Lady Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice - Connections Wanted

Character Name: Lady Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice

Titles: 2nd Marquess of Lansdowne, 3rd Earl of Shelburne, 3rd Earl of Kerry -- all shared with brother, Edmund

Profile

Age: 24

Height: 5’1/2”

Weight: 115lbs

Hair: Dark Brown

Eyes: Hazel

Orientation: Bisexual, Demisexual

Bio (publically available knowledge)

Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice is the second child of William Petty-Fitzmaurice (1st Marquess of Lansdowne/2nd Earl of Shelburne/2nd Earl of Kerry, former Prime Minister) and his wife Sophia (daughter of 2nd Earl Granville, prominently shrewd businesswoman), both deceased.

Emmeline shares the title of Marquess, subsidiary titles and the estate itself with her older brother, Edmund (NPC), with whom she’s very close. He runs the day-to-day of the estate (as their father did) while she focuses on investments (as their mother did). She divides her time between Bowood House (Bradford-on-Avon near Bath) and Lansdowne House (Berkeley Square in London) and has spoken about purchasing another spot for holidays, but hasn’t gotten around to it. Edmund rarely goes to London, but uses the house there on the occasions he does. They also own Redgrave Hall & Redgrave Park in Suffolk and several other properties and land tracts, particularly in Ireland, occupied by extended family there, including Derreen House in County Cork, Ireland

Often seen wearing trousers, vests, hats and riding boots, she is just as comfortable expressing her femininity with a gorgeous gown if the occasion warrants it. She’s partial to shades of purple and silver and bold, non-flowery patterns like paisley, damask and geometrics. Likewise, she does not limit herself when it comes to choosing for whom she develops romantic feelings, though that is quite far from her mind at the moment. She’s at once fun-loving and responsible. She will not instigate nor will she shirk from a fight (figuratively and on rare occasions literally). She’s friendly as a default until given reason not to be and is fiercely loyal to those few she considers close friends. She adores being in the know about society (much like watching a never-ending play unfold), but has no interest in information being used maliciously.

At 24 years old, Emmeline’s had her fair share of loss and grief. Ten years ago this January (1801), she lost her mother (43) to pneumonia. In May 1805, her father died at age 68 of unknown causes. In October, just a few months later, her fiancé Nigel Richmond (James Richmond’s older brother and her older brother Edmund’s best friend) was killed in action at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Emmeline attended Trinity College at Cambridge and focused on Mathematics and the Classics and dabbled in science and astronomy.

After learning about Nigel upon Edmund’s return, Emmeline left college abruptly mid-term and sequestered herself in her rooms at Bowood for a month, then emerged only to declare that she would be foregoing the entire London season. Instead, she embarked on a tour of Ireland, exploring the people and culture where her father and maternal grandmother were born, staying with cousins and at inns. She was accompanied by dear friends Kitty McAllister, James Richmond, and Amelia Rutherford.

Returning to Cambridge she finished her degree in 1807, and has since focused on expanding the investment portfolio her mother had started, traveling as world circumstances allow to establish or fortify partnerships and to add to the family’s famously magnificent collections of art, antiquities and books. In fact, the Lansdowne library is beyond magnificent in both residences and Emmeline recently opened the London collection up as a private lending library.

Loose facts:

• She might have told you the story (if asked) about how during a trip to Paris (because America is not) she named the “cupcake” and subsequently popularized it in England. Related… one of her less-lucrative but favorite investments is in the ownership of a local bakery.

• She returned from India with (among a ton of books, tapestries, spices, fabrics, furniture, etc.) a parrot and several peafowl, including a few magnificent peacocks. (2 of these went to Nicholas). It was after this that she adopted the peacock as her personal letter seal symbol.

• She keeps a Roan Arabian Filly named Domino at James' stables. It was his gift to her despite the fact that she doesn't ride for sport unless coerced. When she does join, she'll ride with the group for a while then pick a nice spot with a shady tree and set up a picnic and read while the others continue to ride.

• Her beverages are international experiments. She tends to receive a lot of new/unknown vintages from potential business partners and gifts from existing partners, so she doesn’t need to do much curating of her own.

• Emmeline has avoided politics as much as possible because of her father's history with it. It is conceivable that given his history, either Em or her (NPC) brother Edmund would be approached to fill a seat in the House of Lords or a secretary position, but they would not seek them out.

Timeline (short)

DM me if an extended timeline would help

Family (partial)

Father: My Father William Petty-Fitzmaurice was the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne. Born 2 May 1737 in Dublin, Ireland, he died of unknown causes 7 May 1805 in Bath. He was the 2nd Earl of Shelburne 1761-1784, having inherited the title from his father, and he advanced to the House of Lords upon his father’s death in 1761. He was a British Whig statesman and he became the first Home Secretary in 1782, then Prime Minister in 1782–83.

