Henry Layton

Henry Layton

Portrayed by (Matthew MacFadyen)
Full Name	Henry John Layton
Title	Earl Parry, Baron Loseley
Associated Noble House(s)	Earldom Parry, Barony of Loseley, Marquessate of Crantock
Date of Birth	20th June, 1783
Father	Henry Layton (deceased)
Father's Rank	Earl
Mother	Louisa Layton
Mother's Rank	Dowager Countess
Town Residence	Layton House, 116 Park Street
Income	£18,000 p.a.
School	King's College School then Winchester
University	Cambridge (King's College)
Year Attained Title	1805

Henry Layton is the 2nd Earl Parry and the nth Baron of Loseley. He is twenty-seven years old and divides his time between Loseley Park and London. Henry is outwardly frivolous and doesn't care about what people say about him or indeed what he says about them. He is also an intelligent man who would never actively hurt anyone who did not deserve it. He is an excellent singer.

Henry is a former character played by Rose and currently an NPC.

Family

Henry Layton, Earl Parry (deceased) - father
Louisa, Dowager Countess Parry - mother
Catherine, Lady Kirkfries - sister
Lady Phoebe Layton/Sister Maria Agnes - sister

Archibald Treville-Layton, Marquess of Crantock - second cousin twice removed

Jane, Duchess of Welby (deceased) - cousin
Lady Madalene Rossington - first cousin once removed

Sophia, Duchess of Leighton (deceased) - paternal aunt
Nicholas, Duke of Leighton - cousin
Lord William Gosling - cousin

Constance Blackwood - maternal aunt
Richard Blackwood - cousin

Background

Early Years: 1783-1801

As the only son of an Earl who also had a Marquessdom to look forward to from a reclusive and childless great-uncle, Henry had a pampered childhood at Loseley Park in Berkshire. He grew up in a warm but rather odd family who delighted in thinking outside the box. His father encouraged him to be bright and interested in the world, and his mother was a forthright and strong female role model.

Having enjoyed singing from a very young age, he was packed off to King’s College Cambridge at the age of eight as a chorister, to irritate senior members of the clergy instead of his sisters. From King’s, he proceeded to Winchester where he was also a chorister until his voice broke. Being by then fed up with sacred music, he continued to develop his voice in a secular context later on at school and again at King’s, where he read philosophy.

Cambridge: 1801-1804

Henry read moral philosophy at King's College, Cambridge. He was a good student and actually interested in his subject but, like many men in his situation, concealed his work under a frivolous demeanor. He sang in the world famous choir which took up a large amount of his time and spent the rest of it in idleness, and sport (developing a talent for rowing). He graduated with Honours.

London Years

The death of his father in 1805 necessitated a change of lifestyle at least briefly. As the new Lord Parry, he had responsibilities for his mother, unmarried youngest sister and two country estates. Fortunately the Dowager was perfectly capable of running Loseley Park, from which Henry had no desire to force her to leave, and after necessary business was concluded Henry created a bachelor lifestyle for himself in London, spending the months out of season at friends' houses in the country, with his sister Lady Kirkfries in Scotland and, after Lady Phoebe's conversion, visiting her in Bavaria. He spends at least a couple of weeks every summer at Crantock Abbey in Cornwall, visiting his cousin Archibald Treville-Layton, whose heir he is.

In London, Henry enjoys the social scene. He has many friends, including Lord Emerson and Miss Prichard, Lord Louth and Lady Viola Fitzgerald. He has cultivated the persona of an outspoken eccentric for his own amusement and in order to deal with lovesick young women who are attracted to his good looks, title and large fortune. He enjoys all cultural activities - musical events (which he likes to turn into recital opportunities for himself), theatre, and even politics, now that he has a seat in the Upper House. His social consequence and overall charm means that he gets away with a lot more than other men.

When it comes to women, Henry has only had one long term mistress, the courtesan Cynthia St. James whom he saw (and was seen with) regularly between 1805 and 1809. Since then he has not formed any relationship. He has never actively looked for a wife but he has no objection to marriage if he felt there was a woman he should like to marry.

