Edward Tolson

Edward Tolson

Portrayed by James Marsden
Full Name	Edward Matthew Tolson
Title	Mr. Edward Tolson
Associated Noble House(s)	Baronry of Middleton
Date of Birth	April 4, 1784
Father	Thomas Tolson
Father's Rank	28th Baron Middleton
Mother	Katherine Tolson
Mother's Rank	Baroness Middleton
Town Residence	17 Curzon Street
Income	Unknown
School	Tutored
University	None
Year Attained Title	N/A

Facepalming at his sister's antics since 1789.

Edward Matthew Tolson, born Mr. Edward Tolson, is the only son of Thomas Tolson and Katherine Tolson, Baron and Baroness of Middleton. He is the elder brother of Charlotte Tolson, and will be the 28th Baron upon his father's death.

He is played by Izzie.

Family

Edward is the eldest child of Thomas Tolson and Katherine Tolson, Baron and Baroness Middleton. He is the older brother of Charlotte Tolson.

His extended family includes:

The Landons

• Edmond Landon, Marquess of Beningborough - Uncle
• Marion Landon, Marchioness of Beningborough - Maternal Aunt
• Richard Landon, Earl of Seyton - Cousin
• Elizabeth "Ella" Landon, Countess of Seyton - Cousin-in-law
• Elizabeth Landon - Cousin
• Juliet Landon - Cousin
• Frederick Landon - Cousin
• Amelia "Amy" Landon - Cousin

The Burstows

• Samuel Burstow, Baron of Roth - Maternal Uncle
• Angela Burstow (nee Waldegrave), Baroness of Roth - Maternal Aunt (1776 -1791)
• Gerard Burstow - Cousin
• Lucy Burstow - Cousin

Childhood & Schooling (1784-1804)

As the first child of the unhappily married Thomas and Katherine Tolson, Edward grew up in an uneasy household. While his English parents struggled to adjust to India and their married life together, Edward spent all of his time playing alone, as there were few other children in the little English part of Bengal. He was well aware of the tension in the Tolson home, and knew a little of the violence that was occurring outside the walls of the town. Another child joined the Tolson family in 1789, Charlotte Tolson. Even from a young age, Edward felt protective of his younger sister, and took it upon himself to care for her. The two became very close, and while Edward always enjoyed teasing Charlotte, the two often embarked on adventures that Edward schemed up (i.e. the elephant excursion). By the time Edward reached the age of 10, it was time for him and the other boys in the town to attend lessons with a tutor. It was here that Edward met James Hawley and Henry (Harry) MacAllistar, two recent arrivals from England who would quickly become Edward's best friends.

While James and Harry were less inclined to their studies, Edward was engrossed by them, and proved to be a quick learner. The trio of Edward, James and Harry often spent their spare time causing trouble around the town, much to his father's displeasure and Charlotte's amusement. At the age of 19, he reached the end of his schooling with his tutor, and found himself at a loss of what to do with his life. He spent six months spending time with Charlotte, and attending various social events. By 1804, his father had decided that it was time for Edward to begin working, and took his son on as his assistant at the Company.

The East India Company (1804-1810)

Edward spent six years working at the Company as his father's assistant, a job which Edward found exceedingly dull. A year into his job, Edward began contemplating how to get out of the job. By 1806, he began to contemplate leaving the Company and traveling around the continent. He was convinced out of this route by his mother, who insisted that he stay, at least for Charlotte's sake, as she was due to make her debut in 1807. When Charlotte's debut came, Edward spent all of his spare time escorting her to society events, and spending time with James and Harry. He longed to leave the Company, but knew that there was no other place in Bengal that would offer him the same kind of experience that the Company did.

The Thomas Leith Scandal (1809)

However much Edward loved his sister, Charlotte would prove to enter a rebellious phase of her life when she became entangled with Lieutenant Thomas Leith, a well known rake throughout the Company. Edward had an extreme disliking of the man, and was even more upset when he discovered that Leith had taken a liking to Charlotte, and that she returned his attentions. Edward found the couple secluded in the Tolson library one evening, and ensured that Charlotte and Leith ceased their relationship. Two days later, however, Charlotte left to elope with Leith, only to leave him at the altar, much to Edward's relief.

