OOC: I’m aware that some people will join the game who haven’t made themselves known online, and we’ll be “meeting” them entirely through their letters. For those of us who established some connections and enjoy shared interests and geographical proximity, I want to offer an opportunity for our characters to have all had a mutual experience before the timeframe the first newsletter will cover. This way, those of us who are only communicating here in the forums can reference a consistent "when last we met."
So, to anyone for whom it narratively makes sense, your character is cordially invited to have attended an afternoon gathering for games and entertainment hosted by Lady Emmeline in honor of her cousin @Maj Gerard St. George, visiting from Galway, Ireland.
When: 11am-4pm Saturday, 18 January 1811
Where: Drawing Room 2, Lansdowne House on Berkeley Square in London
Things You Could Do: A few tables were set up for games, including Whist and Cribbage. Wagering did take place. Charades was enjoyed in one corner and we also have a fine piano and a harp, for anyone so inclined, set up in the opposite corner. Cheese, fruit, breads, jams, and pastries plates along with tea, port and a rare stash of Champagne made the rounds.
Weather: The windows of the room overlook our gardens where we could see there's a light frost on the ground. It was quite cold out when you arrived and departed, but it didn't rain or snow directly before or during the event. Still, you likely did not venture outside.
What you'd have heard from me about my cousin is that he's recently arrived in London, he's my father's sister's child and he's 28 (turning 29 in April). He was a major in the British Army and he's just starting to put himself out there socially after the death a couple of years ago of the woman he'd meant to marry.
I'll leave it to the player(s) portraying him to describe him further and how he interacted at the party.
Please RSVP in the comments to let me know if you were in attendance. If you were there, please share as much as possible:
Your Name:
Arrived:
Arrived With:
Activities:
Interactions with Emmeline:
Departed At:
Departed With:
We can collectively suss out anything memorable that happened during these few hours we spent together, primary topics of conversation, etc. Please don’t be shy about proposing ideas. Bring your personality! (Note: I’m almost positive none of this will impact the first newsletter.) Update: @Athena Peters says anything she catche wind of is fair game for newsletter...
Your Name: Lady Euphemia Griffen
Arrived: 11:30 AM
Arrived With: @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him) , elder brother.
Activities: -Charades: Partook in Charades with @Duke James Richmond (Greg) , @Lady Eleanor Savery (Hilary) , @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) , @Viscountess Charlotte Hughes , @Earl Nicholas Howard (Evan) , @Morven Blackwood (Jenn) . Was actually quite good at the game. However, as Earl Nicholas Howard's monkey Bartholomew began trying to get handshakes, Lady Euphemia was visibly upset. As the monkey pawed at her dress for a handshake Euphemia could be overheard saying "Get that damned beast away from me!" This was immediately followed by profuse apologies, Euphemia turning about twenty shades of red, and then politely excusing herself from the game. (Apologies letters to all involved should be expected.) -Pianoforte & Harp: A killed musician, part of her night was spend playing the pianoforte and the harp as well as singing and doing so very well. -Sulking & Hiding: After The Incident mentioned above, Effie did her best to avoid others and to do everything in her power not to make anymore of a fool out of herself than she already has.
Interactions with Emmeline: Introduced to Lady Emmeline by her elder brother. Made the appropriate Polite Conversation and offered compliments about the party and home. Avoided Emmeline at all costs after making a scene at Charades.
Departed At: 4pm
Departed With: @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him) & @Lady Charlotte Grant (if this is amenable to both parties)
Your name: Olivia Curtis
Arrived: didn't arrive in person. The morning of the event, a footman arrived with a small, hastily-written note apologizing for her ladyship's absence, stating that her mother was unwell and needed personal attention.
I had posted something previously, but then deleted it, thinking it was implausible that Flora would have been at this party. But.....
Your Name: Flora Owen
Arrived: 3ish
Arrived With: alone
Activities: Flora was invited as a guest of @Earl Nicholas Howard . Flora would certainly have turned a few heads with her fur trimmed pelisse and hat. Flora's decided to drop by to ruffle a few feathers and have a bit of a giggle. Flora is a bit infamous, you see. She can never turn down an opportunity to cause a bit of scene. Flora drank a noticeable amount of champagne considering how long she attended. She made a beeline for Nicholas and the whist tables. She handily trounced all competitors and left with a fair about of Nicholas's coin as a result.
