#theton;introduction

[thornsxcrowns]

(Like Thompson, 35, cis-man) Goodness, WILLIAM (WILL) PERCIVAL, MP FOR SURUM AND MINISTER OF TRADE has arrived in London. HE is 33, of the SALISBURY PERCEVALS. They are NEW to England and the Season. This author has heard they are EASY GOING but also CORRUPT dear reader. Accompanied by THEIR DOG, there is much talk of their arrival and accepting calls but be warned: I have heard they HAVE ACCEPTED BRIBES!

Will didn't grow up rich like the rest of the people in the Ton. His father was a farmer who worked hard to buy his own patch of land and to ensure his son could access the very best education.

Will survived in his elite school by pretending he didn't care. Didn't care that his clothes were second hand. Didn't care that he didn't holiday where the other boys did. Didn't care about the comments the other boys made. He developed a light, joking exterior which hid the insincerity and ambition that lay beneath the surface.

Will wanted to make a difference. Wanted to make something of himself. His ambition had always been to go into politics. There wasn't much room, however, for the well educated son of no one. He lost election after election, quickly realizing getting into politics was all about who you knew. He was ready to give up and return back to his family farm when he was approached by a lord from Salisbury with an indecent proposal which was guaranteed to get Will elected.

They call them rotten boroughs - depopulated parliamentary constituencies which are able to elect MPs despite having barely any people living there. Everyone knows that Surum is perhaps the most rotten of them all.

After two terms in parliament, he has managed to hustle his way into the ministry, becoming the Minister for Trade. This was no easy feat, and has meant that while his colleagues have balanced both the political and social season, Will has instead been entirely focused on his political career. Pressure is mounting for him to find a spouse. He is expected to present the image of the perfect, happy family.

[nancyxrichmond]

BASICS

NAME:  Nancy Richmond

BIRTHPLACE : Edinburgh, Scotland.

FAMILY: Staff for The Das Household.

ROLE IN SOCIETY: Lady's Maid for Lady Kavika Das and Miss Riya Das

Sexual Orientation:  bisexual

Date of Birth: 26, 17th January 1787

Languages: english

APPEARANCE

Eye Colour: brown

Hair Colour: brown

Tattoos/Scars: scars on hands from sewing incidents

Positive Trait: passionate, hard-working, opinionated.

Negative Trait: stubborn, petty, argumentative.

ABOUT

The youngest of five children, what Nancy recalls most about her childhood was noise, from both the interior and exterior of the household. Evening meals were spent around the dinner table, making feasts out of the scarcest of materials in a cramped apartment in Cowgate, Edinburgh. Nancy's father was a Wheelwright, servicing carriages that appeased the needs of the richest in society. While her mother came from a long line of domestic servants, working from her teenage years until her eventual passing a mere four years after Nancy was born.

Not long after her mother's passing, her maternal grandmother joined the household to assist Nancy's father in raising the five children. Attempting to wrangle Nancy's three older brothers and older sister was a tough act for the woman who was climbing steadily into her elder years but in Nancy's eyes, her grandmother was nothing short of perfect. One could consider Nancy to be the blue-eye of her family, with fond memories of her grandmother allowing her to stay up later than her siblings, teaching her to sew, mend rips and tears, and navigate simple embroidery patterns.

Looking back with hindsight, Nancy now recognises that her grandmother was teaching Nancy the tricks of the trade, in a pursuit that the young girl would excel in the domestic profession. But as a child, her nature of doing so made the girl feel special. She recalled sitting on the arm of her grandmother's chair, with a small cup of warm milk, listening intently to her grandmother recounting stories of her mother, and late grandfather.

Despite having little, Nancy remembers her childhood with the upmost fondness. Her brothers followed their father into the Carriage Making profession, her eldest brother following closely with their father into the position of Wheelwright, while her two other brothers focused mainly on upholstery. While Nancy and her sister became domestic day servants, returning in the evenings to join the rest of their family in the evening.

While her sister struggled with the life of a domestic servant, Nancy took to the position well. The days were long and the work was difficult, but Nancy enjoyed the bustle and camaraderie with her fellow household workers. At first, the opulence and greed was hard to navigate, watching as people turned their nose up at the finest of garments, food, or people from her own communities. In the evenings, Nancy found herself returning home dismayed at the ignorance, a sentiment that was eased with her father nudging her with a wink, proclaiming with confidence "well Nance, one day they will all be laughing at the other side of their face."

