Nathaniel Scarborough
Nathaniel Scarborough is the only son of Zachariah Scarborough (younger brother of Baron Bathurst), and his wife Josephine. He is played by Tess. Following the death of his cousin Edward in August of 1810, Nathaniel has become heir to the Barony of Bathurst.
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| Portrayed by Dan Stevens | |
| Full Name | Nathaniel Sebastian Scarborough |
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| Associated Noble House(s) | Barony of Bathurst |
| Date of Birth | 14 November, 1777 |
| Father | Zachariah Scarborough |
| Father's Rank | The Honourable |
| Mother | Josephine Scarborough (nee Huntsman) |
| Mother's Rank | Lady |
| Town Residence | 2 Cavendish Square |
| Branch of the Military | Navy |
| Ship or Regiment | |
| Currently Enlisted? | No (retired) |
| Enlistment Date | 1795 |
| Current or Final Rank (if retired) | Commander |
| Major Engagements | Grand Port (1810) |
Family
The Scarboroughs
Zachariah Scarborough - Father, d. 1806
Josephine Scarborough (nee Huntsman) - Mother
Uriah Scarborough, Baron Bathurst - Paternal Uncle
Agnes Scarborough, Baroness Bathurst - Aunt
Edward Scarborough - Cousin, d. 1810
The Darlings
Dorothea Darling (nee Scarborough), Viscountess Flemming - Sister
Xavier Darling, Viscount Flemming - Brother-in-law
Henrietta Darling, Niece
Christopher Darling, Nephew
Diana Darling, Niece
The Greys
The Leiths
Leonora Leith (nee Scarborough) - Sister
Quentin Leith, future Viscount Banbury - Brother-in-law
Thomas Leith - Brother-in-law
Anna Leith, Niece
Baldwin Leith, Nephew
Gilbert Leith, Nephew
Percy Leith, Nephew
Esther Leith, Niece
Childhood (1777-1795)
Nate grew up in the countryside in Devon, the only son of the Baron’s younger brother. He enjoyed the benefits of his family’s wealth and power with little of the attendant responsibility, a position he considered quite an enviable one indeed. While his father’s means were certainly not inexhaustible, Nathaniel and his sisters grew up with all of the advantages that he and their uncle were able to provide. He boarded at Rugby School in Warwickshire[1] for public school, and his graduation gift from his uncle was a commission in the Navy.
The sea had always been his first and best love, and from the boy who spent as much time as he could in rowboats and skiffs grew the man who ran headlong into this much-longed-for opportunity. The naval life suited him well, despite – or perhaps because of – the war that sent him hurtling into danger on a regular basis. He had a few short flirtations and dalliances of little consequence; what woman could compete with the salt spray and the taste of the wind before a storm?
- 1795 - Nate goes to sea (midshipman)
- 1798 - Promotion to Lieutenant
- 1800 - On the Magnificat (in to London in April for a refit)
- 1805 - On the Foudroyant, at the Rochefort Blockade
- 1807 - Transferred to the Magicienne, made Commander
- 1810 - On the Magicienne under Captain Lucius Curtis. Ship lost at the battle of Grand Port.
Disaster (1810)
Two disasters came almost simultaneously after almost fifteen years at sea, shattering the life that Nate had built for himself. One was the death of his cousin Edward, the only son and heir of his uncle, the elderly Baron Bathurst. As Nathaniel’s father had himself passed away some years prior, that left Nate, the only nephew, the next in line for the Baron’s lands, title and responsibilities. The modest living that he was to receive was certainly no hardship, but it was the knowledge of what the inheritance meant – and the freedom that it removed from him – that was the important thing.
The other was the battle of Grand Port in August of 1810, a rout which left four English ships at the bottom of the ocean and fifteen hundred men prisoners of the French. Nate was serving on the HMS Magicienne under Captain Lucius Curtis, one of two ships scuttled by their own captains to avoid capture by the French. Nate was one of many who were wounded during the combat, when shrapnel kicked up by French cannon fire buried itself in his left shoulder. The three months spent in captivity saw the English prisoners of war subjected to harsh mistreatment. A chirurgeon among the prisoners managed to patch Nate back together well enough that the wound in his off-arm did not fester, but he was in a sorry state come December when General Abercrombie led a force in to retake the island and release the English captives.