Interactions with Emmeline: Brief. Flora brought Emmeline a silk pouch filled with the finest Assam tea imported by the East India Company. This would have been the first time they had met, although Nicholas would have given Flora a bit of info about Emmeline. The meeting was, curious?
Departed At: 4ish
Departed With: was seen talking with some fashionable type but breezed out as oddly as she arrived.
I don't think it'd be appropriate for me to write a ton in character before game start, so, if there's no objection, I'd like to establish that within the week after this party, everyone who attended received at least a short note from me thanking you for attending and for the kindness you showed @Maj Gerard St. George. If you specified a gift, I thanked you explicitly for that gift and said I'd hope soon to repay the kindness. If we would have been in any further communication after that, please DM me so we can pick up actual correspondence where it makes the most sense.
And OOC, thank you all for playing along with this. I keep telling my wife "OH! Someone else came to my party!" It's giving this IRL paranoid introvert real feels!
Your Name: Lord Ambrose Etienne Galois
Arrived: Arrived alone at 11:30am
Arrived With: A few bottles of imported palm wine from the Dahomey Kingdom (For the hosts and company) and a small bolt of Jonquil (think pure bright yellow) silk taffeta tied neatly with a matching bow (for the host) and a meticulously embroidered reticule.
Activities: - Lively conversation with @Duke James Richmond (Greg) discussing new wine imports (He directly handed him one of the bottles of palm wine) , changing fashions and the need for perhaps another visit to La Couronne (assessing the suit His Grace was wearing), and general gossip I imagine. He would also probably laugh as the game of charades are happening. - Chatting with @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) about politics, possibly far too loud conversation about their feelings on the fashions of English dandies, speaking about new silk imports. ((He also attempts to give her the reticule he made for her, but he was brought into a conversation and the party ended before he could so he sends it with a letter later. )) - Conversation with @Earl Nicholas Howard about the theatre and discussing his poetry recitation, Ambrose INSISTED the Lord should learn French if he wishes to recite poetry from here on (in a very joking manner of course). - Fussing with Bartholomew's vest as he passes every so often and discussing with the Earl that he should also come to shop to get a matching vest sometime soon -Small chats with @Eleanor Savery (Hilary) to ask after her older brothers and insisting they come down to the shop to be refit for a few waist coats. He also was seen complimenting her outfit and suggesting a new style of spencer he had seen in fashion plates. -General flitting around the room chatting with people, admiring garments, snarking and gossiping
Interactions with Emmeline: - Handed her a bottle of his imported palm wine officially on behalf of the Galois family from the Kingdom of Dahomey - Gifted her Jonquil silk taffeta imported from the Kingdom of Benin. Spoke of similar silks and incredibly light linens currently being made there and brought to England frequently. -Chatted about a few of the latest fashions and potential dresses he could make in his shop, insisted she visit soon if only to chat
Departed At: 3:30 PM
Departed With: Alone (Open to suggestions if anyone wanted to talk to him as he left)
Since it's been a while since I made my post and I want to give people a chance to play with the monkey (and since he has his own invitation lol) I'll do a little one for Bartholomew. @Lady/Marquess Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice (Robin) lmk if you think that adds too much clutter.
Your Name: Bartholomew
Arrived: ~12:00-1:00pm
Arrived With: Nicholas Howard
Activities:
-- wore his best vest made for him by @Lord Ambrose Etienne Galois (Ezekiel).
-- attempted to play charades. did not understand the point of the game, but tried his heckin best anyways.
-- shook a lot of hands (Nicholas taught him how but now Bartholomew thinks that shaking someone's hand automatically gets him a treat, so he'll do it at random if he wants food).
-- made some very good conversation (in his opinion -- it's not his fault none of you understand what he's saying).
-- feel free to come up with more.
Interactions with Emmeline: Very much enjoyed his banana!
Departed At: ~4:30pm.
Departed With: Nicholas
Your Name: Charlotte Hughes
Arrived: 11 am Sharp
Arrived With: @Mr. James Hughes MP
Activities: - Staying at her uncle's elbow until an introduction to Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) gave her a much needed reason to escape the dry political debates. The two were spotted giggling madly in the corner shortly afterward, and Vi was kind enough to introduce Charlotte to several of her friends and family in attendance at the party.