Despite the jest, bitterness was brewing under the surface in the community. It wasn't long until her father and brother's got sucked into the madness. Disheartened with working conditions, and unfair payment in the work place. Nancy's father and brother's fate and trust fell into the hands of a factory whistleblower. A male who proclaimed himself to be for the workers, in pursuit of fair treatment and pay, gained the trust of several workers, igniting tensions and creating discussions of possible strikes. A ploy to lure disgruntled workers to a bar to discuss the strikes was successful, and it wasn't long until the police were in attendance and arresting the workers under the clause of the Combination Act of 1800.

In an instant, the Richmond family was changed for good. Her father and brothers were imprisoned, losing their careers and reputations. Just months prior, her sister had gotten married and begun to care for their grandmother, whose health was declining rapidly. Despite her brother in law's assistance, four people could not survive off the wages of one person. In a bid to provide help provide for their grandmother, Nancy became a live-in domestic servant. Working tirelessly to send money back to Cowgate.

After two years, Nancy was a respected and established domestic servant, rising within the ranks to become a Lady's Maid for an esteemed Scottish household. A position which she was fond of, and found herself forming a close bond with the family and even more so, a particular guest.

It wasn't long until Nancy got word that her father passed away in prison, and after her brothers were released, Nancy received communications that it was quick and sudden, a result of an illness which broke out. A quiet anger began to simmer within Nancy, recounting her father's hope that one day his hard-work would go noticed. A hope that was snubbed under the thumb of power, money, and greed. But these feelings, these notions, quietly quelled within Nancy's head after a brisk walk or ticking an errand off the list. Knowing that her actions would not spur change, but rather added heartbreak for her family.

Her eldest brother? Not so concerned. After returning home, her brother was only further spurred to pursue fair working conditions. Taking to Edinburgh's Royal Mile to preach, debate, and bounce his ideas off anybody who would listen. Landing the older man multiple visits to the jailhouse and making him the headline of many local papers.

Nancy felt the shift within her household quick. How the head of the household quirked his eyebrow at her over the newspaper, and how suddenly the daughters were no longer conversing openly while Nancy was in the room. A stinging reminder that despite how close she had gotten to the women, her position within their life was still dispensable. Her days were numbered, and Nancy had to depart of her own free will before she was sent packing, with no reference, no plan, and certainly no wages.

Applying for multiple positions within Scotland proved unsuccessful, with many shuffling Nancy out of the household the minute she uttered her name was 'Richmond.' In an act of desperation, all arrows pointed to London, a place where news of her outspoken family hadn't yet broke.

Nancy had only been in London a week or so, before the position within the Das Household became available. And with bated breath, Nancy put her name forward, hoping that the Richmonds weren't yet debarred from the London workforce. Only a few days into the new position, Nancy aims to keep her head down and throw herself into work, hoping that news doesn't trickle down to the city and that her own emotions stay safely the surface.

[dukesbrother]

Basics -

NAME: Beaumont Percival Murray FAMILY: The Marlborough Murrays ROLE IN SOCIETY: Brother to the Duke of Marlborough Sexual Orientation: Pansexual Date of Birth: May 28th, 1778 Languages: English, French, Italian, Latin, Greek, Portuguese

Appearance-

Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Brown Tattoos/Scars: A small scar along his right side from a fencing mishap as a youth, and one along his hairline resulting from a brawl during his Grand Tour Positive Trait: Intellectual, Alluring, Jovial Negative Trait: Insincere, Reckless, Disloyal

About-

Though the second eldest of the family, Beaumont hardly knew his brother as he grew up. He was nearly thirty years the man's junior, raised nearly entirely by nannies and boarding schools. His parents were kind, if distant, but they never encouraged Beaumont to get to know his brother. He was seen rather as a nuisance to the heir to the duchy, and was told to make himself scarce wherever possible.

