All characters are inspired by a combination of the most popular or compelling characters from the collected works of Jane Austen, the Bridgerton TV show, and various queer Regency fantasy novels (such as The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley, Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace, A Restless Truth by Freya Marske, and The Lady’s Guide To Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite).
On the sign-up form, you will be asked to rank your preferred characters/pairings, and we will take these preferences into account to the best of our ability.
Character Adjustments
Many characters were imagined with certain genders and sexualities, based on the popular characters from Regency fiction they were inspired by. Some are limited to that gender or sexuality based on the constructed families and inheritance lines. However, we do not wish to corner our players into certain roles based on the genders and sexualities they wish to play. Of course, any player can play any character gender regardless of their off-game gender.
We created the In Question pre-casting character group in order to indicate which pairings are completely open for any combination of gender and sexuality. Additionally, we have indicated with asterisks in the Character List which specific characters from the other three groups are flexible in their gender assignments and can be rewritten to fit the gender and sexuality preferences of any player or partners who wish to play that pairing.
Plenty of pairings can be converted to straight, queer, or poly, so don’t hesitate to request a character or pairing that is gender-flexible if it appeals to you!
Additionally, it is worth noting that any character with an assigned and unchangeable gender (such as Lady Maria de la Rosa or Mr. Wright) can be played by a trans member of the assigned gender. For the simple, in-universe reason that trans characters are legally and socially held to the same binary privileges and restrictions as cis characters. Trans characters are not limited to the In Confidence or In Question casting groups.
Please note that all family and character names are placeholders that were chosen to represent the diversity we wish to see at this larp, and are subject to change after casting.
Casting Groups
Characters have been split into four groups for the casting process and will be reassigned to Romance groups once casting is complete. The four pre-casting groups are: In Pursuit, In Confidence, In Question, and In Mourning.
- In Pursuit is made up of young, unmarried straight pairings.
- In Confidence refers to pairings that are either openly or privately queer, for players seeking to explore primarily queer romantic storylines.
- In Question contains pairings which are completely flexible in their gender and sexuality casting.
- In Mourning includes the widowed parental figures in each noble household, as well as the married couples who mourn their union.
Official Character List
(Characters marked with ** are gender-flexible and can be converted to turn the pairing straight- or gay-presenting.)
In Pursuit
Tropes and Themes: childhood-friends-to-lovers, pining, jealousy, lessons in courtship.
Maria and Johnny have been friends since childhood, raised in neighboring estates in Wiltshire. He’s been away establishing a career in the navy since they were teenagers, but they never allowed their connection to wane. They’ve exchanged letters since he left, and through the perilousness of sea life and an unsuccessful decade on the marriage market, the friends have learned to rely on one another for the warmth and closeness that the rest of the world denied them. Now that he has returned, and Maria is in danger of reaching official spinsterhood, they have reunited for Johnny’s most challenging assignment yet: securing Maria a husband. With no shortage of obstacles before them—Maria’s want of address, Johnny’s protective instincts, and a rather incriminating letter that neither cares to acknowledge—can the two friends find the aging heiress a worthy match? Or will feelings long-buried finally find their way to the surface?
Lady Maria de la Rosa: The awkward, bookish eldest daughter in a family of charming, sparkling socialites. Although she has dreamt all her life of a great love like the ones found in her novels, Lady Maria has never permitted her matchmaking mama or sister Lucia to assist her on the marriage market. It’s been a decade since Maria’s debut and her mother and sister have long since given up their schemes for her, turning their attention to her debuting younger siblings, Julieta and Mateo. However, Maria grows restless on the shelf, and has finally given up pining for her best friend Johnny, who she feels certain will never return her affections after a mortifying incident with a drunkenly composed letter. Rather than relinquish her inheritance forever, Maria is determined to find a match this season—and without her meddlesome family’s intervention.
Captain John “Johnny” Beckford: A commissioned officer in the Royal Navy, recently promoted to the rank of Post-Captain, who has returned home while he waits for his ship to be assigned. Captain Beckford joined the Royal Naval Academy when he was fourteen, shortly after the death of his mother, and worked his way up to the rank of senior midshipman by age sixteen. Having dedicated his youth to the navy, Johnny never gave much thought to romance. The only time it had even crossed his mind was when his oldest friend, Maria, wrote to him two years ago, confessing a long-standing attachment to him. She was quick to retract her statements when he saw her next, but her sentiments had lingered in his mind ever since. Now that he is finally home for an entire season for the first time since coming of age, he’s taking the time to consider what has been missing from his life and what—or, rather, who—he hopes might complete it.
Tropes and Themes: enemies-to-lovers, duty versus desire, dubious legitimacy.
Sparks fly when two stubborn, fiercely protective second children clash. But will these sparks warm their hearths, or send their great houses up in flame? James’s stringent, surgical approach to the marriage market and a young lady’s “eligibility” is naturally offensive to Charlotte, who struggles with feelings of inadequacy due to her suspected illegitimacy. James fancies himself the sort of gentleman who can set matters of the heart aside for the sake of his duty, but he has never before encountered a young lady as competitive, infuriating, and devoted as himself. With the weight of their respective families’ reputations on their shoulders, can these two deny the connection they feel to follow their appointed paths? Or will they discover there is a limit to how much they are willing to sacrifice in the name of duty?
Miss Charlotte Montgomery**: As the only lady in her house, Charlotte grew up to be stubborn, spirited, and incessantly protective of her father and brother. Given the loveless match between her father and mother, and the evidence she had discovered of her mother’s infidelity, Charlotte has long suspected she is a bastard. Her father has never treated her as anything less than his beloved daughter, but she doubts her legitimacy. As such, she has sworn she will never marry, fearing the dishonour and shame she would bring to her husband and his family if her parentage was revealed. Instead, she is focused on her brother and father’s prospects. After being confined to the country her entire life, she has finally convinced her father to allow them to join the London season with the excuse that she has come of age and will be expected to make her debut in society. Despite being the one debuting, Charlotte is determined to find love matches for her father and brother, while adamantly refusing those who would seek the same for her.
Mr. James Beckford: The headstrong reformed rake who cares only for the well-being of his family and their good name. After accidentally learning last season that his older brother, Julian, enjoys the company of men, James suspects he may one day be named the inheritor of his father’s estate, Fonthill Abbey. As such, James has decided to prepare for his new role by marrying the most eligible young lady he can find. He hopes this will set a good example for his siblings, as well as reassure his big brother that the family will remain in good standing in society should Julian choose to relinquish his inheritance and marry for love. James feels responsible for the matches of all his siblings, since the tragic death of his mother left a vacancy that his father and Julian never troubled themselves to fill. In spite of his willful and resolute nature, James is devoted and doting to his family, and wants nothing more than to see them all happy and in love—even if that means denying the same for himself.