- Made the acquaintance of @Duchess Eudora St. Clair where the two discovered a shared love of the theater and an outing to see a show together was arranged. - Played a few games of charades
Interactions with Emmeline: A short introduction made as they had never been introduced before that day.
Departed At: 3:30, very reluctantly
Departed With: @Mr. James Hughes MP
Your Name: Eloise Snowden
Arrived: 1145a
Arrived With: @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) and her cousin @Eleanor Savery (Hilary), and a bouquet of orange tulips for our hostess
Activities: gossiping and making jokes with the other whist players, laughing heartily at charades, making small talk and catching up with classmates.
Spoke with @ Duke James Richmond (Greg) about horses.
Interactions with Emmeline: presented her flowers, thanked her for her hospitality and spoke briefly of her time at Oxford with Vi.
Departed At: 430p
Departed With: @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth)
The party info in the first post has been updated to include info about my Cousin @Maj Gerard St. George.
Your Name: Mr. Hughes MP
Arrived: 11 AM Sharp
Arrived With: @(Emma) Viscountess Charlotte Hughes (if she possibly wished to attend)
Activities:
- One game of whist that he was pestered into playing.
- Mostly engaged in political debate, particularly about Catholic-Dissenter Emancipation, of which he is a supporter. Definitely noticed @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) looking bored made a remark on how fashionable people tend to care little for politics.
Interactions with Emmeline: Exchanged pleasantries with the hostess, perhaps joined her for his one game of whist.
Departed At: 3:30 pm
Departed With: @(Emma) Viscountess Charlotte Hughes (again, if she wanted to be present)
Your Name: Miss Morven Blackwood
Arrived: Around noon
Arrived With: Lady Violet Blankeney-Coventry
Activities:
- tried to listen more than talk, as she's a little bashful about her Northern accent
- played piano (not very well, but she clearly enjoyed playing and was a good sport about her lack of talent)
- played charades with @ Duke James Richmond @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) and @Eleanor Savery (Hilary)
- soaked up any and all conversation about the upcoming season, as it is her first in London.
- talked about her favorite poetry and her home in Scotland with @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him)
- Cornered @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood and talked poetry at her for a bit- who was nice about it- while her eyes glazed over.
- ventured outside briefly, because she is that stubborn Northerner
Interactions with Emmeline: Morven would try to get to know her better, and admire the party and house.
Departed At: 4:30 pm
Departed With: Lady Violet Blankeney-Coventry
Your Name: Duchess Eudora St. Clair
Arrived: 11:07
Arrived With: Younger sister Jessamine St. Clair @Meredith White & @Lady Theodosia Graves (She/Her Rachael)
Activities:
-Played a few rounds of whist and cribbage with @ Duke James Richmond @Lord Nicholas Howard @Eleanor Savery (Hilary) and Jessamine before bowing out of the games.
-Sought out faces she did not recognize, introducing herself to @Lady Charlotte Grant before settling down at a table to speak of families and current affairs.
-Actively watched @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood on the pianoforte, making sure to compliment her after she was finished, asking how business was at the theatre.
-Listened to @Lord Nicholas Howard butcher poetry, while drinking alone off to a side table.
-Drank a bit more than what might have been acceptable, but tried to stay polite in good company.
-Said her hellos to @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth)
-Spent a good portion of the night drinking corner with @Lady Theodosia Graves (She/Her Rachael) and introducing them to who they may not know in the room.
Interactions with Emmeline: Sought out the hostess when she had a free moment to offer a quick hug, and present her with the necklace she had made for @Lady/Marquess Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice (Robin) made with stones of the same colors from the very garden they used to play in when they were children. She would have relaxed a bit in her company, asking where her brother Edmund was so they could share a drink or two and catch up. She also would have brought a present for Edmund, a small art piece that reminded her of him, and a bouquet of Primrose flowers for the cousin- straight from her own gardens in Devon.
Departed At: 3:40
Departed With: Jessamine St. Clair and Lady Theodosia Graves
Your Name: Miss Hazel Ottillie Wynnewood
Arrived: 11am on the dot. Hazel probably got there early but took a turn around the street so as not to be rude.