Beaumont retreated into books. He was quite the scholar, with a particular affinity for languages. He lived a life of immense privilege, wanting for nothing. With his house in high standing he had no shortage of friends in school. It was simply the holidays home that Beaumont found so lonely. He endeavored to spend as little time as possible in his own house, favoring gentleman's clubs, fencing, polo, and other hobbies of lesser repute to pass the time.

It was after he came home from his Grand Tour that Beaumont began to notice small changes in the household. His father had passed most of the financial responsibilities of the duchy onto his brother, and soon there were less servants and smaller monthly allowances to go around. Though Beaumont wasn't often at his brother's estate, when he was there, the tension between his brother and his sister-in-law was palpable. It was excruciating to witness. He believed them to be the furthest thing from in love, but when his sister-in-law passed, his brother retreated further, presumably of grief. His daughter, Beaumont's niece, was kept from society. Hers was a different loneliness than perhaps his own had been, but he understood it, and he fought with his brother often to have the girl presented.

Over the years, Beaumont began to posit that he could do better than his brother. He was the one who deserved to be the Duke. His brother was leading them to ruin. But Beaumont could see opportunity aplenty. He could fix the house, and save them all in time for his niece to inherit, though he loathed it was her rather than him. Investments were made behind his brother's back, and profit was waiting to roll in. All Beaumont had to do now was smile and be a gentleman, assisting in escorting his niece to parties and making introductions for her, carefully, to friends he trusted, who would not be like his brother had been to his wife. All he had to do was pretend nothing was amiss. His brother hardly noticed him anyway, when an argument wasn't to be had.

The cash his investments earn is carefully stowed away in a secret account, off the books. His nights are spent in merriment, keeping company with anyone and everyone if they're entertaining enough. Perhaps the ton doesn't see the calculations and intelligence carefully hidden behind his rakish charm. Perhaps they ought to pay more attention. But Beaumont will continue to enjoy his life regardless, if only to prove that he is the superior Murray, the one everyone likes best. Screw his brother.

[haywardamiss]

Basics -

NAME: Frances "Fran" Hayward FAMILY: The Hereford Winchesters ROLE IN SOCIETY: Lady's Maid to Miss Winchester Sexual Orientation: Bisexual Date of Birth: September 3rd, 1792 Languages: English

Appearance-

Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Tattoos/Scars: A burn scar on her left arm where she fumbled an iron as a child Positive Trait: Compassionate, Righteous, Driven Negative Trait: Enigmatic, Reckless, Skittish

About-

In another life, Frances Hayward might have aspired to rise above her station and become a modiste. She was always handy with a needle, and she had a lifelong reverence for fabrics and other beautiful things. That reverence didn't hold, however, when it came to work in the factory. She was eight when when was sent to join her mother and sister at work in a cotton mill. Frances despised the fabric the machines wove. The cotton she worked with, before it was spun, was coarse and her hands itched within hours of beginning work each day.

But the Haywards lived a comfortable life, back then. The work was long and hard but they made enough money to eat, and there was love enough to fill their small, cramped home in their little town.

Everything changed the day that little Nathaniel Jennings was sent to climb the spindle machine to replace a part that was too finicky for adult hands. The part gave one last surge of life, as if it knew it were going to be replaced, and for one, terrible moment, the machine began to whir just as Nathaniel reached for the piece.

Though the factory continued on following Nathaniel's death, the foreman let go every worker who had witnessed the incident, citing a worry for their nerves. Too scared to do the work efficiently, he said. With the sudden lack of income, the Haywards had no choice but to move to a smaller abode in a place more rife with opportunity.

Life in London was hard. Hours in factories were even longer, and home more cramped. Muck filled the streets and there were nights the Hayward children couldn't sleep but for the smell. Good food was harder to come by, but alcohol was cheap. Frances watched as her father turned to drink and her mother turned cold. Fran and her sister both took up a cough that never seemed to go away. And then the worst happened. The textile factory where they worked caught fire. Frances made it out. Her mother and sister did not.

A neighboring woman took pity on the motherless Hayward girl. She found Frances a job in service to a good family, where she was given her own bed and food every day. Her cough improved until she barely had fits anymore. Fran worked hard, so used to worse conditions as she was, and she rose quickly through the ranks, eventually finding a place in the household of the Viscount of Hereford, as the lady's maid for their youngest daughter. The Viscount and Viscountess were kind to their staff, and Fran liked working for them very much.

