THE LADY PRIMROSE HAZELTON OPENS THE GROUNDS OF ATHELHAMPTON HOUSE FOR
The Glorious Twelfth
* GROUSE HUNT TO OPEN THE SHOOTING SEASON WITH GARDEN PARTY ** REFRESHMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY LADY SOPHRONA RAMSBURY ** DOGS AND HORSES PROVIDED BY HAZELTON KENNEL AND STABLES *
August 12, 1811Athelhampton House, Dorset
Hunting parties to depart the house at 10 in the morning
Garden party with afternoon tea to follow 3 in the afternoon to 7 in the evening
RSVP TO LADY PRIMROSE HAZELTON, IRIS HOUSE, MAYFAIR, LONDON
At 10am on August 12th at Athelhampton House, the hosts of the season's first hunt assemble outside the stables. Lady Primrose Hazelton sits atop the tallest horse wearing a fine outfit of perfectly tailored men's riding clothes complete with green waistcoat and silver cravat. Beside her are six of her siblings and Lord P Andrew Moore. They assemble the guests and horses are provided for those who have not brought their own. A large pack of well-behaved English Setters mill about.
Lady Primrose Hazelton announces the beginning of the grouse hunt and leads the hunters past the dovecote into the small woods and beyond to a hunting moor, where the hunt lasts until 2pm.
The Hazeltons have employed many locals to help with the hunt, provided dogs that will fetch birds, and pluckers to clean them. Guests are encouraged to take any of their birds they wish home, however, birds can also be donated to the Athelhampton staff and the local poor house.
After the hunt, the participants are given a place to change and rest before the garden party.
The garden party begins at 3pm and lasts until 7pm.
In the Central Fountain Square, afternoon tea service has been laid out on several tables.
At the start of the garden party, Lady Primrose Hazelton and Lord P Andrew Moore gather all guests into the Central Fountain Square and Lord Moore makes an announcement: "I am delighted to announce that I have asked Lady Primrose Hazelton for her hand in marriage and she has accepted. I am the most happy I have been thus far in my life and I will endeavor to give her as much of that happiness as is possible for a husband. I thank you all for hearing of our joy. May you enjoy this day as much as we are!"
Kitchen Garden: Large herb, vegetable, and fruit garden with benches for resting, statuary, and a string quartet playing in the corner.
Rose Garden: Walled mid-size English rose garden with adjacent octagonal Cloister Garden; music can be heard from the kitchen garden.
Riverside Walk: A gentle sloping walk alongside the River Piddle, lined with lanterns and the occasional footman for assistance. Adjacent to the Small Woods.
Small Woods with Dovecote: Where the hunters leave from and return to.
Central Fountain Square: A string quartet plays in one corner; a constantly refreshed selection of food and beverages are laid out for self-service, but servants are on hand to assist.
Powder Room: Inside, ground floor, used for guest refreshment as necessary.
Parlor: A quiet, chaperoned area inside where guests may socialize out of the elements.
Captain Katharine Sunderlin
Attending: The hunt from mid-morning onwards and the garden party.
What she wore: As usual, the Captain is dressed in her Navy uniform at all times. Except no bicorn because I can't stand them.
Her horse, Regina of the Thousand Steps:
Her hunting hawk, who shall go unnamed for personal reasons:
ISO's (In Search Of's) for possible interactions:
1 - During the hunt: Kat spends some time at the edge of the wood, far away from the shooting. She is quiet and solemn, and appears to have something weighing heavy on her mind. Instead of taking to a rifle (despite rumors of her excellent eyesight and unerring aim), she bids her white hawk hunt instead. Do you challenge her hawk to catch something specific, strike up a conversation, or merely enjoy the silence?
2. During the garden party: Kat lets young Alexander (her boy of 3) play in both the fountain and down by the riverbank, where he gets completely wet! Do you comment on such unruly and undisciplined behavior? What does the boy think he is, a duck? And shouldn't his mother be teaching him better manners?
3. During the garden party: Kat, Gabriel, and Captain Griffen relax on a picnic blanket by the river walk. While Gabriel watches over young Alexander by the river, the two Captains appear to be having an emotional conversation. Closer inspection will reveal that Kat is crying, but she embraces Captain Griffen all the same. Do you watch? Do you ask what's going on?
