this season.
Attending her wedding
All the rigid formality and feigning interest in dreadful musicales, performances and my feet trod upon by those who are particularly less than graceful.
This question is easily answered for Tolly. The two people he misses most in the world are the daughters of Guilia and Alessandro. He has been in their lives for the last decade and he enjoyed his role. He thinks of them often, writes to them frequently and hopes to see them again sooner than later.
Tolly is ashamed of very little. He is private about many things but he is not particularly ashamed of them. As a man in his 40s he has come to terms with many elements of who he is and what he does and does not enjoy. He is however ashamed that he stayed in such poor contact with his older brother.
Samuel Albarron was Tolly's hero and he loved and worshipped him in equal measures. It never occurred to Tolly that his brother would die so young and that he would have lost so much time with him. He sincerely regrets not knowing his brother better.
His routine varies depending on whether he has company in his bed. However, since his return to London he has not been with anyone so his life is quiet and serene. If Bottomsley is awake he will insist on helping Tolly undressed but if the man was sound asleep, Tolly was perfectly comfortably taking care of himself. He will lay out his clothing neatly and if he is alone, he will not bother with dressing in a sleep shirt before sliding into bed.
Tolly always prays before he sleeps. It was a habit he got into in New Spain and now he cannot sleep unless he does so. He spends time journalling his day or thinking of those that are important to him - his family, events on the estate, correspondence he has received from New Spain, the girls he helped to raise and Miss Margaret Mulgrave. Hopefully the last will fade in time, although it has yet to do so.
This is perhaps Tolly's least favourite part of being a gentleman of society. It helps that his Valet, Bottomsley, takes things seriously because Tolly does not. He loathes hats, and would wear his boots scuffed without a care int he world.
So his routine before a significant event is rather set. He bathes, shaves and dresses himself until Bottomsley joins him to deal with his hair (rather thick and not particularly amiable to styling) and does his cravat in the latest of styles. He is then obliged to put on his hat, store no less than three handkerchiefs on his person. While Bottomsley is finishing his tasks, Tolly usually slides a flask of mezcal into his jacket - two if the events of the evening feature a musicale of some kind. Not all the ladies of the Ton are talented in this regard.
Then he is finally freed and set out into the world to participate (probably poorly) in Society.
Also asked by @tenderstarved and @sebastianofprussia