Arrived With: A large bouquet of Yellow Roses (trying to make friends with Emmeline) and a box of gourmet chocolates (who doesn't like chocolate). She is also chaperoning her younger sister Euphemia. Miss Wynnewood wore her navy silk day dress with a high-necked chemisette and a velvet spencer, while Miss Euphemia wore a pink netted silk dress. Miss Wynnewood looked noticeably matronly in comparison to her sister.
Activities: -Reuniting with her cousin @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him) and trying to introduce him to her acquaintances.
-Trying to keep Euphemia on her behavior and away from the rogues at the party.
-Taking her turn on the pianoforte while Euphemia takes hers on the harp. They are very good musicians.
- Spirited chat with @Lady Charlotte Grant, then advised her and @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) and @Eleanor Savery (Hilary)who was suitable and who definitely was not. Tried to keep them out of trouble.
- Verbal sparring match with @Lord Nicholas Howard before devolving into gossiping. Then watching him humiliate himself at charades.
- Enjoyed the food. A little more than appropriate.
-Watched the gamblers lose all their money while sipping champagne.
Interactions with Emmeline: Attempted to get to know the host a bit better when she had a free moment. Probably tried to get to know her interest. Hazel's trying to find life balance, because she's a workaholic.
Departed At: 2:30
Departed With: Euphemia, who complained about leaving early.
A correction: Everything is game for the newsletter if I catch wind of it ;)
In that case (if this sounds good to you), @ Duke James Richmond somewhat grudgingly introduced Nicholas to Lady Violet, whereupon Nicholas stood looking at her confusedly for a noticeable amount of time, possibly setting tongues wagging (although he really seemed to be staring at the rather odd miniature top hat with a veil she wore more than anything else), and was actually quite polite about her piano playing. She was later seen attempting not to giggle loudly about his poetry.
Your Name: Lord Nicholas Howard
Arrived: Between noon and 1:00pm, likely already with a little bit of wine in him (but not enough to be obvious).
Arrived With: his pet vervet monkey, Bartholomew.
Activities:
-- gifted the hostess with a nice bottle of wine (I'm not a wine guy so forgive me that I can't be more specific). Brought an additional bottle for "personal use," which did not make it home.
-- participated in charades with perhaps a little too much enthusiasm.
-- played whist and cribbage, gambled. Did a fair bit of winning, and then lost it all (and then some) and seemed far too pleased about it.
-- recited some absolutely horrendous original poetry, loudly (one of these days I'll write some of it just so you guys can know exactly what you're dealing with... but I might leave that for the letters. You're welcome in advance).
-- open to suggestions for more!
Interactions with Emmeline: No doubt was overly gracious, probably almost annoyingly-so and to the point nearing childish passive-aggression, in the way that those who are related like to needle at each other. Most likely whatever polite conversation was necessary not to appear rude, likely as part of a group and stringently avoiding directly addressing any topic of family (feel free to add more lol).
Departed At: ~4:30, just late enough to be mildly exasperating but not quite enough to be wholly improper. Was certainly visibly intoxicated by that time, but not to any extreme extent.
Departed With: once again, open to suggestions.
Your Name: Lady Eleanor Savery
Arrived: around noon
Arrived With: @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth)
Activities:
Playing cribbage and bridge unsuccessfully
Playing charades with @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) and @ Duke James Richmond much more successfully
She played a short tune on the harp though her skills are rusty
Interactions with Emmeline:
We haven’t had the chance to plot much, so feel free to change this, but as Eleanor is cousins with James, I imagine Eleanor and Emmeline have met before, though a while ago. She was reintroduced to Emmeline at this party and enjoyed a brief discussion about some of the new fashions coming out of France
Departed At: 5:00 pm
Departed With: switches parties to depart with @ Duke James Richmond (possibly?), helped to calm James as he calmed Emmeline
Your Name: Lady Charlotte Grant
Arrived: Noon
Arrived With: Admiral Lord Edward Grant & Lady Katherine Grant [mother & father]
Activities:
- Admiral Lord Edward introduced Charlotte to two young men that had just been given the title of lieutenant.
- Sought out her dear @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him) and spent quite some time engaged with him, catching up from when last they'd met.
- Lady Katherine insisted Charlotte spend more time socializing with some of the other young men in attendance.