Nate was released to his mother’s care upon his return, only to find that his sister Leonora and her expanding brood had already taken up residence at the family home, pending her latest confinement. Taking pity on Nate’s need for a quieter environment than a household filled with young neices and nephews could provide, Josephine wrote to her sister in law and asked if Agnes, Baroness Bathurst, would be so kind as to offer Nate a room, at least until Leonora’s baby was born and she was well enough to return home herself.
A New Beginning (1811)
A month of his aunt’s ‘tender minstrations’ turned into three, and Nate has spent his time in the country recovering both his physical and mental resources. The damage to the muscles of his shoulder was extensive and badly healed enough that he will never again be sent to sea, and the prospect of spending the rest of his life aground has sent him into periodic fits of despair.
Now that Nate is relatively hale and hearty again, Aunt Agnes has decided (in her wisdom) that what a man needs most to pull him out of the doldrums is the company of others; especially that of young women of breeding and quality. A few months in London will do him a world of good, and so Nate has been sent off with letters of introduction to find his good humour again – and perhaps, while he is there, to get some ideas in mind for her replacement as the next Baroness Bathurst.
Residences
The seat of the Barony of Bathurst is Windesmere, an estate a short distance from the city of Exeter, in Devon. The Scarborough family offshoot resides on bordering lands.
Nathaniel now owns his cousin's former townhouse in London, at 2 Cavendish Square, Marylebone.
Friendships
Charles Banbury, shipmate. The two men initially bonded over shared interests in chess and brandy, a connection which deepened as the months went on. They leaned on each other for strength and support during their long incarceration, and with Charles' arrival in London, have recently been reunited.
Thomas Leith - Brother-in-law, bad influence, wingman, partner in crime.
Aquaintances
George Hackett, Viscount Selwyn
Demelza Quartermaine, next-door neighbour and long-time friend of Baroness Bathurst.
Annabelle Beacham, daughter of Sir Rowland Beacham
Love Interests
Felicity Staunton, the girl next door.
Katharine Steele, a goddess among women. Nate became infatuated with her after seeing her at the Quartermaine garden party.
Charles Banbury ... Things that happen at sea, may not always stay at sea...
Enemies
Nature
Nathaniel’s first, best and greatest love is the sea. He dreams of it at night, and hears her siren song in the day. Despite his current circumstances, Nate still has an eye for trouble and has not entirely lost his sense of adventure. His smile comes more rarely now than it once did, though when he is in a good mood it is palpable from across a room. Not one used to suppressing emotion, he wears his heart on his sleeve – a trait which has caused him problems before and may well do so again.
His passionate nature includes a quick temper, though he is not one to hold a grudge nor stay angry for long. He makes acquaintances quickly and deep friendships rarely, though those he counts as friends he tries to keep close for life.
Nate is not much of a reader, though he has a basic grounding in the standard canon. He much prefers maths and figures, and is exceptionally fond of logic puzzles. Between his naval pension, some prize money and his father's - now his own - estates, he has a living of about 4000 a year, which will increase again once he inherits the rest. Formerly a happy daredevil, the wind always at his back, the Nate who returned from Grand Port is a changed man. He is prone to fits of melancholy, tinged no doubt with a certain amount of self-pity. He can no longer abide the taste of arrack.
Nate is something of a hedonist, and is prone to struggle between his better judgement and the lure of simple pleasures. More often than not, his judgement loses. He can be eloquent when he chooses to be, though the years at sea have somewhat stunted his social graces - most especially where the fairer sex are concerned. Women are mysterious, enchanting, fluttery creatures, perplexing from afar and intoxicating up close. He had always intended to marry, ‘someday.’ Now that he has some enforced leisure time (not to mention the ever-looming shadow of the formidable Aunt Agnes), Nate is beginning to become accustomed to the idea that ‘someday’ may be sooner rather than later.
Appearance
Nathaniel is of average height, approximately 5’6”, and life on board ship kept him trim and broadened already strong shoulders. His hair is medium brown and tends towards the disheveled, and his eyes are a clear, bright blue. He dresses simply, though not inappropriately to his new station, and takes care to ensure that his watch is polished and cravat crisp. His smile, when he shows it, is bright and warm. His injury has left him unable to lift his left arm above the height of his shoulder, and extensive use makes him sore. As a result, he tends to keep his left hand tucked in his vest pocket or behind his back, out of the way and unexerted without having to resort to the loathed sling.
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