Tropes and Themes: enemies-to-lovers, scandals & secrets, dubious legitimacy.
Mr. Frederick Montgomery is the picture of the solemn, respectable, self-important nobleman. Miss Francesca Berry is the product of a roguish, irreverent, and audacious family that stands opposite to the Montgomerys in every way. While the Montgomerys have taken pains to conceal their indiscretions, the Berrys flaunt theirs. As their parents confront the follies of their youth, and their children endure the consequences, Mr. Montgomery finds himself charmed by the lightness which Miss Francesca’s playful and good-humoured nature imparts on an otherwise dreary state of affairs. Regrettably, fortune does not favour his pursuit of her affections, given that he stands as the principal impediment to her beloved sister’s courtship with his esteemed friend, Mr. Samson Desta.
Mr. Frederick Montgomery: The wealthy, grumpy, socially inept heir of Ravensworth Hall. Frederick was raised to the highest standard of propriety by his father, who did everything possible to shield him from his mother’s scandalous past. The admiral raised Frederick and his sister Charlotte in Ravensworth, far from the prying eyes and sharp tongues of aristocracy, and gave them every advantage… except that of a social education. As a result, Frederick grew up to be haughty, proud, and occasionally snobbish. Unaccustomed to polite society, he doesn’t care much for it, finding the men too boring and boastful and the ladies too delicate and demure. Thus, his circle is confined to Captain Barnes and Mr. Samson Desta, a most earnest and agreeable young man whose chief failing appears to be the ease with which his affections overpower his judgment. Having known no companion who could truly challenge him but his sister, he holds considerable expectations for a young lady. He admires a spirited disposition and a woman unafraid to speak her mind—a dangerous combination for someone with his conceit and cluelessness around the circumstances of his birth.
Miss Francesca “Fran” Berry**: A witty, lively, and occasionally impertinent young lady of no particular fortune. Fran was raised by two of the most adoring and outrageous parents in England, and would duel anyone who spoke ill of her beloved family. Privately, however, Fran has the sense to see that her parents have been neither wise nor sufficiently discreet in how they’ve conducted their business. She sees how their carelessness will hurt her and her sister’s chances on the marriage market, even possibly her brother’s. She disapproves heartily of the recklessness with which they have squandered their once-considerable fortunes upon lavish parties, foreign excursions, and the indulgences of their numerous paramours. It has left Fran and Kitty with a fraction of their original dowries. Still, Fran refuses to allow her circumstances to make her desperate. She would rather relinquish herself to spinsterhood than marry without the deepest love and respect for her husband. After all, it was the marriage of convenience between her parents that had precipitated her family’s current predicament.
Tropes and Themes: friends-to-lovers, jealousy, fake courtship.
The incorrigible matchmaker who seeks true love for everyone but herself and her relentlessly respectable best friend who insists he will not be persuaded to marry for anything less than the deepest, most sincere attachment. Both are resolved to eschew the marriage market for themselves, focusing instead on bettering the prospects of their wayward younger siblings. It is one of the few topics on which they heartily agree, since Lady Lucia could never permit Mr. Wright to marry someone who is not his equal—and who is equal to Mr. Wright in her eyes?—and Mr. Wright could never imagine himself to be deserving of Lady Lucia. If only society at large could be brought to reason! Should the two friends hope to enter the season as chaperones, they will need to devise some means of deflecting the attentions of title-chasing suitors and ambitious mamas…
Lady Lucia de la Rosa: The strong-willed middle child who is taking charge to ensure a successful debut for her shy (and closeted) younger siblings. A self-appointed celestina following in her mother’s meddlesome footsteps, Lucy has assumed responsibility for the happiness of all her family since the death of her father. Her rank, sizable dowry, and stellar reputation have designated Lady Lucia as one of the most eligible young ladies in England. And yet, Lucy has sworn she will never marry. She could not abandon her poor, heartbroken mama. Besides, what could possibly induce her to marry when Lucy already has all the distinction one might seek in marriage? She is wealthy, popular, and a favourite in society. She is beloved by all her family, all the nobles in Salisbury, the new princess even—and, of course, Mr. Wright. As long as she retains the good opinion and close friendship of Mr. Wright, she sees no reason to ever marry.
Mr. William Wright of Hartwell: The heir to his uncle’s estate and the only member of the Berry family with any sense of propriety. After his parents’ transparently transactional marriage, and all the scandalous extramarital affairs that followed, William’s uncle, Sir Charles Wright, made a deal with his father. Charles agreed to name William his heir if he was allowed to raise the boy in Hartwell. Elias agreed, so long as William spent his summers at Dinton House with the rest of the family. Thus, William was raised in a very different manner than his sisters, and every summer, he was forced to bear the mortification of his charming, imprudent, and overly spirited relations. He is grateful for those summers, as he has great affection for his sisters—and greater affection still for Lady Lucia, with whom he developed a close friendship due to the proximity of Wilton House to Dinton. Yet her constant proximity to his family had instilled in him an overpowering sense of shame and inferiority, one he could never entirely shake in her company. His family’s persistently silly and improper behaviour is a constant reminder of where he comes from; that, however hard he tries to prove his respectability, he will always be the product of a loveless, sordid union between his unseemly, selfish parents. His disapproval of his parents’ choices has made him determined to never be run off by his feelings or attach himself unwisely. He wishes to never dishonour himself by being unfaithful, so he is holding out for a love match, and intends to stay out of the insanity of the marriage market until he finds it.
Tropes and Themes: class barriers, forbidden love, familial disapproval.
Sent by her father with instructions to marry, Miss Soon-hee Kim has chosen to suppress her dislike of aristocracy to pursue all the merriment and gaiety that a London season has to offer. Lord Arjuna Singh, a convivial viscount who has never felt entirely at ease among polite society, finds himself quickly captivated by her vivacious charms and practical, grounded manner of thinking. After the heartbreak his sister endured over the dissolution of her engagement to a commoner, Arjuna has no delusions regarding the suitability of such a match. Still, he cannot help but be attracted to Miss Kim’s lightness of spirit and rejection of the absurd conventions of their society, just as she cannot deny the draw she feels to this nobleman lacking so completely in pomp and presumption. Parting shall be such sweet sorrow… but what is love in the face of society?