Current Season

So far the 1810 season has not appeared very different to any previous ones. Additional amusement has come from Charity Pritchard being out in society and the return of Lady Viola, but other than that, Henry continues to live his life much as he has done for the past few years.

He has recently been rather thrown by a perceived attachment between two of his oldest friends, Lord Emerson and Lady Viola Fitzgerald. For some reason, Henry finds the idea of a marriage between them (however far off in the future it may be) a threat to his bachelor lifestyle.

Another threat comes from the arrival in Town of his sister, Lady Kirkfries, from Scotland. She has been taking over his social schedule and introducing him to eligible women such as Sybilla Grenfell and even Helena Wriothesley. Thanks to his close friendship with Charity Pritchard, Henry has also found himself involved in sorting out Elise Hampton's love life, leading him to confront his cousin, the Duke of Leighton.

Henry's friendly relationship with Charity has become increasingly strained over the course of the season, climaxing in a scene between them at Emma Vickery's ball where she as good as admits she is romantically interested in him and he accidentally suggests she's behaving like a prostitute. Following some soul searching, Henry decides that he intends to marry her but must first win her back. This does not go well at the Fitzgerald Ball but Henry is uncowed, particularly after Lady Viola tells him how miserable Charity is and how she believes she loves him. Still, he has no idea how to go about it.

Henry's butler is named Forman.

Relationships

Friends

Lord Emerson: One of Henry's best friends. Many evenings have been spent with this gentleman happily avoiding debutantes.

Lord Louth: A friend Henry made in parliament. Henry respects him for his political acumen but sometimes takes his teasing a little far.

Georgiana, Lady Louth: Henry really admired Miss Templeton in 1810 and might have considered courting her had not Lord Louth got there sooner. Nowadays he flirts with her shamelessly.

Lady Viola Fitzgerald: Sharing a similar sense of humour and a desire not to be courted, they became good friends and remain so. Had Henry been looking for a wife when she first debuted, he might have been tempted to ask her and might well have been accepted. She's now firmly in the "friend zone".

Lilias, The Duchess of Brixton: Henry used to be good friends with the Duchess before the scandal with Lady Newburry. Henry said a few unwise things and they haven't been too close since. An olive branch was extended however with an invitation to the Brixton House Party.

Lady Gwendolyn Moncrieff: Henry's estate lies close to Lady Richford's and he has met Lady Gwendolyn there on several occasions. Despite the difference in temperament, Henry admires her quite a lot.

Robert Vickery: A friend from school and university

Emma Vickery: Robert's sister and an attractive young lady

Aaron Abdullah: Henry got on with him well when fencing

Albert Mayoh: A casual acquaintance, but Henry enjoys his company

Romantic interest

Cynthia St. James: Mistress, 1805-1809. Parted with no hard feelings.

Helena Wriothesley: She wishes.

Charity Pritchard: Henry's closest female friend and someone he's known since she was much younger. Henry spoils her rotten but is also one of the few people to whom she listens. He has subsequently decided he wants to marry her.

Enemies

Lord William Gosling: Henry does not care for this man, finding him overly reckless and hasty

The Duke of Leighton: Henry has clashed with him over his supposed treatment of Elise Hampton

Croquembouche: Ridiculous name for a dog.

Thread Tracking

Sunday 14th April

• Easter Sunday[1]: At church
• After the Service[2]: With Viola, Julia, William Gosling, Evander

The Emerson Ball

• A Night to Remember[3]: Arrival at the ball
• Her Sequined Gown[4]: First dance with Charity
• Prodigal Host[5]: With Blake after the third dance
• Fifth Dance[6]: With Gwen
• Today was a Fairytale[7]: With Charity, Juliet, Damien

Tuesday 16th April

• Musicale Reaction Thread[8]: Henry reacts to others' performances
• Musicale Performance Thread[9]: Henry sings at Viola's musicale

Friday 19th April (Brixton)

