Rosalind Fairmont

Rosalind Pritchard nee Fairmont

Portrayed by Gemma Arterton
Full Name	Rosalind Aisling Fairmont
Associated Noble House(s)	Marquessate of Foxford, Earldom of Hopetoun
Date of Birth	December 19, 1790
Father	Fergal Fairmont
Father's Rank	Marquess of Foxford
Mother	Camilla Fairmont nee Astor
Mother's Rank	Marchioness of Foxford
Town Residence	Fairmont House, 20 Grosvenor Square
Year of Debut	1809
Dowry	£35,000

Rosalind Pritchard (nee Fairmont), is the eldest daughter of the late Marquess of Foxford and sister of the current marquess, Marcus Fairmont. In mid 1811, Rosalind wed her childhood friend, Lord Gabriel -- a love match. They couple reside at Cameron Close, Lancashire. She is played by Alex.

Background

Family

Rosalind's father was the 6th Marquess of Foxford, a well established Irish marquessate. Her mother hails from the very respectable English family, the Astors of Hopetoun. The couple were introduced in London during the lady's first Season and enjoyed a rather Fairy-tale-eque before marrying mid-season.

Rosalind is one of three children; Marcus, Rosalind and Jemima.

Rosalind has one aunt on her mother's side, Lady Anthea, wife of Mr. John Winter. She has four cousins from this union, Jack, Andrew, Augusta and Katie.

Childhood

Rosalind's childhood was a sunny one (metaphorically only, given how much of it was spent in rainy Ireland), marred only by minor upsets such as her brother’s leaving for school, the occasional horse riding mishap and a somewhat competitive relationship with her young sister that manifested in the odd sisterly spat.

She was constantly under the watchful eye(s) of her mother and a string of governesses, and became proficient in drawing, singing, dancing and playing the piano whilst cheerfully taking no interest whatsoever in reading.

Despite being closer in age to her sister, Jemima, Rosalind has always been far closer to her elder brother, Marcus.

As a young girl, Rosalind spent a significant amount of time in England, both in London and at the country seats of her parents' friends, including Jubilee Court with the Pritchard family (where she befriended Misses Elise Hampton and Charity Pritchard.) Through this travel, her Irish accent has been quite tamed.

Debut and onwards

Rosalind's London debut was a much anticipated event in the Fairmont household, not least by Marcus who was keen to share his friends and Town experiences with his wide-eyed sister. However, in the summer of 1808, the Marquess was taken by a violent illness. His death was swift and unexpected and the Fairmont family was left reeling and without its head and its heart.

Ten months later when Rosalind was set to make her debut, the journey to London was somewhat subdued and, with the Marchioness quite unable to mix with the society yet, introducing Rosalind to London and vice-versa fell to Marcus.

1809

The opening weeks of the 1809 season were a whirl of colorful parties and balls and Rosalind was absolutely in her element. With the number of available and attentive gentlemen she was constantly surrounded by, it was inconceivable that she should leave London unwed. However, as time passed, she found her interest in "hunting" a husband waning. She could return home, spend another winter with her family, mourn her father properly and return to play another colorful Season. Autumn fell upon London with Rosalind still single and eager to return home to Foxford.

1810

The 1810 season passed in a similar whirl and Rosalind finds herself in London yet again for the 1811 season, still unwed and only a little fussed by the fact. The young lady feels quite at home in London these days and counts members of its prominent families among her friends. Her closest confidantes include Georgiana Haworth (now Lady Louth) and fellow Irishwomen, Miss Felicity Staunton.

1811

The 1811 season marked the return of Rosie's childhood friend (and crush) Gabriel Pritchard. The couple courted and were wed by season's end, malinger everyone -- not least the couple themselves -- very happy indeed.

1812

Rosie returns to London a married woman and ready to play hostess. The couple are completing renovations to their new London home. She is chaperoning her sister, Jemima, as she makes her debut.

Threads

Week of 8 April

Notable new acquaintances this season include the foreigner, Charlotte Tolson and her reserved brother Edward Tolson, the rakish Captain Thomas Sterne and the very charming Daniel Rossington . At the first public ball of the season, Rosalind is unexpectedly reunited with family friend, the Marquess of Emerson, and has since renewed her acquaintance with the marquess's dashing younger brother, Gabriel Pritchard. Keen to scope the season's social situation, Rosalind hosts a city picnic in Kensington Gardens early in the season . Invitees include Viola Fitzgerald (a past admiree of her brother's!), Amelia Leveson, Charlotte Tolson, Juliet Landon and Felicity Staunton. Notable gatecrashers includ her brother, Amelia's brother Sylvester Leveson, Geoffrey Stapleton and Dougal, her brother's spaniel.