Miss Soon-hee Kim**: The only daughter of a wealthy, social-climbing tradesman whose debut is being sponsored by the financially desperate Mrs. Salana. Soon-hee is pragmatic, hard-working, wise, and, with her substantial dowry, wealthier than most of the Ton. Thanks to her father’s maneuvering, she was invited into high society this season, yet still feels as if she stands just outside of it. Her distaste for the arrogant and haughty attitudes among nobility may prevent her from securing the match her father has taken great pains to make possible—which, in truth, would suit her just fine. Soon-hee has no ambitions of marrying well or rising in rank. Frankly, she only agreed to this arrangement so that she might enjoy all the splendour of a London season. She desires only to dance, don beautiful ballgowns, eat and drink lavishly, and, well… perhaps flirt with a handsome gentleman or two.
Lord Arjuna Singh, Viscount of Blackwood: A wayward artist who longs to find himself and has never felt he belonged in high society. After inheriting the viscountcy at age seven, Lord Arjuna has always known he had a duty to marry and sire an heir… one day. The wonderful thing about being a Singh is that his family will never pressure him to fulfill his duties before he feels equipped. He has sometimes wondered if he will ever be ready for marriage. But it is not as if rank ever prevented his father and mother from indulging in all of life’s pleasures. Arjuna spent his youth as Singhs do, being the rakeish and worldly viscount that society assumed him to be. He learned how to charm, how to entertain, how to flirt and seduce even the most modest young ladies… but he never learned how to navigate an honest conversation. How to bear his soul and allow others to see beyond his bravado to all the self-doubt and insecurity simmering within him. He wants nothing more than to allow his carefully constructed walls to crumble, but the studied politeness and insincere civility among the aristocracy renders such a surrender impossible.
In Confidence
Tropes and Themes: friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, familial expectations, grief.
Slowly sinking under the heavy burden of expectation and haunted by the wishes of their deceased parents, Miss Jane Beckford and Lady Sophia Liang possess more in common than either would care to acknowledge. Once friends, they always knew the marriage market would make adversaries of them—equals as they are in grace, charm, and ambition. But when both are named the “Crown Jewel of the Season” in Chatterleigh and Tattlesby’s yearly wager, the battle is truly on. Jane is determined to elevate her untitled family and fulfill her mother’s dying wish by attracting the Catch of the Season. Lady Sophia is possessed by the demands of her cruel, heartless father, urging her to marry and secure the family marquisate her older sibling will surely forfeit. One wonders whether they shall even find the time to attract a suitor, with their attentions so entirely fixed upon one another…
Miss Jane Beckford: The obnoxiously perfect debutante. Jane feels immense pressure to secure an impressive match as the only marriage-minded and sparkling young lady in her family. At least, that’s what she tells her siblings. In truth, it is because it was her mother’s dying wish that Jane and Josephine marry as well as she did. Ever since, Jane has done nothing but prepare and polish herself for the marriage market, determined to catch the attention of the most eligible suitor of the season. Yet, now that her long-awaited debut has finally arrived and she has received the support of one of the most famed scandal writers in society, she feels herself splintering under the stress of it all. Jane is beginning to realise that not even she can perform the pink of perfection forever—not that she would ever admit it to Lady Sophia, her perennial rival and only true competition this season.
Lady Sophia Liang: The world-weary, insensible youngest daughter of the Liang family who conceals her broken spirit beneath a mask of competitiveness and fixation with rank. Her father, the late marquess of Winchester, was a callous, brutish man who cared only for one thing: status. He molded Sophia’s mother into the picture of the proper, dutiful wife and then did the same to his children, with not a care for what he fractured inside of them in the process. All her life, Sophia has done as she was told, spoken when she was instructed to speak, and felt only what she was permitted to feel. Sophia watched her sister hope foolishly for a love match, and later she witnessed Georgina’s devastation when her marriage was arranged without her knowledge. Sophia is no fool. It is clear that her eldest sibling is not capable of ensuring the continuation of the Liang line, so it will be her responsibility to establish a suitable alliance and produce a male heir. She refuses to delude or distract herself by imagining affection might be waiting for her at the end of the aisle. Instead, Lady Sophia is resolved to do the only thing she can: her duty.
Tropes and Themes: opposites attract, lessons in courtship, concerns of succession, grief.
The uptight cynic and the hopeless romantic. The heir of Fonthill Abbey eschews the follies of love, while the young Lord Pembroke is Eros incarnate. Given Julian’s complete inexperience in the art of attachment, and the de la Rosa family’s extensive reputation as matchmakers, he decides to enlist Lord Pembroke’s assistance in navigating the complexities of courtship. But will Mateo’s passion and warmth be enough to melt Julian’s icy exterior and endear him to the eligible young ladies he seeks to entice? Or will his earnest charm be the means of penetrating Julian’s carefully fortified defenses, undoing the fragile restraint that safeguards both families’ lines of succession?
Mr. Julian Beckford, heir of Fonthill Abbey: The industrious and emotionally repressed eldest son of the prolific Beckfords, and inheritor of Fonthill Abbey. Julian wasn’t born to be his father’s heir. No, that privilege belonged originally to Joseph, his elder by nine whole minutes. Until poor Joseph played in the rain and caught his death when the boys were only twelve. Julian never fully recovered from the grief of losing his twin brother, and when his mother died only four years later, he shut down completely. He spent the succeeding twelve years dedicating himself to one thing only: Fonthill Abbey, the family home his mother dreamt up before her passing. He could not bear to watch his father suffer, so he took up the construction project with him. The two spent his youth poring over schematics and building the foundation together brick-by-brick. Now that Fonthill Abbey is complete, his father has turned his attention reluctantly back to the marriage market, appearing to entertain ideas of re-marrying. Julian cannot understand his father or siblings’ fixation with romance and insists he wants nothing to do with it. Certainly, he has needs from time to time, and when he does, he finds a discreet gentleman to fill them. But to formalise any sort of attachment would put him at risk of losing Fonthill Abbey, the project he has devoted half his life to constructing. Even worse, it would put him at risk of one day enduring the sort of agony that nearly destroyed his father. He may indeed seek out a suitable wife this season to secure his claim over Fonthill Abbey—since he suspects his brother James is scheming to steal it out from under him—but he is determined to never put his heart in such danger.
Lord Mateo de la Rosa, Earl of Pembroke: A hopeless romantic, the young earl desires nothing quite so much as a love match. Raised as a rigid believer in true love, Mateo has long dreamt of passion as profound and earth-shaking as what his parents shared. He has had a string of infatuations since childhood, and developed his first crush on a boy when he was only thirteen, a secret he shared only with his kind, understanding father. When his father fell ill and passed away only days later, Mateo was struck silent from grief and fear. Before his father died, there was a chance of his parents producing another heir. As the only male relative in his family, and with two spinster older sisters, he worries that his mother and sisters would be ousted from their ancestral home if he publicised his preferences. Now that he and his twin sister Julieta have come of age, he will have a choice to make: seek out the true love he longs for and put his entire family at risk—especially sweet Julieta, whom he suspects of harbouring a similar secret—or relinquish himself to the sort of marriage of convenience that disgusts his every romantic sensibility.
