Theodora Grafton

Theodora Grafton

Portrayed by Lindsay Duncan
Full Name	Theodora Éléonore Dillard Grafton
Associated Noble House(s)	Earldom of Breckhampton, Marquessate of Raulings
Date of Birth	July 4, 1764
Father	Henry Dillard
Father's Rank	Earl of Breckhampton
Mother	Virginie Bruguière
Mother's Rank	French gentry
Town Residence	{{{residence}}}
Year of Debut	1782
Dowry	£20,000
Year of Marriage	1782, 1785
Spouse	John Quinn (1782-1784), Thomas Grafton (1785-present)
Spouse's Rank	Duke of Wycombe, Marquess of Raulings
Issue	John (1784), Richard (1786), Henry (1786), Katharine (1789), Julianne (1792)

Theodora Éléonore Dillard Grafton, known as Lady Raulings, is a Society hostess and mother to 1811 debutante Lady Julianne Grafton, the Countess of Carrington, Lord Bridgeton, and Lords Richard and Henry Grafton. She is the wife of Lord Raulings. She is an NPC created by Liz.

Early Life

Theodora Éléonore Dillard was born the first and ultimately only child of Henry Dillard, 3rd Earl of Breckhampton, and his French wife Virginie. Lady Breckhampton was born a granddaughter of the Comte du Saint-Marcel, a minor French noble family. Thedora was seven-month baby whose impending arrival served as the impetus for her parents marriage. Though not in love with one another, the earl and countess grew to respect and admire one another, and both cared for their daughter. She was raised in a house where propriety was strictly enforced, lest their daughter repeat the mistakes of her parents, though her upbringing was by no means cold.

By the time she was seven months old, she had been engaged to the James, Marquess of Ramsden, the eldest son and heir to the Duke of Wycombe. Unfortunately, Lord Ramsden died of a fever before his eighth birthday. Theodora was subsequently engaged to his younger brother, the new Marquess of Ramsden, John Quinn. They met only occasionally until their wedding day, though Lord Ramsden's visits did grow more frequent as their engagement drew to a close.

She had a fairly typical childhood, in which she was supplied with a governess who taught her how to read, write, do basic arithmetic, and run a household. Everything she learned was taught to her with the aim of it being of use in her future role as a duchess. Her mother never completely learned English, despite several decades in England, and spoke to her daughter almost exclusively in French. As a result, Theodora speaks flawless French.

First Marriage

Following her 18th birthday, Theodora wed John Quinn, Marquess of Ramsden, in a large and celebrated ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey. Despite Lord Ramsden's visits during the couple's teen years, the two never did make any lasting connection. This unfortunately resulted in a loveless marriage. One child did result from the union, however, a son called John after his father. Mere weeks before John's birth in November of 1784, Lord Ramsden was thrown from his horse while hunting and subsequently died of his injuries. Not a month after Lord Ramsden's death, his father, the old Duke, died, resulting in the two-month-old John becoming the newest Duke of Wycombe and his twenty-year-old mother a widowed duchess.

Second Marriage

Following her husband's death, the widowed duchess returned to London with her young son, where she caught the eye of the Marquess of Raulings. Though initially uninterested in remarrying, Thomas Grafton quickly won her over with his kind nature and hearty laugh. More impressive to Theodora, however, was the way Thomas treated young John as an equal to his own son William. The two married in 1785 and soon developed a reputation as one of Society's most devoted couples, as evidenced by their four children.