Fran's brother was sent to fight in the wars, but her father had been deemed unfit. He was an angry man, often fired from the factories where he worked. Fran tried to send him what money he could, but one day, the money was sent back to her, along with a note that her father no longer resided at their address. Fran was unable to locate her father. Her brother was slow to write, given his duties as a soldier, but he too had no idea what had happened.

On a rare day off, Fran went to find her father herself, but there was no trace of him. She went to the factory where he had said to have been working, but it was closed indefinitely. There had been an "incident," she was told, though no one could tell her the names of the men who were hurt, or if they even survived.

Fran needed to do something, but what could be done? She was a woman, and a servant at that. There was no place for her in politics, and no way she could influence a society she was not a part of. But as the cloud of grief settled, a clarity found its way to Fran, and a plan sharpened into view.

An alias was acquired, along with some fake papers one of the stable boys helped her obtain, to legitimize herself as Emilia Mullens, from Northamptonshire. Light thievery with the help of the valet provided her money for fabric to sew into gowns, and whatever accessories she might need. She'd sneak into balls and mingle with the aristocrats, and campaign, as it were, for the rights of workers in factories. It was a risky move, but those who do not own land do not make laws, and Fran could come up with no other plan to bend the ears of those who do. Things needed to change. Fran might have had no one left save her brother, but others had whole families at risk. And with her brother off in the war, Fran felt she had nothing to lose.

Few know her secret. Some servants are aware, and Miss Winchester caught on quickly, though Fran is unsure if the Lord and Lady Winchester have as well. Miss Winchester surprised her by not turning her in, but rather assisting in her escapes and excuses. Eventually, Fran will be found out. She knows this, and has accepted it. She supposes that, after having been forced to leave in disgrace, she might go to the woods, and become a witch. Her reputation will already be in tatters, so she may as well lean into it.

[sharpenedheir]

Goodness, AUGUSTIA VICTORE MURRAY has arrived in London. She/They are 23, of the MARLBOROUGH MURRAY’S. Though they are NEW to the Season, we can only describe them as VIVACIOUS and PETTY, dear reader. Accompanied by THEIR FATHER, they have settled in and are accepting social calls. But be warned: they are known for their GOSSIPING TONGUE. (Hana, 27, she/her, CST)

BASICS —

NAME: Augustia Victorie Murray PRONOUNS: she/they

FAMILY: FATHER- Duke of Marlborough MOTHER - Duchess of Marlborough (deceased) SECOND UNCLE - Mr.Leon Murray

ROLE IN SOCIETY: Heir to the Duke

Sexual Orientation: (still in the works but until i figure it out for sure this is what i’m going to say) Romantically & Sexually Lesbian, Marriage and Monetarily Pan because Money is money, baby.

Date of Birth: February 13

Languages: French, English, German, Chinese

APPEARANCE —

Eye Color: Light Blue

Hair Color: Pale Blonde (naturally straight but curled for updos)

Tattoos/Scars: A scar on her right leg from a childhood accident.

Positive Trait: Vivacious, Lively, Bold, Intelligent, Curious

Negative Trait: Petty, Argumentative, Opportunistic, A Gossip

ABOUT —

Upbringing:

If you ask about her childhood, Augustia will tell you of Marlborough’s rolling hills, green with grass and shrubbery. She will speak fondly of the eastern forest, with its ancient oaks. She will tell you that the trees remind her of her mother’s paintings, and the bedtime stories she made to keep her rambunctious daughter from venturing too deep into them. She will speak of the plains bordered by the river valleys, the ones that look like a vast grassy ocean.

But she will never speak of the Murray House, or the failing marriage she witnessed when she was just a child, or the problems that drained them of their fortune. She will not speak of the warmth her mother took with her when she died.

After her mother’s death, it became very clear whose child Augustia was meant to be. She was the Duke’s, and he treated her as such. He spared no expense in her education, ensuring that she measured up to any other male heir. Her teen and young adult years were a constant rotation of tutors, professors, governesses, and riding instructors. There were standards for Heirs and Misses and she was required to meet both.