During the event, Kat does the following:
- Arrives a little late with Captain Griffen, her son, and her companion Gabriel.
- Stays relatively quiet and solemn, hunting by herself in the morning with her hawk, but never riding above a walk.
- When Prim & Percy's wedding is announced, Kat gives a joyful cry. She rushes up, grasps Prim by the waist, and spins her around before kissing her on both cheeks in the familiar French fashion.
- Just after congratulating the future couple, Prim & Percy drag Kat off to the house with somewhat serious expressions, and when Kat is next seen with her family and Captain Griffen, she is much more subdued and serious.
- (any ISO responses!!)
Lord Percival Andrew Moore will be attending both the Grouse Hunt and the Garden Party. He will be hanging around Lady Primrose Hazelton for most of the day and during the Garden Party he will be playing with the children, playing his violin, and being very much charming chap.
Callisto will be very excited to finally meet THE FLORA. The one from the paper, the one that talks so highly of her fashion. She will appear very emotionless when she meets you, but she will be screaming of joy from the inside.
Flora Owen will attended the hunt & party.
She will be late to the hunt but arrive driving a cart pulled by a wooly miniature horse. Her two dachshunds Beatrix & Ollivander will be in tow.
Flora will seek out @Callisto Rose (RustingRabbit) and introduce herself.
Flora will warmly greet Lady Lorelai & Aramis Beauclerk. She will also introduce herself to Sir Peter Fells, complimenting his attire and remarking she too is particularly fond of the color orange.
(more to come but wanted to get the rsvp in!)
Name: Sir Peter Fell
Attending: Both the hunt and the garden party afterwards
Actions: Arriving on a dappled horse with a well-tended to older model rifle slung across his back that once surely belonged to an older member his family, Sir Peter is resplendent in a muted orange waist coat embroidered with stumpwork thistles at the lapels, leather riding breeches, and a dark overcoat. His wild mass of curls is half-tamed with a ribbon that precisely matches a gown Lady Bruce-Hervey recently wore to a ball. He is polite to everyone he speaks with, if somewhat reserved. This is the second time he has ever been seen at a Society function, and his demeanor is reserved in the politest sense that perhaps further cultivates the air of mystery surrounding him -- though he flirts with a cat-like air as if testing the waters to any who speak with him. During the hunt he dispatches five grouse with admirable skill, especially considering the rifle he uses would have been popular a generation previous at best. One is given to Lady Hervey-Bruce, the rest are donated. For the garden party he changes into a damask waistcoat, embroidered silk stockings, and black breeches. On seven out of ten fingers he is wearing rings, and he makes a great show of showing his hands to Lady Bruce-Hervey as if proving a point.
Name: The Honourable Carrington Starling, Baron Hartwood Regis
Attending: garden party
Actions:
The Garden Party:
Carrington arrives at the garden party with a nurse, content to people watch from a shady spot. He was very happy to be able to attend his first social outing in some years. Any change of scenery from his own estate was a very welcome one. Eventually, he would venture forth to associate with the other guests, but returns to his shady spot in between.
ISO: Conversation: Carrington is interested in just about anything a person could want to talk about. He is more interested in listening to others than talking himself, but tries to be an engaging conversationalist. Carrington's most knowledgeable subjects of conversation are literature and the arts.
Flirtation: Carrington is open to flirtation from anyone, but he will probably just be oblivious and/or give confused faces. Which is adorable.
Friendship: Carrington would love to make a new friend or two or get reacquainted with old ones
Garden Wallflower
The Honourable Carrington Starling was given a last minute approval from his doctor to attend the Garden Party at Athelhampton. The baron spent much of the afternoon seated in a shady spot, his nurse bringing him refreshments as he watched the goings-on at the party. Not having attended many social events before, Carrington didn't know many people at the party.
Do you introduce yourself to the quiet baron and try to engage him in conversation? Or are you too intimidated by his quiet nature?
Tavvi will attend. Like @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood she would enjoy a ride, but is disinclined to hunt. If this is unsuitable for whatever reasons, she would be delighted to tour the orchards and gardens, and perhaps speak to the person(s) in charge of same; she is always interested in exchanging knowledge. She will write a bit more later.