Tropes and Themes: opposites attract, scandals & secrets, recovering from heartbreak, reforming a rake.
The youngest Beckford is making her debut and already, she is anxious to escape the public eye. The youngest Singh has finally returned from her extended “holiday” in Scotland and she is eager to make a splash. Miss Josephine Beckford has no interest in the marriage market, desiring only the companionship of her instrument and her intimate friends. Miss Jasleen Singh is a loud and proud spinster in the making, whose dalliances with the gentler sex were frequently reported up until three years ago, when her wild nature was tempered by a lover who whisked her away to Scotland. Miss Josie has much she can learn from Miss Jasleen, from her boldness and high spirits to her surefire methods for keeping suitors at bay. Miss Jasleen would likewise benefit from the connection, with a heart thoroughly fractured and hardened after the disappointments of the past. Can these two contrasting creatures reconcile their differences? How long will it take for them to realise that, however dissimilar their dispositions, they share one prominent trait: a heart and mind heavily guarded?
Miss Josephine “Josie” Beckford: The youngest and shyest member of one of the most prolific and obscenely wealthy families in England. Miss Josie is the oft-forgotten wallflower of the Beckford family, and that is how she likes it. For years, Josie has hidden away from the hustle and bustle of her family home with the help of her music lessons, her reclusive tendencies eventually turning her into one of the most skilled musicians in the Ton. Now that she is debuting, she is hoping to conceal herself behind the sparkle of her ten-month-older sister Jane, who is the typical glittering debutante in all the ways Josie is not. Unfortunately, it is not easy for a Beckford to go unnoticed. No matter how far she tries to shrink from the spotlight, society seems determined to extol her accomplishments and charms. It is a miserable circumstance for one such as Josie, who can only truly be herself when no one is watching.
The Honourable Jasleen Kaur: A typical scandal-stirring Singh who proudly lives up to her reputation. Jasleen is infamous in society for being an insatiable firecracker with a partiality for shy, soft-spoken young ladies. She has resided the last three years in Scotland with the lover who won her affections and tamed her wild sensibilities, until this past winter, when she ended things to Jasleen’s great chagrin. However, Jasleen is resolved not to return with her tail between her legs. Instead, she intends to make up for lost time, bedding and breaking the hearts of all the lovely young ladies in London. In matters of love and war, Jasleen is determined to emerge victorious from the battlefield… lest anyone realise how delicate her armour.
Tropes and Themes: duty versus desire, lavender courtship, potential for a marriage of convenience.
Lady Julieta de la Rosa is one of the most eligible debutantes of the season and Mr. Semere Desta is determined to make her his prize. Indeed, she seems perfect in every way: well-bred, titled, wealthy, and with a delicate, agreeable disposition that prevents her from speaking ill of anyone. Given his temperament and haughty reputation, he could certainly benefit from a bride with a kind heart and pleasing nature. The only obstacle to the altar appears to be the disinterest they share in the opposite sex, a natural preference they are both taking great pains to conceal. With a mutual fear of the high cost of loving freely, Julieta and Semere may seek the counsel of the Berrys, whose marriage of convenience is an open secret in aristocratic circles. Will the Berrys offer wisdom to help better conceal the fraudulence of Julieta and Semere’s courtship? Or will they become one more hindrance, proving just how difficult it will be to deny one’s heart for the sake of society?
Mr. Semere Desta of Halnaby Hall: The avaricious eldest son who inherited his father’s fortune and selfishness. All his life, Semere was raised by his father to value only three things: money, reputation, and rank. He was his father’s favourite, instructed to relinquish any tenderness for his siblings and mother, whom his father considered silly and soft-hearted. His father insisted any closeness with them would only weaken Semere as well. Indeed, he is glad for the distance between them, as a more affectionate brother would likely have divided his inheritance more equitably with his siblings once it was revealed that he was the sole inheritor of his father’s estate. He must possess some generosity, for it has been a year since his father’s passing and he has continued to allow his mother and siblings to retain their residence in Halnaby Hall. It makes him anxious to find a suitable bride, so that he might secure his inheritance as well as an acceptable excuse to remove them from the family home. In truth, he’s always been rather nervous in the presence of his mother and siblings. He worries over what they must think of him and envies the bond they all share. Deep down, he wonders what such affection and intimacy must feel like. It is the one precious resource he cannot buy and his father never taught him to covet.
Lady Julieta de la Rosa: A gentle, well-mannered debutante and Lord Mateo’s twin sister. Julieta is known to be soft-spoken, elegant, and too sweet for her own good. She loves her family more than anything on this earth and would do anything to protect them… including hiding the one thing she worries might cause them pain. After all that her mother endured following the death of her father, Julieta isn’t sure she’s brave enough to follow her heart and love the way she knows she ought to. She can’t imagine how much her mother would worry if she married a woman and lost her inheritance. Not to mention, in some secret, hidden part of herself, she isn’t sure she’s strong enough to love someone truly and completely, only to lose them one day the way her mother did.
(Option for a polyamorous outcome. One of two pairings that do not have to end up with their partner.)
Tropes and Themes: regret, second chances, marriage of convenience, potential for a divorce storyline.
Despite what others, even their children, might believe, Mr. and Mrs. Berry love each other. Not as a husband and wife should, but as the closest of friends. Richard and Agnes were rather young when they married, and they have felt the youthful ignorance of their decision since. Rumours around their respective preference began in the same season, due to some carelessness in carriages and the gentlemen’s club. Desperate to silence the whispers and retain their inheritances, Richard and Agnes entered into a marriage of convenience. Since then, it’s been a string of same-sex lovers, discreet affairs, and extravagant events. As their two eldest avoid marriage as if they personally cursed it, and their youngest Kitty skips into her debut without much gentility to guide her, Agnes and Richard must contend with the impact their decisions have had on their beloved children. Would it have been better to swallow their dissatisfaction throughout the children’s upbringing? Or was the family doomed from the moment they set aside their true desires to enter this farce of a marriage? As Mr. and Mrs. Berry reflect on their choices and consider how to set things right, they may be faced with a different path, presented by a couple that mirrors their younger selves and all the disappointments they’ve long buried.