However, despite societal grace being an essential for someone of her title, the Duke kept Augustia far from the Ton, delaying her debut by years. She doesn’t know exactly why but she knows that her father holds a bitterness for those of the Ton, especially the Thornes.

Present Day:

In general, due to the way her father structured her upbringing, she lacks the feminine meekness that some desire in their daughters. (In other words, she’s loud.) She is unafraid to bring people into conversation, ask questions of another, or hell, argue with others too. When she walks, she does it with her chin up and shoulders back. When she speaks, she meets people with a bolden gaze. She seems to hold an unshakable sense of self. 

The only time when silence finds her is when people poke around the all too obvious question: why is just debuting now? Where has her family been these past few years?

HEADCANONS --

Due to spending most of her formative years in the country, she is more at ease, and more joyful, in nature.

She is an avid hunter, as it combines two things she loves: a game of skill, and being in the outdoors.

While her father frowns on the arts, Augustia is a lifelong artist. Her primary mediums are oil paints and pastels, two mediums her mother was particularly skilled at.

WANTED CONNECTIONS —

kiss your fist before you punch me || enemies to lovers pipeline, lets go. someone who isn’t afraid to verbally and emotionally go toe-to-toe with her

sweet love, where did you go? || a romantic or platonic connection that was made in their younger years, before her family disappeared from social gatherings

ink and paints || a friendly connection between two artists

an artist and her muse || just what it sounds like. are you beautiful? do you want a soft little slow burn crush? do you want to see the gentler version of augustia? get over here.

[in-singh]

Goodness, MR. PETER SINGH-COLLINS has arrived in London. HE is 27, of the BIRMINGHAM COLLINS. Though they are RETURNED to the Season, we can only describe them as THOUGHTFUL and AMIABLE, dear reader. Accompanied by HIS GRANDMAMA and SISTER, they have settled in and are accepting social calls. But be warned: they are known for their RECLUSIVENESS.

about peter | family 

[rosclinds]

INTRODUCING… MISS ROSALIND MURRAY.

Goodness, ROSALIND MURRAY has arrived! SHE is 26 , of the MARLBOROUGH MURRAY’S, and a YOUNG LADY OF SOCIETY. They are RETURNED to England and the season. This author has heard they are KINDHEARTED but also STUNNINGLY SHY. Accompanied by HER FATHER AND UNCLE, there is much talk of their arrival and accepting calls but be warned: I have heard they CANNOT STOP BEING A WALLFLOWER!! 

BASICS:

full name: rosalind marie murray.

styled: miss rosalind murray of oxfordshire, heir to the duchy of marlborough.

nicknames: rose (to almost everyone), lindy (to close friends & family).

birth date: 29 january.

age: seven and twenty.

family seat: blenheim palace, oxfordshire.

gender: cis woman.

pronouns: she/her.

sexual orientation: bi-curious, at least.

BACKGROUND:

birth place: blenheim palace, oxfodshire.

current location: marlborough house, westminster, london.

social class: noble.

financial status: her family is in financial turmoil, and she must secure a good match. 

languages: english, french, & latin.

FAMILY:

father:   william murray, duke of marlborough.

mother:   josephinemurray, duchess of marlborough, deceased.

cousins: edward murray, brother to the duke ; helena murray, sister to the duke. 

APPEARANCE:

Face Claim: emily bader.

Hair Colour: plain brown, and very homely. she’s always wished she was born blonde, like her mother. 

Eye Colour: brown.

Height: 5"4’

Build: on the smaller, petite side — but fills out her dresses nicely. the problem is not her looks, which are above average — it is her seemingly plain, boring personality that often puts men off. 

Clothing Style: she wears a lot of fine dresses, but often they are a little bit out of fashion due to their limited funds. her trips to the modiste are modest compared to other women of her status, but she truly does not mind that, so long as the colors are neutral or pastel — she dislikes wearing bright or dark colors. 

Usual Expression: she often has a soft, unaffected look on her face — which can make her seem all that much more aloof and unprepared for her future station in life. 