Week of 15 April

Her first trip to Vauxhall for the season is with the Stauntons and, thanks to Hammond Poore and [Algenon Culpepper]], it does not go particularly well. . Still, she does enjoy a moonlight walk with Edward Tolson. In return, she is invited by the Tolsons and Landons to dinner and dines with George Hackett . They have no chemistry whatsoever. Not long after, she and her brother take a trip to Gunter's and encounter Elizabeth Dunford and her brother Anthony Dunford. . Both sets of siblings are charmed by one another. At church the following Sunday she runs into Sophia Lazenby and meets her brother, introducing Cousin Katie. .

Week of 22 April

Old friend Gabriel Pritchard calls and invites Rosie out for a ride. Turns out, adult Rosie & Gabriel have a very different sort of relationship to their childhood counterparts. Rosie attends Lady Louth's literary salon and thoroughly enjoys the lively discussion . That week's Almacks brings few surprises, save an introduction the the handsome Morrocan Ambassador . Later in the week, she and her brother visit the Opera with the Stauntons . At the end of the the week she attends the Pendleston Ball but, disappointing, flirts with practically nobody. and . However, she does firm up her friendship with the impressive Viola Fitzgerald so the evening is not a totally waste.

Week of 30 April

Rosie's week begins with a soiree at Raulings House to celebrate Cousin Julianne's debut. . This is, of course, followed be a debrief at Fairmont House during which Lady Foxford presses her her son about his intentions to bed and her daughter about the Prictchard brothers, both elder and younger. . May blossoms in London and Rosie and her brother take a ride and encounter the Lazenby siblings . That night brother and sister venture out to Vauxhall where they run into Nathaniel Scarborough and his friend Charles Banbury -- and Rosalind flirts just a little with the former . That week the Longstaffe sisters call at Fairmont House, evidently hoping to see the lord of the house (and failing) . During the rest of the week, Rosie attends an art exhibition and Miss Vickery irritates her , she takes the time to call on Viola Fitzgerald (and also her best friend Felicity Staunton ). The week closes with church as always and Rosalind steers her brother way from the Misses Longstaffe and is a touch confused by her feelings upon seeing Lord Gabriel

Week of 6 May

At the start of the week Roslaind convenes a gathering at Gunters with her new coterie of female friends: Felicity Staunton, Georgiana Haworth, and Viola Fitzgerald .

On Friday, Rosalind learns that Marcus has managed to secure the first dance of the coming debutante ball with the debutante herself -- none other than Lady Olivia Fitzgerald Later that day she visits the British Museum with her cousin Katie and the Pritchards where she and Lord Gabriel have an awkward conversation during which Rosalind is forced to consider what she, a grown woman, makes of this man with whom she was childhood friends. That night she and her brother attend dinner hosted by Dorothea Darling in Cavendish Square and chatters to Felicity Staunton, meets Stephen Brydges and begins to develop a tiny rush on Nathaniel Scarborough .

Saturday is spent at a birthday picnic for new friend Charlotte Tolson where Rosie speaks mostly to Lady Lizzie Dunford.

Week of 13 May

The begins with Miss Vickery's ball. She has a mediocre time.

On Wednesday, out the window of Fairmont House, Rosie spies a new face, Lunete d'Aubin. . Saturday is the Fitzgerald Ball and, before she begins her preparations, Rosie calls on Miss Carey . Then it's time for the ball! Unfortunately, Rosalind is in a mood . She dances the first with the dashing Lord Frank and, for the second, the Fairmon siblings stand up with the Dunford siblings . After the second she pauses for breath (and to make jokes at her brother's expense) -- and is approached by Lord Gabriel . Whom she had been avoiding. Rosalind dances the third with Lord Alderhan and the fourth with Mister Scarborough. Between the fourth and the fifth she says hello to the injured Colonel Fitzgerald and they have a refreshingly relaxed conversation . She stands up with yet another second son, Lord Edmund, for the fifth.

Tidbits

• Her most prized possession remains the handsome bay mare given to her on the occasion of her sixteenth birthday by her father and whom she named Lux.

• Her biggest vice stems from her desire to know things. She listens to (and quite enjoys!) what her brother would deride as gossip, loves to know who has been to which event (and what they were wearing...) and is an avid reader of the notices in the Tatler.

• She takes her tea with a little sugar, no milk.

• Her ladies' maid is Ida Long.