Mr. Richard Berry: The lively and lecherous patriarch of the Berry family, privately burdened by self-reproach. When Mr. Berry was young, he was a rapacious, mercenary creature. He knew he preferred the company of other men, but he couldn’t bear the idea of renouncing his substantial inheritance by marrying one. Instead, when the rumours began, he found the first like-minded young lady he could find and married her. And what a fruitful marriage it has been! Agnes is his very best friend, his trusted partner in mischief and most wicked conspirator. He would have no regrets at all, if it weren’t for the effect their behaviour had had upon the children. Richard first felt the pangs of shame and remorse when his sweet son, William, was taken from him when the boy was only four. His cousin, Sir Charles Wright, convinced Richard to relinquish the boy into his care in exchange for naming William his heir. He impressed upon Richard the importance of protecting William from his parents’ reputation, and Richard could not deny him. He has been carousing and debauching about ever since, drinking away the family fortune in an effort to forget the cost of his selfishness. He feels his son’s disgust for him at their every reunion, but what can he do? His son believes a gentleman should only marry with sincere attachment, and romantic love is the only kind Richard has never experienced.
Mrs. Dorothy Agnes Berry: The beguiling, silver-tongued matriarch of the Berry family with a taste for better-behaved debutantes who she believes might benefit from some corruption. Agnes recognises the burden her husband bears as a result of their union, but she cannot claim to share it. In spite of what society may believe, Richard is very dear to her—nearly as dear to her as the children he blessed her with. Whatever pangs of regret she may have felt over the years, particularly when watching braver young ladies declare their love before God and society, Agnes cannot regret the great gifts her marriage has given her. And she has never seen any reason to allow either to prevent her from enjoying the privileges it grants her. However, she does see the disapproval brewing in the eye of her eldest daughter, Fanny. Agnes knows that their behaviour has made it more difficult for her on the marriage market, and have soured Francesca and William to the prospect of marriage almost completely. Agnes is resolved to be on her best behaviour this season as their youngest makes her debut… unless she is too tempted, of course. Or a glittering young lady is in need of temptation. She does so love to act as a mentor to all the sweet-tempered women that have been laced tight by society for too long.
(Option for a polyamorous outcome. One of two pairings that do not have to end up with their partner.)
In Question
The pairings in this group might have been originally imagined one way, but could all easily be reimagined to be a gay pairing, a sapphic pairing, a straight pairing, a straight-presenting bisexual pairing—the choice is yours!
We encourage you to ignore any gendered pronouns or backstories found in these descriptions, as they can all be converted to the preferences of the cast couple.
Tropes and Themes: concealed identities, secret admirers, pining, slow burn.
What started out as an anonymous exchange of ideas in the margins of a book of poems has blossomed into true friendship, and perhaps more… These closeted correspondents have been exchanging letters for almost two years now, and desire nothing more than to know the identity of their beloved penpal. But do they possess the courage? Have they the confidence that their affections are reciprocated? What if their love only exists in the safety and fantasy of the page, away from the constraints and intervention of society?
Lady Sarah Liang / Lord Samuel Liang, Marquess of Winchester: A would-be poet who shies from the spotlight and soars in the shadows, and the eldest child of one of the most reputable, high-ranking families in London. Publicly unimpressive and self-confined to the corner of every ballroom, poor Sarah/Samuel has long been a disappointment to their cruel, uncaring father. Their entire life, they shrunk from their father’s shadow. His death had left a vacancy not only in their great house, but in Sammy’s mind. Finally free from his disapproving gaze, Sammy has discovered yet more terrifying and scrutinizing eyes upon them: those of the Ton. With the marquisate at risk due to Sammy’s unmarried and childless status, and their sister’s recent ascension to royalty, the title chasers and ambitious mamas of London have begun to find the eldest Liang’s timidity sympathetic… and indicative of easy prey. An heir must be produced, and while their mother is far kinder about thrusting them into the marriage market, no one but their father understood quite how unfit they are to fulfill this noble responsibility. Struggling under the added scrutiny and attention, Sammy finds comfort and true companionship only in the letters they exchange with their unnamed confidante, who is unfortunately growing more insistent on revealing their true identities to one another. A terrifying prospect for one whose bravery exists solely in written form.
Miss Jenny / Mr. Jacob “Jack” Beckford: With the heart of a writer and the spirit of an adventurer, Jenny/Jack has seen and done it all. They have read every book, mastered a myriad of art forms—even travelled to the Americas! Nothing has ever seemed too bold for their tastes, no stone too heavy to turn, no luxury of life left out of their reach… until now. No matter how hard they try, they cannot seem to work out the identity of their enigmatic correspondent, nor convince them to reveal themselves. Nothing excites them as much as the arrival of a new letter, and all that once glittered grows gray in the shadow of this great mystery. They are becoming more restless by the day, desperate to know the name of the passionate, silver-quilled writer who has captured their famously wandering attention.
Tropes and Themes: mystery solving, societal subversion, optionally asexual/aromantic pairing, potential for a marriage of convenience.
One is a lover of mysteries, endlessly disappointed by the woeful lack of crime they encountered growing up in the countryside. The other is a great scientific mind who has studied and conducted experiments for as long as their society-obsessed family would allow. Now that they’ve both come of age, their respective relatives are trying to force them to abandon their peculiar pursuits in favor of ensnaring a match… but perhaps solving the greatest mystery of high society could earn their family’s respect—and with it, their freedom!
Mr. Khadafi / Miss Kadidia “Khadija” Kéita: The willful, excitable eldest child of a wealthy barrister who dreams of becoming a Bow Street Runner—an aspiration they’ve only shared with their dear friend Lady Jasleen Kaur. Restless from being raised in the bleak boredom of Holmesdale, Khadafi/Khadija positively begged their father to allow them to join the Singh family in London, now that Jasleen had returned from Scotland. Having never met the Singhs, nor heard the infamous tales of their degeneracy, their father approved… under the condition that they return married to nobility. Their father has long lamented the greatness of the Kéita clan, of the imperial dynasty that ruled their home country of Mali. Nowadays, Kéitas were not known as mansas, but as farmers. A legal profession had provided Mr. Kéita with distinction and fortune, but not rank. He considered a marital alliance with aristocracy the next logical step in the family’s social ascension, and would never hear of Khadafi/Khadija pursuing a vocation as a constable or—heaven forbid—a Runner. Unbeknownst to him, his eldest has no intention of marrying. They intend to change their father’s mind and set in motion their Bow Street craft by solving the greatest mystery in the Ton: unmasking the Esteemed Chatterleigh and the Notorious Tattlesby.