• Trump Cards and Carriage Bumps[10]: Henry arrives at Brixton with the Pritchards and meets the Fitzgeralds
• Kith, Kin & Kit[11]: Henry introduces Viola to her cousin Christopher Carlisle
• The Sound of Music[12]: Henry, Blake, Viola, and Charity do music in the evening
• Pieta![13]: With Charity and Olivia after the music

Saturday 20th April (Brixton)

• Experiences of (un)consciousness[14]: Henry finds Gwen in the library
• The revellers are entering...[15]: Henry arrives at the masquerade
• Misery Likes Company[16]: Henry interrupts Blake and Viola's tete-a-tete at the Masquerade

Monday 22cd April

• A Call and a Complaint[17]: Henry calls on Georgiana

Tuesday 23rd April

• When I take you out tonight with me[18]: Henry tales Charity driving

Saturday 27th April

• Embrasse-moi, je suis délicieuse![19]: With Helena at the Pendleston Masque

Monday 29th April

• Advance and Counter-Parry[20]: Fencing with Harun and Giuseppe

Tuesday 30th April

• Until the Fat Lady Sings[21]: With Victor and Eleanor Kincaide at the opera

Wednesday 1st May

• Wear No Disguise For Me[22]: With Dosie and Gwen at Vauxhall

Saturday 4th May

• La Belle Ecossaise[23]: Catherine arrives

Sunday 5th May

• Hills of the North in a Southern Church[24]: With Catherine and Georgiana after the service

Henry's Party

• Punch for Miss Pritchard[25]: With Charity
• ...du besoin d'avoir une femme dans ma confiance[26]: Henry introduces Charity to Cat
• If there was a prize for rotten judgement[27]: He and Charity join Blake and Viola

Monday 6th May

• Riding in Rotten Row[28]: With Catherine, Robert and Emma Vickery in Hyde Park

Tuesday 7th May

• I dearly love to laugh[29]: With Cat and Dosie in the milliner's
• From One Brother to Another[30]: Calls on Robbie Fitzgerald with Cat

Wednesday 8th May

• Layton v Pritchard, First Dance[31]: With Charity at Almack's
• Look around, we are all friends here[32]: A brief meeting with Lord Emerson and Lady Viola

Thursday 9th May

• The birdcatcher, the cat and the canary[33]: Helena calls on Henry and Catherine
• East West Fusion Ball[34]: Aaron Abdullah comes to dinner with him and Cat

Friday 10th May

• Single Men in Possession of Large Fortunes[35]: Henry crashes Nick and Victor in the club

Sunday 12th May

• Song of Songs[36]: Interrupting a tender moment between Emerson and Viola
• The Breakfast Club[37]: Henry and Cat have breakfast at Emerson House
• A Lady's Imagination is Very Rapid[38]: Catherine takes Henry to task over Charity

Monday 13th May

• Once Upon in Fair London Town[39]: Henry and Cat arrive at Emma Vickery's ball
• Well met by moonlight, proud Titania[40]: Henry dances the first set with Emma
• Dear heart, are those tears?[41]: An illuminating encounter with Charity

Wednesday 15th May

• For Miss Pritchard[42]: Flowers and a note for Charity
• Just an ordinary man[43]: With Clarence in their club

Thursday 16th May

• They have their exits and their entrances[44]: Arrival at the ball
• I would rather hear my dog bark at a crow[45]: First dance with Charity
• Bear with me, please[46]: Second dance with Camille
• An ursine endeavour[47]: Fifth dance with Emma Vickery
• It's such happiness when good people get together[48]: Viola confronts him during the eighth dance
• Give 'em hell[49]: With Lucy Ramsey after supper

Friday 17th May

• How early is too early for a drink?[50]: With Victor in White's
• Roll Call of the Damn'd[51]: Arrivals thread for his and Cat's party
• Well, I don't know why I came here tonight[52]: With Nick, Charity and Cat during cards
• you know people's behaviour away from belgravia would make you aghast[53]: Party is crashed by #ladsnight. Henry leaves with them

Sunday 19th May

• Whispering, morning keep the streets empty for me[54]: Meeting Blanche and Frank after church