Nicholas Gosling

Childhood

Family life

The 4th Duke of Leighton was pleased when his wife presented him with two healthy, happy boys within a year of one another. Nicholas and William spent a cheerful childhood bounding about the family estate, constructing forts and learning to fence with sticks. Their parents took a rather ‘hands off’ approach to parenting, the duke perpetually ensconced in his study or away on business in Town and the duchess seemingly always in a tizzy about one upcoming party or another. The duchess passed away from consumption when Nicholas was six and William five. Her husband was thrown from his horse and died instantly of a broken neck when Nicholas was twenty one.

Education

The boys studied at Eton (well, Nicholas did) and then at Oxford (well, Nicholas did.) Despite keeping his head down Nicholas was well known, both as That Taciturn Duke and as the brother of the man who built the still in the college basement.

Nicholas took particular interest in the study of law and theories of government. He takes a great deal of enjoyment from his duties at Parliament and prepares carefully for any speeches he has the honour of presenting.

Adulthood

Appearance

Nicholas is generally acknowledged to be an exceedingly handsome gentleman, though in most other regards he is unremarkable. He is of medium and height and of a muscular build. His dark hair is cut short in a no-nonsense style and equally dark eyes are guarded by unintentionally expressive brows. He has a slightly downturned mouth that gives him a perpetually unimpressed countenance when he does not guard against this. Upon accidentally catching sight of himself in a looking glass, Nick is frequently struck by how very disagreeable he looks and plasters on a smile.

Married life

Unaccustomed to the company of women, Nicholas found the hunt for a wife a daunting and rather dull game. In 1807 on the balcony at London’s Public assembly rooms, Almack’s, Nicholas was introduced to Miss Cassandra Chichester by a (later very pleased with herself) patroness. Nicholas was taken by the petite, pretty and calm young lady and actively pursued her. Romantically attaching himself to Cassandra saved him (sort of) from the machinations of other matchmakers and so he courted her. By the end of the season he had himself a duchess.

Nicholas is too sensible a man to have fancied himself “in love” with his new bride but he was very taken with her and elated at having a lady at Hopetoun again. The new duchess was waited on hand and foot and all but wrapped up in cotton wool. Nicholas found that he very much liked having a wife and even – to the shock of the local community – threw a ball in her honour.

In 1808, Cassandra informed Nicholas that she was to have a child and the duke’s jubilation and excitement cannot be done justice with words. He was ‘’ecstatic.’’ In 1809 the child arrived early, devastating the frail Cassandra and taking her life. The child did not survive its first day and was never given a name by the distraught duke. Unbeknownst to the duke, his younger brother William - who was by chance also a Hopetoun at the time – bestowed on the boy the name Andrew, a tradition Gosling family name, for the duration of his short life.

Broken hearted, confused and at a complete loss, Nicholas spent the years between 1809 ad 1811 seconded away at Hopetoun and has refused to come to Town.

Present day

Nicholas is now determined to piece together a family. He means to start by finding a second wife and so has ordered the cobwebs to be vanquished from Gosling House in Town. His hopes are not unrealistically high.

Timeline

1781: Born 1782: William is born 1801: The 4th duke is killed and Nicholas inherits the title of Duke of Leighton 1807: May, meets Cassandra Chichester at Almacks, London. 1807: December, Marries Cassandra Chichester. 1809: Cassandra passes away during childbirth. The baby does not survive. 1811: Nicholas returns to Town in search of a second wife.