Mr. Tewodros “Theodore” Desta / Miss Raey Desta: A natural philosopher and studier of the sciences, whose academic aspirations have been sordidly stunted by an unfortunate lack of funds. All Theodore/Raey ever desired was their own laboratory. Somewhere they could conduct experiments and discover the secrets of the natural world. But such lofty ambitions required a practical education, and after their brother Semere inherited the entirety of their father’s estate, their mother made clear there was no money for university. While their mother is encouraging them toward marriage as a path to financial provision, they intend to use the season to seek out a wealthy patron to sponsor their research. But how can they convince a benefactor of their intellectual prowess before they’ve even obtained a university education? Perhaps deducing the scandal-mongers behind Talk of the Ton might provide the answer to all their problems, as well as a source of tuition!
Tropes and Themes: star-crossed romance, social pressure, familial disapproval.
Mr. Samson Desta desires nothing so much as to fall in love, but circumstance and a censorious best friend are determined to complicate matters. Miss Kitty Berry possesses an affectionate heart and warm disposition, but cannot be persuaded to compromise her character and her convictions in deference to society’s notions of propriety. With neither wealth to secure them nor the approval of his family to ease their course, the ardent couple will face considerable opposition before they reach the altar. Will their likeness in spirit and sensibility allow them to forget the objections raised against them? Will Kitty finally conform to society’s restrictive expectations to win his family’s approval? Or will the insult of Samson’s indecisiveness be too great for a steadfast and unfaltering Kitty to forgive?
Mr. Samson Desta: An artless, agreeable young man with an easy temper and a heart eager for attachment. After recently graduating university to the envy of his younger sibling, and suffering the loss of his cold and unfeeling father not one year earlier, Samson is anxious to enter the marriage market once more and at last accomplish his greatest ambition: to fall madly, completely, and wholeheartedly in love. Of course, his meagre inheritance is an obstacle in his future felicity, but he comforts himself that such a detail will not be a deterrence to any woman whose love is true. His best friend, Mr. Frederick Montgomery, disagrees with this, believing that he should hold off on marriage until he’s accumulated a fortune to support a family. Frederick has expressed great disapproval not only in Samson’s mentality, but in the suitability of the young ladies that have caught his fancy in the past. He even went so far as to discourage Samson from proposing to Lady Lucia de la Rosa in both of their first seasons out, and though Frederick’s objections were well-founded, Samson had never forgiven himself for how easily he had been persuaded. Samson fears the influence his friend still holds over his mind and that Frederick’s interference, combined with his mother’s insistence on prioritizing fortune over feeling, would prove no small hindrance in his return to the marriage market.
Miss Catherine “Kitty” Berry: The dangerously spirited youngest child of the Berry family who doesn’t pay much mind to public perception or propriety. Miss Kitty is passionate about everything in life; art and architecture, music and philosophy, education and embroidery. She covets passion above all else, and only respects those equally led by their passions. As a young lady of strong conviction, she abhors timidity of any kind—particularly in those who allow the opinions of others to influence their own. Now that she is making her long-awaited debut into society, Kitty intends to use her fervid sensibilities to be her guiding star through the marriage market. She can be prone to highs and lows; she is known to be emotional and animated and rarely restrained with her opinion, but she is still considered by all to be a very good sort of girl. A love match is paramount for Miss Kitty, and by God, she will find hers. She might be boisterous and indelicate in her pursuit, but she will do anything before being reasonable in matters of romance. If there is one lesson she has learned from her darling parents—whose intemperate behaviour she has never found fault in—it is that society should never impede an affair of the heart.
Tropes and Themes: lost love, estrangement, jealousy, pining, second chances.
Once star-crossed lovers, Miss Kaur and Captain Barnes have been strangers to one another since ending their engagement eight years prior. After a chance sighting one year ago, Priya entered into a correspondence with his dear friend Mr. Frederick Montgomery to determine whether his affections (and he) were engaged. Believing her beloved captain betrothed, Priya had all but given up on love, content to languish on the shelf while her family defiles half of high society—only for the dashing captain to re-enter her life unattached and seeking a wife this season! With lingering affection and regret on both sides, might they yet overcome the wounds of the past to rekindle the fires of first love? Will jealousy over the unexpected connection between his friend and his former flame assist Fitz in setting aside his hardened pride? Will Priya at last summon the courage to confront the hypocrisy of her hedonistic mother? And who may lay claim to loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone?
The Honourable Priya Kaur: As the perceptive, obliging, and sole reputable member of the Singh family, Priya has never fit in among her licentious, libertine family. They deem her a bore, simply because Priya is the only one to pay any mind to reputation and consequences. She suspects her virtuous nature has been a great disappointment to her mother, who always encouraged her children to indulge in all that life and luxury have to offer. But that has never been Priya’s way. She is far too concerned with the opinions of others, as well as with their thoughts and feelings. She often wishes she wasn’t—such as when she ruined her engagement out of consideration for her mother’s objections. In spite of her abhorrence of propriety and convention, Lady Blackwood would not condone the eldest daughter of a viscount marrying a member of the lower classes. And Priya has cursed herself for her caution every day since. Never more than when she spotted Captain Barnes riding through London in an open carriage with a young woman last year. Fretful that she had truly lost him forever, Priya summoned every scrap of courage within herself to write a letter and surmise the truth… from his most intimate friend, Mr. Frederick Montgomery, after seeking a written introduction from his father, an old acquaintance of her mother. Naturally, she inquired about the intimacy between Captain Barnes and his companion, and Mr. Montgomery gave her reason to believe him rather fond of the lady. Devastated, but not wishing to appear so, Priya has maintained the correspondence ever since. It seems Priya and Mr. Montgomery share much in common, such as an appreciation for good manners, polite society, and correspondence. Even a few commonalities in the demise of his mother and her father, who both died two-and-twenty years ago in the very same week. Curious, is it not?
Captain Fitzwilliam “Fitz” Barnes: A daring, gallant, and well-respected captain in the British army, formerly betrothed to Miss Priya Kaur. When he first encountered and courted the viscountess’s daughter, he was but a lowly cornet in the cavalry, possessed by ambitions far exceeding his station. Naturally, her mother did not approve of the match. Fitz could not stomach the insult when Priya asked him to extend their engagement in secret, disgusted by how easily swayed she was by matters of class and consequence that she had previously disavowed! It has been eight years since he dissolved their engagement; in that time, he has acquired a considerable fortune through bold investments in the London Stock Exchange, several promotions in rank, and an elected seat on the House of Commons. With his new standing and situation, Fitz figures it is time he sought a wife—one less impressionable and high in her instep than the last. He was invited by an old hunting buddy, Frederick Montgomery, to join his family in their London residence for the season. He only hopes he does not run into Miss Kaur in his venture into the marriage market, whom he hears has yet to marry, according to his dear friend Mr. Frederick Montgomery. Captain Barnes has half a mind to avoid her—largely out of fear that he might once more fall prey to her disarming kindness, nurturing nature, and unassuming charms. Another, more assertive side of him longs to see her, and he tells himself it is simply so he can show her how far he’s risen in life. Precisely as he predicted and promised her he would.