Summons to London (1810-1811)

January 1810 brought the Tolson family a summons from London, recalling them to England after nearly three decades abroad. Edward saw this as his opportunity to separate from his family, to see more of the world, but was once again convinced to stay for the sake of his sister. While Charlotte originally seemed happy to travel to England, she quickly entered into a strong bout of depression, and Edward decided to stay with her. He had no objection to traveling to England; it still counted as abroad, as far as Edward was concerned.

Residences

The Tolson family have two primary residences in England:

• Middleton Hall (connected to the Baronry of Middleton)
• 17 Curzon Street (their London residence)

Acquaintances

• Rosalind Fairmont - Met through his sister, Rosalind Fairmont seems like every other society girl Edward has ever met - but that is not to say that he does not enjoy her company. He finds her to be very bright and vivacious, and enjoys flirting with her time to time.
• Marcus Fairmont - Brother of Rosalind, Edward is keen to get along with the gentleman, especially as Charlotte seems to have set her eye to him.
• Mireille Trevethyn - Edward's first dance partner in London, he finds Mireille to be sweet, and enjoys her presence greatly. He finds that he has a bit of a connection with her, as she is also from the colonies, and likes to hear about her tales of the West Indies.
• Kitty Clement - Another dance partner, Edward is intrigued by the young lady, and hopes to discover more about her.
• Captain Isaac Reeves - A chance meeting in Hyde Park brought the Captain into Edward's social circuit. He thinks that he and the Captain would get along quite well, given time, though he may not appreciate the Captain's view regarding books...
• Christopher Carlisle - a chance meeting in Hyde Park, the gentlemen share a dislike of society news.
• Daphne Werlington - Seated together at the Tolson Dinner Party, Edward quite likes the Duchess.
• Sophia Lazenby - met while in church, Charlotte encourages her brother to flirt with her.
• Matilda Grenfell - a recent American arrival to London, they meet at the theatre, where Edward questions her about American life and flirts with her.

Love Interests

Laura Somerville - One of his sister's best friends in Bengal, Edward and Laura formed a romantic attachment in early July 1809. The two worried of how Charlotte would react should Edward openly court Laura, and so kept their attachment a secret. One of Edward's greatest regrets is not acting on his feelings towards her, and continually wishes that he had proposed and married Laura prior to the Tolson's move to England.

Threads History

April 10, 1811

The Tolson family arrives at their first society gathering of the Season - Almack's Assembly Rooms.

• Moving Into Society - Charlotte Tolson, Christiana Buckingham, Edward Tolson (NPC), Katherine Tolson (NPC). Almack's Assembly Rooms.
  • Written while Edward was still a NPC, he makes a brief appearance at the beginning of the thread, accompanying his sister into Almack's.

April 11, 1811

• Morning Calls - Charlotte Tolson, Marcus Fairmont, Rosalind Fairmont, Edward Tolson (NPC). 17 Curzon Street, 11 am.
  • Written while Edward was NPC, he makes a very brief appearance so that he may be introduced to Lady Rosalind and Lord Foxford, before wandering off in search of food.

April 14, 1811

Edward's first day as a played character, he attends Easter Sunday services with his family, and the Emerson Ball in the evening.

• Easter Sunday - Board wide arrival thread. St. George's Hanover Square, morning.
  • After sitting through the seemingly long winded church service, the Tolson's try to exit the church quickly, only to be stuck in the crush towards the door. By sheer accident, Edward and Charlotte meet with Miss Vaughan, and Edward and Edith have a somewhat blasphemous conversation regarding religion while still in the church.
• Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Mothers - Charlotte Tolson, Edward Tolson, Rosalind Fairmont, Marcus Fairmont, Camilla Fairmont (NPC), Thomas Tolson (NPC), Katherine Tolson (NPC), Georgiana Haworth, Felicity Staunton. Hyde Park, afternoon.
  • The Tolson family meets with the Fairmont family for the first time, and discuss many things, while Edward also makes amends with Lady Rosalind for his behaviour earlier on that week.
• A Night to Remember - Board wide arrival thread. Emerson House, evening.
  • The Tolson's arrive at the Emerson Ball, with Edward and Charlotte snipping at each other. Charlotte is in a foul mood, and Edward does not want to deal with it. They find a quiet corner to stand in before sighting someone to speak with.
• Standing and Chatting - Valeri Christiakov, Charlotte Tolson, Edward Tolson, Marcus Fairmont. Emerson House, evening.
  • After being dragged over to a Russian to speak with him about his coat, Edward and Charlotte are joined by Marcus Fairmont, who is rather confused by Charlotte's behaviour towards him. Sensing danger, Edward extracts his sister before anything can go awry.
• Caledonian Laddie - Edward Tolson and Mireille Trevethyn. Emerson House, evening.
  • Depositing his sister with her first dance partner, Edward turns to finding Mireille so that they might enjoy their first dance together.
• 5th Dance - Edward Tolson, Kitty Clement. Emerson House, evening.
  • After concluding his other dances, Edward seeks out the hand of Miss Clement to join him in the 5th dance of the evening.
• Making Amends - Edward Tolson, Charlotte Tolson, Marcus Fairmont. Emerson House, evening.
  • Edward assists with ensuring his sister and Marcus Fairmont share a dance at the Emerson Ball.