RSVP: Lady Tabitha Catherine Louise de Beauchamp and her young son, Lord Gavroche de Beauchamp
Attendance: Hunt and Garden Party
What she wore:
For the Hunt: With some aid from her dear friend, @Primrose Hazelton, Lady de Beauchamp ensures her ensemble for the hunt is appropriate and to the tastes of the English ton. Matching her son's attire for the day, as well as that of Mr. James Moore, the elder brother of Lord Percival Moore, she dons light khaki breeches with a blue tweed waist coat over a white blouse and dark brown boots. The ensemble is completed by a burn orange cravat and matching ribbon holding up the young lady's incredibly long ebony locks.
For the Garden Party: Lady de Beauchamp's gown for the garden party is far from simple, unsurprising for the young, French beauty. Keeping to a similar color scheme as that of her hunt attire. The base color of the empire waisted gown being a bright, almost cerulean, shade of Persian blue. The gown has a front closure over a center panel of light golden orange, matching the detailing found throughout the gown. With this ensemble, her long, luscious, raven tresses are pinned up properly and accented by a cluster of feathers that match the tones of the gown, a peacock feather at the center of the adornment.
Gavroche's Attire: Gavroche's attire is similar to that of his mother's and an exact match for that of Mr. James Moore. Brown boots, cream breeches, white blouse, blue waist coat, and burnt orange cravat.
What she did: Late Morning: Central Fountain: Lady de Beauchamp has just returned from the hunt and is searching for her mischievous little boy, Gavroche. Earlier you had seen the small blonde "nearly 6 year old" boy leading a parade of children with a small black puppy at his heels. Where did you see them go? What were they up to? Do you inform Lady de Beauchamp of her son's location?
Early Afternoon:
Kitchen Garden: After having changed from her hunt attire into the gown for the garden party, Lady de Beauchamp sets eyes upon @Eleanor Buxton (Kath), her face joyfully lighting up as she sees the young woman. The two promenade through the gardens and sit on a bench by the riverwalk. They can be seen chatting happily, and Lady de Beauchamp asks Miz. Buxton a question to which Miz. Buxton seems to answer in the affirmative, smiling widely. At this point Gavroche joins the pair, along with their puppy Minerva, who engages Miz. Buxton's puppy, Reginald, in play. At this point they seem to have a serious discussion and Lady de Beauchamp asks her son a question. After more serious discussion between mother and son, he smiles brightly, answering in the affirmative and throwing his arms around Miz. Buxton. Do you notice the conversation? Do you engage Lady de Beauchamp or her son in conversation after the group disperses?
Cloistered Garden: Some time after Lord Moore's big announcement, he is seen ushering his fiance and young Gavroche de Beauchamp towards the cloistered garden where his elder brother, Mr. James Moore stands with Lady Tabitha de Beauchamp. Do you follow them? Are you curious as to what is occuring? An expression of confusion upon Lady de Beauchamp's face, Gavroche hands a sealed letter to his mother, and as she reads the missive, her expression is replaced with one of pure joy. She is seen joyfully embracing Mr. Moore. Do you move close enough to hear what is being said or do you make assumptions? When the group parts, do you approach Lady de Beauchamp?
Mid Afternoon:
Riverside Walk: Lady de Beauchamp is walking upon the Riverwalk, light upon her feet and smiling brightly. Do you approach and walk with the young French beauty? Do you chat? What do you discuss?
Name: Lady Primrose Hazelton
Attending: Hunt and Garden Party
Dressed exquisitely in masculine clothe for the Hunt Primrose wears a green tweed waistcoat, silver cravat, and ivory breeches along with a straw bonnet embellished with flowers and green trim.
At the hunt Lady Hazelton does not begin shooting until after the first bird is downed. Until that time she checks her gun, calls the Hazelton Kennel dogs into line, and watches the other hunters.
For the garden party Lady Hazelton will change into a frothy ruffled gown of olive green with the same bonnet she wore for the hunt. She's jovial and generally the picture of blushing debutante after her engagement announcement.