In Mourning
Tropes and Themes: grief, finding love again, second acts, friends-to-lovers.
No one has ever known and lost a love so great… At least, that is what Mr. Beckford and Lady Pembroke each believe. Yet, now that they have begun to recover from the throes of grief, the widowers find themselves dreaming of romance in a season in which they should be securing it for their children. With reluctant, marriage-resisting children running rampant in both great houses, the old friends might need to seek assistance from their neighbour in this task—but will that prove to be the greatest distraction of all
Mr. John Beckford**: Son of a famous politician, one of the wealthiest men in England, and father to the largest family in the Ton. Despite his status as a commoner, John’s father secured their position in society by acquiring a large fortune and a high-ranking wife for his son with the help of the famous matchmaker, Lady Elena. And yet, despite family intervention, no two people have ever loved each other more. It was a love match for the ages, and even though it had been over a decade since Lady Margaret’s death, John has never been able to love another. When they were first married, his darling wife sketched the initial designs for Fonthill Abbey, a grand estate to house all their children. After her death, he devoted himself to its construction. The project consumed him for twelve long years, providing a much-needed outlet for his grief and loneliness, and now that it is finally complete, he is at a loss. The great romantic that he is, John’s heart yearns to love again. It distracts him from the season and from arranging matches for his children. He can’t help but remember his own courtship, his wife, and Lady Elena at the centre of it all. Perhaps she can assist once more in finding love for an oblivious Beckford.
Lady Elena Lucia de la Rosa, Countess of Pembroke: Retired celestina and matriarch of the de la Rosa family. It’s been five years since her husband’s death and Lady Elena has finally found her way out of the fog of grief. She gave up on matchmaking as a widow, which came as a relief to all her children—especially her eldest Maria, after five years of trying to find her a husband. However, now that her twins, Julieta and Mateo, are eighteen and entering the marriage market, Elena is determined to roll up her sleeves and get back in the fray. Yet, the season hasn’t even begun and she’s already finding herself distracted by recollections of her own season, of falling in love with her deceased husband. She feels nostalgic for those experiences, for that time of life, and she is beginning to suspect that the only remedy for the loneliness that consumes her sometimes… might be someone to share it with.
Tropes and Themes: opposites attract, forbidden love, grief, reforming a rake.
There could scarcely be two ladies more opposite in character or reputation. The venerable Lady Winchester is an influential figure among polite society, her notable triumphs in the marriage market the envy of all. The wicked Lady Blackwood is the hostess of the most sordid and unsavory social gatherings in London, prone to flaunting her impropriety wherever she sees fit. Both possess reputations they wish to protect, and both might find all their previous notions of love and lust challenged when a most unexpected intimacy forms between them. One that is not only surprising, but impermissible, given that Lady Blackwood’s deceased husband was none other than the dearest cousin of Lady Winchester! Is it the captivating charms of the deceptively vivacious marchioness that attracts Lady Blackwood, or simply her resemblance to the departed viscount? Will Lady Winchester rediscover the carefree nature she lost upon his passing in the arms of his infamous wife? And how will their children react to an attachment so entirely opposed to everything they respectively represent?
Lady Mary Liang, Marchioness of Winchester: The recently widowed marchioness who elegantly bears the burdens of a titled woman in society, and who longs to escape the expectations of society. Lady Winchester has a reputation for being upright and incisive, a wise and well-bred noblewoman who commands the respect of all. It would come as a surprise to many to learn that, before her marriage to the late marquess, Mary was rather wild. It was the natural consequence of close friendship with her beloved cousin, the late Lord Rohan Blackwood. Together, they formed a rambunctious pair, their reputations resulting in Mary sitting comfortably on the shelf until the advanced age of eight-and-twenty—when Lady Blackwood spread word of her husband’s demise. After a few months of mourning, Mary could not bear the solitude nor the loneliness, and altered nearly everything about herself for better success on the marriage market. Her efforts caught the attention of the marquess, who soon thereafter saved her from spinsterhood. When he proposed, Mary was only too eager to accept, and the imbalance between them resulted in a most unhappy marriage. He dominated every aspect of her life and exerted the same control over their poor children. Now that the dastardly gentleman is dead, Mary hopes to regain the spring and spirit of her youth. She still has duties to fulfill and a reputation to uphold, of course—especially as the mother of the princess, the season’s Crown Jewel, and the heir to the marquisate—but she intends to enjoy her newfound freedom to the full extent such discretion will permit.
Lady Jaya Kaur, The Right Honourable Viscountess of Blackwood**: The notorious widowed viscountess who is often described in society as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” Lady Blackwood is a seasoned, shocking socialite with a penchant for seedy soirees and debaucherous dinner parties. She possesses an irreverent attitude toward propriety that is tolerated because of her title… and the fact that her functions are enjoyed by every manner of aristocrat at some point or another, however reluctant they might be to admit it! In Jaya’s experience, polite society is in need of indulgence now and again, which she is always delighted to provide. Through her efforts and her encouragement of her children, the name Singh has become synonymous with scandal, and she sees no reason to improve their rakeish reputation. As long as her children marry well and continue to receive invitations to the most exclusive social events of the season, she will have done her job as a viscountess. And it is not as if the “late” viscount is around to fulfill his duties after running away with some married woman two-and-twenty years ago, forcing Jaya to fake his death to protect the already precarious reputations of her children.
Tropes and Themes: second chances, self-sacrifice, parental responsibility.
As youths on the marriage market, Admiral Montgomery and Mrs. Salana did their duties. They married not for love but for security, they produced and raised heirs, and, on countless occasions, they have sacrificed their comfort and their dignity for the protection of their children. Now that they have returned to the marriage market to seek suitable spouses for their offspring, these practical parents cannot help reminiscing on what might have been, and all that they missed out on by making the choices they did. But perhaps it is not too late. It is, of course, their duty to secure advantageous alliances for the children; but does such obligation require that they deny themselves every prospect of personal felicity?