ABOUT:

From a very young age, a weight was placed on the shoulders. She was the sole heir, and therefore the hopes for the future of her father’s line lied completely with her success. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the type of woman you might imagine a Duke’s heir to be, with Rosalind turning out more mousy, shy and dreamy than he would have preferred — yet, still, he loved her dearly and entrusted all of his knowledge to her. She did not want it, yet she did her level best. The untimely death of her mother and a very rough first few seasons have left the Marlborough’s on shaky ground — and Rosalind without any truly serious prospects. It has been implied that this will be the last, and she must come to an agreement with a gentleman this year, or find true love, or there will be no further pursuits. Rumor has it this year is her year, that she may branch out further and come out of that shell that has kept her a wallflower that has yet to bloom for her entire life. But, still, this is all theoretical, and while she is kind — she may not be able to overcome her lifelong affliction of shyness and anxiety that make her feel horribly caged.

[wimbcrly]

INTRODUCING… MISS DOROTHEA WIMBERLY.

Goodness, DOROTHEA WIMBERLY has arrived! SHE is 31 , of the PHILADELPHIA WIMBERLY’S, and a TEXTILE MAGNATE’S WARD, BELONGING TO THE GENTRY CLASS . They are RETURNEDto England and the season. This author has heard they are HEADSTRONG but also OVERCONFIDENT. Accompanied by THE FAMILY THAT TOOK THEM IN AS A CHILD , there is much talk of their arrival and accepting calls but be warned: I have heard they ARE OVERZEALOUS WITH THEIR WORDS!! 

BASICS:

FULL NAME: dorothea bernadette wimberly.

STYLED: miss dorothea wimberly of herefordshire.

NICKNAMES: thea (to almost everyone), dora (to close friends & family).

BIRTH DATE: 16 july.

AGE: six and twenty.

FAMILY SEAT: hellens manor, herefordshire.

GENDER: cis woman.

PRONOUNS: she/her.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual.

BACKGROUND:

BIRTH PLACE: hellens manor, herefordshire.

CURRENT LOCATION: wimberly townhome, mayfair, london.

SOCIAL CLASS: gentry.

FINANCIAL STATUS: her father’s investments have paid off handsomely. 

LANGUAGES: english, french, russian, portugese, latin & german.

FAMILY:

FATHER:   george wimberly, deceased.

MOTHER:   sarah wimberly, deceased.

ADOPTIVE FATHER:   oscar wimberly, businessman (textile & shipping magnate).

ADOPTIVE MOTHER:   sofia wimberly, third daughter of the marquess of queensbury

ADOPTIVE SIBLINGS: antony wimberly, eldest child & heir to the wimberly fortune. 

APPEARANCE:

FACE CLAIM: adria arjona

HAIR COLOUR: dark brown, nearly black. usually pulled back away from her eyes halphazardly so she doesn’t have anything obstructing her view of her books. 

EYE COLOUR: hazel

HEIGHT: 5"7’

BUILD: she’s slim, but in a very lithe way. while many, this would present itself as “dainty,” dorothea wears her size as a badge of honor. 

CLOTHING STYLE: dorothea wears fine dresses, but only to events. she’s often in dresses with stuffy collars that covers all of her - she isn’t a fan of the attentions that people tend to give her if she shows any amount o skin. don’t get her wrong, though - she would dress unfashionably skimpy if it meant she could prove a point. 

USUAL EXPRESSION: dorothea is mildly standoffish at most times, she definitely has a case of resting bitch face. 

ABOUT:

Born originally in Philadelphia, Dorothea would never remember it. Both of her parents and their secrets died during the crossing back to her father’s homeland of England, and more specifically, Herefordshire. She was left in the care of her aunt and uncle, who took her in as their own — and from then on, she has been a thorn in their side. A curious child that never could find the right time to stop asking why? she was a terror in a dress, always ripping her hems and wading into water to watch the fish and frogs more closely. Truly, she was not meant for society, yet she was still thrust into it. Pushed into bright colored dresses when she’d prefer more drab, gray ones — the only bright spot in her early seasons was the time she spent in various bookshops and with other academically minded people in the city. Her correspondence was always backed up, yet she could not fill her dance card, her brash and loud personality not charming many members of the Ton. She’s matured a lot since the last season, finding that perhaps she had better settle down with a tolerant spouse, who’ll fund her interests and not force her into the role of homemaker. Now comes the truly tricky part: finding someone who fits the bill.