- Engaged in pleasant discourse with @ Duke James Richmond
- Took a turn about the room with @Colonel G.O. Molyneux (if in attendance) - Shared in some spirited conversation with @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood (if in attendance?) - Enjoyed some quiet discourse with @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) - pointing out several eligible gentlemen/ladies in the room to gauge Vi's interest! - (Would @Duchess Eudora St. Clair or @Avery/Abigail Pembroke been in attendance? If so, this may be where their paths first crossed!)
Interactions with Emmeline:
During a lull in her hostessing duties, Charlotte pulled Emmeline aside to congratulate her on the lovely party, share in a bit of gossip, and inquire if there was anything she could do to be of assistance. (She also seemed particularly interested in assessing who the available members at the party were, so as to report back to @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) like the proper "wing person" she is!)
Admiral Lord & Lady Grant also took a moment to thank Emmeline for her kind invitation & inquired after Edmund. Lady Grant also gifted Emmeline with a new shawl that she'd made with peacocks hand-stitched into the corners.
Departed At: 4:00pm
Departed With: @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him)
Your name: Lord Abraham Griffen
Arrived: 11:30 AM with his sister @Lady Euphemia Griffen
Arrived with: A bottle of exquisite port from the Duoro Wine Company, Portugal.
Activities:
- Conversations with other Navy/ex Navy/traders/sailors.
-Joyfully reunited with his favorite cousin @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood who was trying to introduce him to some of her acquaintances when he spotted @Lady Charlotte Grant across the room and hurriedly excused himself (My apologies, cousin, and it's Charlotte.....)
- Happily reunited with his long ago childhood friend @Charlotte Grant, and spent so much time catching up with his dear friend, that her mother Lady Katharine came to take Lady Charlotte away!
- Introduced self to Duke of Bath @ Duke James Richmond and offered condolences concerning his brother Nigel.
- Relaxed with some port and food, had a wonderful conversation with Miss @Morven Blackwood about her home and the poetry she likes.
- Played some cribbage – won some, lost some – came out even.
- Sought out @Countess Theodora "Theo" Monroe (Tessa) concerning her charity concerning nutrition.
- Listened to his talented sister play the pianoforte and sing.
- Conversed with Admiral and Lady Grant about goings on in London and the Royal Navy. Asked for and was granted permission to escort Lady Charlotte home.
-Looked for and found his embarrassed sister to comfort her and bring her back to the party.
Interactions with Emmeline:
- Upon arrival, Abraham immediately offered his condolences to @Lady/Marquess Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice (Robin) about Nigel
- Offered to speak with her about Nigel if she wished later during the party or perhaps another time.
- Asked after Edmund’s welfare.
- Offered help at any time to her as his duty to fellow Lieutenants of the HMS Bellerophon.
- Later introduced his sister @Lady Euphemia Griffen to Lady Petty-Fitzmaurice and made small talk, thanking her for the invitation and complimenting her on the elegance of the party.
Departed at: 4:00 PM
Departed with: @Charlotte Grant and @Lady Euphemia Griffen
Your Name: Lady Violet Blankeney-Coventry
Arrived:Your Name:
Arrived: around noon
Arrived With: If she's amenable to it, I'll say Vi arrived with her cousin @Eleanor Savery (Hilary) Vi wore a pale blue muslin dress with an unreasonable number of ruffles at the bodice and skirt, causing a little bit of a stir (Ruffles didn't really start to become a fashion until the following year, but Vi is a bit of a fashionplate.)
Activities:
- played charades with cousin @ Duke James Richmond
-sang a very prim but pretty art song at the piano
-listened to a conversation about current politics (the Catholic-Dissenter Emancipation, probably) going on around her, looking as though she was politely trying not to appear deathly bored but not entirely succeeding
-having a good long gossip with her dearest friend @Countess Theodora "Theo" Monroe (Tessa) (if she's also in attendance)
Interactions with Emmeline: Lady Vi does not know Emmeline terribly well, but was introduced to her by @ Duke James Richmond She brought a recipe for pear tarts Emmeline had previously complimented at her grandmother's home, along with the tarts in question.
Departed At: 4:30 pm
Departed With: @Countess Theodora "Theo" Monroe (Tessa) (if she's in attendance)