Mother: My mother Sophia Carteret was the daughter of John Carteret, the 2nd Earl Granville, and his second wife Sophia Fermor, the daughter of Thomas Fermor, 1st Earl of Pomfret. It was through my mother’s family that we obtained the Lansdowne estates. She was born in 1758 and died of pneumonia in her sleep on 5 January 1801 in Bath.

Brother: Edmund (NPC) Edmund is 27 years old and as a child he was known to be playful, mischievous (but never with ill intent), clever and kind. He joined the British Royal Navy out of a sense of duty and honor after completing his degree. He was honourably discharged with an injury (TBD) at Trafalgar. He now runs the Bowood estate day-to-day and has been known to be quietly seeing a special young lady.

Cousins (PC)

@Maj Gerard St. George: Irish cousin (my father’s sister’s boy), I visited while touring Ireland previously, recently came to stay with me in London, guest of honor at my drawing room party in January.

@Earl Nicholas Howard: Cousin (My mother’s sister’s boy), playfully contentious relationship. A lot of eye-rolling and apologizing on his behalf.

Cousins (NPC): TBD

Established Ties

(If we set something up and you’re not listed or info is missing, please know I just got overwhelmed on the other threads and it’s absolutely nothing personal. Please please add to or correct me in the comments or by DM! Also, I have a lot of loose acquaintances but am open to deepening/strengthening a few relationships. Lemme know!)

@Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him): Knew Edmund & James in the Navy.

@Lord Ambrose Etienne Galois (Ezekiel): I frequent La Couronne for my party clothes. Possible investor.

@Amelia Rutherford: Close friend group w/ James Richmond; traveled to Ireland together; support textile business (as patron at least if not investing)

@Lady Charlotte Grant: Her mother made me the most amazing shawl with my signature peacocks depicted! I don’t know her well but want to rectify that.

@Viscountess Charlotte Hughes: Met for the first time at my party!

@Thea FitzHugh (Dani): Overlap at Cambridge (confirmation pending)

@Mr. Edmund Ayles (Jesse): A pleasant fellow I’ve known about 8 years through my friendship with James. I go out of my way to be kind to him and I encourage him to read more.

@Eleanor Savery (Hilary): Met before through James, though a while ago. Became reacquainted at my party.

@Duchess Eudora St. Clair : Childhood friend (James' mother, their mother and my mother were friends). She made me an incredible necklace from stones of the color of the garden they used to play in when they were children!

@(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood: I’m an avid supporter of her theatre, securing a box seat where I will host small theatre-outings during the Season especially. Getting to know her on a friend-basis, as well.

@Duke James Richmond (Greg): Probably my dearest friend in the world. I was engaged to his older brother and shared precious memories of cooking and baking with his sister Anne. Our mother’s were very good friends.

@Lady Jessamine St. Clair (Meredith): Childhood friend (James' mother, their mother and my mother were friends)

@Sophrona Ramsbury: Friend. Collaborating to invest in her spice trade company. Previous pen pals regarding my travels.

@Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth): We’ve run in the same circles and share a love for the art and science of baking. Possible that we exchange recipes?

@Tara M. Clapper (Lady Catherine Stuart) Was semi-secretly dating Edmund shortly before he left to fight in the Navy. He returned changed and broke up with her. As a result she and Emmeline grew closer and Emmeline is quite protective of her.

Bath-Adjacent Neighbors

Ambrose Etienne Galois, Amelia Rutherford, Abigail Pembroke, Charlotte Hughes, Edmund Ayles, Eleanor Savery, Eudora St. Clair, James Hughes MP, James Richmond, Jessamine St. Clair, Marion Pembroke Nicholas Howard, Primrose Hazelton, Sophrona Ramsbury, Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry

Attendees at London Party

Abraham Griffen, Ambrose Etienne Galois, Bartholomew the Monkey, Charlotte Grant, Charlotte Hughes, Edmund Ayles, Eleanor Savery, Eloise Snowden, Eudora St. Clair, Flora Owen, Gerard St. George, Hazel Ottillie Wynnewood, James Hughes, James Richmond, Morven Blackwood, Nicholas Howard, Octavia Thistledown (Tavvi), Theodosia Graves, Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry

Wanted Connections:

Going into game

• Neighbors in Bath - If you live nearby and aren’t listed above, please alert me.

• British Royal Navy - specifically 1803-1805, served with Edmund & Nigel

• Friends from Cambridge - I attended January 13, 1802-December 1805 and returned and finished January 13-December 16, 1807.

• Childhood friends - particularly but not exclusively kids of high ranking politicians up to 1783 when my dad retired

• Cousins, Aunts, Uncles - I’m of English and Irish descent

• Successful trade folx/business owners - I may have invested!

Once in-game

• Investment Opportunities - She's extremely selective but audacious.

• Potential romantic interests

• Anyone passionate about discussing politics, culture, & society news

• Pitch me!