Mrs. Emebet Salana: A fretful widow focused on securing her younger children wealthy (and kind-hearted!) matches. Her husband, Mr. Desta Semere, was a mean, indifferent man who never held any affection for his wife—only her purse. The fortune-hunting fiend took her dowry and left everything to their eldest son, Semere, whom he raised to be as miserly as himself. Emebet divided what remained of her settlement among her other two children, saving barely enough to keep herself comfortable in her old age, but it isn’t much. She’s even sponsoring a young lady this season, Miss Soon-hee Kim, to relieve some of their debts. Between worrying over wealth and weddings, Emebet doesn’t have much of a mind for anything else. But sometimes, in quiet moments, she imagines what it might be like to be loved. Truly, completely. The way husbands are meant to love their wives. She feels certain it is something she has never experienced, but longs to. She yearns to love and be loved… but perhaps that is a childish fantasy better left to those who can afford it. After all, what is more romantic than security?
Admiral Alexander Montgomery of Ravensworth: The upstanding and honourable admiral who has confined himself and his children to their estate in the country in order to shield them from rumour and speculation. Eight-and-twenty years ago, Admiral Montgomery married his best friend after she was seduced and defiled by a scoundrel who fled when she came to be with child. He married her to save her reputation and raised her child as his own. They even produced one more child together in a night of drunken, confused passion, but they never loved one another in that way. In fact, the lady ran away shortly after giving birth, abandoning both her children for the admiral to raise on his own. Alexander spread news of her death to protect his children from scandal. It’s been two-and-twenty years since then and he has never allowed his children to join high society, until this season. His daughter, Charlotte, insisted that it was time she make her debut… and yet, she speaks only of her brother and Alexander’s prospects. Indeed, Alexander cannot deny that the marriage market still holds some attraction to him. He is a father, a decorated military commander, and the only post he has yet to assume is that of a man in love.
Tropes and Themes: social climbing, gilded poverty, social enforcement.
Prinz Otto und Prinzessin Elisabeth von Braunschweig live in perpetual mourning for their consequence in life. Their social stagnation at Berliner Schloss has led them to the halls of Kensington Palace, where Prinz Otto is all charm, cunning, and well-concealed envy over the superior fortunes of his family. Prinzessin Elisabeth, on the other hand, barely bothers concealing her resentment for having married down in her eyes. While Otto is, nominally, a German prince and a relative of the British royal family, his status as a fifth son means the marriage came without a hereditary title for their children, or even an estate. Tensions have been rising between them for years, but they now find themselves united by the shared scheme of arranging their socioeconomic ascension. The genteel social climbers must quell the rumours about the Duke and Duchess of Orkney and ensure the warring newlyweds produce an heir, all while bringing some proper Prussian Ordnung to this court. And, naturally, they’re resolute on discovering the identities of these “Chattingly” and “Tittle-Bee” charlatans; the British and their barbaric “free press”—in Prussia, such slanderers would be hanged and quartered. Will they unmask the authors and elevate their social position, or will the mounting animosity between the young prince and princess become fodder for the gossip rags?
Prinz Otto von Braunschweig: With no hereditary title or entailments of his own to speak of, Prinz Otto has spent his life lapping at the heels of more prominent royalty. He is the fifth son of the late Prince of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, making him brother-in-law to the British king’s son… and he never allows anyone to forget it. For years, he and his wife have lived off the generosity of her relatives, hopping between apartments in Berlin, but he grows weary of dependence. How can he ever be comfortable, his position in society secured, without a home of his own? He grows ever more irritable and unpleasant from his economic misfortune, though he would never reveal it to his charitable relations. For them, he simpers and smiles and takes to the stage, performing the role of the snivelling guest, all gratitude. Only Prinzessin Elisabeth sees the darker sides of him; his envy, his acrimony, his steadily shortening temper. She, like him, understands the demands of decorum. In company, both maintain a studied countenance of the utmost propriety; it is only when they are alone that the veil is withdrawn, exposing the unvarnished selfishness of their true natures. This, in his mind, is what makes them such a suitable match.
Prinzessin Elisabeth von Braunschweig: Prinzessin Elisabeth von Braunschweig—née von Hohenzollern of the Prussian royal family, which she never allows her husband to forget—tries very hard to love her husband. Most days, he makes it rather difficult. Sure, she esteems him well enough and harbors a fondness for him, but he is just so whiny. And she, after all, is the one who has much to whine about! It can prove difficult to stifle her resentment on occasion—particularly when she recalls how Otto duped her and her brother into believing he was in far superior financial standing than he later revealed himself to be. And, while most people would be happy to marry a German prince, it’s hard to accept being a landless Princess of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel when your sister is the Queen of the Netherlands and your niece is about to be crowned the Empress of Russia. But the slights of the past have resolved Prinzessin Elisabeth to look toward the future. Specifically, the one she means to shape. She is determined to improve their situation in life by entering the good graces of the queen. The queen began corresponding with Prinzessin Elisabeth as soon as she and Prinz Otto moved into Prince Charles’s apartments with his bride. It is clear that the queen means to enlist Prinzessin Elisabeth as a spy, and Prinzessin Elisabeth would never deny the will of Her Majesty.
Tropes and Themes: enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage, forced proximity.
The newly married Prince Charles and Princess Georgina have barely begun to warm to each other—and certainly have not warmed each other’s beds—since being forced into marriage by their respective families six months ago. With the start of the new season, the young couple is expected to host and lead the noble families of London. Meanwhile, whispers have begun to circulate about the lack of an heir. Can the two set aside their disappointments and mutual dislike to fulfill their royal duties?
Prince Charles, Duke of Orkney: As the eleventh (yes, eleventh) son of the king, Charles had envisioned a life of independence. Neither the heir nor the spare nor anything remotely close, he had comforted himself growing up with fanciful ideas of travel, leisure, studying the stars, and even true love. The prince was brought to reality as soon as he graduated university, when he was informed by his family that they had arranged his marriage to Lady Georgina Liang, the daughter of a marquess. They were married six months ago, and still, Charles struggles with the loss of his freedom and acceptance of his duty. It has caused problems with his bride, who he can see is beautiful, intelligent, sharp-witted—but a bit of a bore. The only time he feels the fires of passion sparking between them are during their near-daily spars over their “courtly obligations.”
Princess Georgina, Duchess of Orkney: Georgina was the epitome of the accomplished young lady and the dutiful daughter. In her youth, she escaped the misery of her household by chasing accomplishment, education, and the good opinion of high society. All in pursuit of the ultimate reward: a match of her choosing. She thought that if she did everything right and made herself as eligible as possible, she could convince her father to allow her some say in her spouse. Instead, her heinous, heartless father duped her with a surprise wedding day and died before she could use her newfound position to punish him for it! Under the ever-watchful eye of the Ton, Georgina is struggling to maintain decorum and her performance as the perfect wife and princess… especially considering she has no other outlet for her complicated, manifold grief but her daily altercations with her layabout, wastrel of a royal husband.