April 16, 1811

Edward makes some new acquaintances, and attends Lady Viola's musicale.

• Boots & Boys - Charlotte Tolson, Edward Tolson, Isaac Reeves, Louisa Reeves (NPC) and Gareth Reeves (NPC). Hyde Park, morning.
  • Dragging her brother out of the house for a morning walk, the Tolson siblings encounter a Captain Reeves, his son and his sister in the park after the boy collides with Charlotte. The two strike up a conversation, and find they have much in common, and schedule to attend a play together.
• Browsing the Bookshelves - Edward Tolson, Kitty Clement. Decker's Bookshop for Ladies, Bond Street, afternoon.
  • Enjoying his free afternoon, Edward accidentally ducks into Decker's - all is righted, however, when he comes across Miss Kitty Clement, and a copy of Mallory's Morte D'Arthur.
• May I Introduce You? - Charlotte Tolson, Edward Tolson, Thomas Sterne, Marcus Fairmont. Cavisham House, evening.
  • Edward appears at the end of this thread, escorting Charlotte into Lady Viola's musicale following her run in with Thomas Sterne and Marcus.

April 19, 1811

• The Morning Papers - Edward Tolson, Christopher Carlisle. Hyde Park, morning.
  • A chance encounter in Hyde Park leads to an awkward introduction to a new acquaintance.
• Dinner Party: An Indian Flashback - Edward Tolson, Daphne Werlington. Beningborough House, evening.
  • Edward converses with his dinner partner during the Tolson Dinner Party.

April 20, 1811

• Voulez-vous venir à Vauxhall? - Edward Tolson, Charlotte Tolson, Marcus Fairmont, Rosalind Fairmont. Vauxhall Gardens, afternoon/evening.
  • Edward and Charlotte are accompanied on their first trip to Vauxhall Gardens by Marcus.

April 28, 1811

• Degree of Reluctance - Edward Tolson, Sophia Lazenby. St. George's Hanover Square, morning.
  • Edward awkwardly encounters Miss Sophia Lazenby while at church.

May 1, 1811

• A moment of virtue in a time of vice - Edward Tolson, Charlotte Tolson, Marcus Fairmont. Vauxhall Gardens, evening.
  • The Tolson siblings attend Lord Wyck's rout, and encounter Lord Foxford. Edward decides to suss out Foxford's feelings towards his sister.

May 3, 1811

• A night at the theatre - Edward Tolson, Charlotte Tolson, Matilda Grenfell. Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, evening.
  • Accompanying their mother as guests to the theatre with Lord and Lady Stalwood, the Tolson siblings are introduced to a recent American arrival to London, the Baroness de Grave.

Fanfiction

• The Secret Anniversary of the Heart - A slightly AU fiction of Charlotte's 22nd birthday in London.
• Some Enchanted Evening - Challenge issued by Alex. A flashback scene to July 1809 in Bengal, India, where Charlotte begins to notice a budding romance between her brother and best friend Laura Somerville. She also meets Thomas Leith for the first time.
• My Lady Greensleeves - Christmas writing challenge 2009. The Tolson siblings celebrate Christmas 1811 in Kent.
• He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not - Flashback scene starting April 14, 1811 to August 1809 in Bengal, India. Charlotte and Leith meet in secret, and Edward intervenes.
• An (Indian) Christmas Story - Christmas writing challenge 2010. A take on "A Christmas Story" from Edward's point of view. Takes place December 1793, in Bengal, India.

Vignettes

• Monsoons and Moonlight - Prompt given by Alex. Features Edward and Miss Somerville on a darkened balcony in India, July 14, 1809.