Rumors
Currently Circulating Rumors regarding London's elite can be found here (sorted by character's surname). Some rumors are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being known by everyone including the subjects themselves and 1 being known by almost no one, except perhaps the rumor starter himself. Others have no rating and are considered well known. Ratings are flexible and may be edited at will. For additional fun, try mixing and matching characters and rumors. ;)
Remember: These are rumors. Some of these rumors are completely true, others are only partially true, while still others completely false.
Annabelle Beacham
Belle's father was an admiral in the navy. He was actually a bit of a war hero, distinguished himself in the American Revolution. (Rated 9)
Belle has attracted the attention of well known womaniser, William Gosling. Someone needs to sort her out before she ruins herself. (Rated 2)
Belle has attracted the attention of the other Gosling brother, the Duke of Leighton. Someone needs to sort her out to make sure she makes the match. (Rated 2)
Stephen Brydges
Stephen probably had his name in the papers off and on, so anyone who bothered to read those sections on naval developments might recognize his name. (Rated 6)
Christopher Carlisle
Kit's uncle is nouveau riche. And very 'riche' he is. (Rated 9)
(in conjunction with above) Kit stands to inherit everything. (Rated 9)
Kit was involved with another man's wife in Bath two years ago. It was serious. (Rated 1)
Mr. Carlisle is actually Doctor Carlisle, but his adoptive father - his uncle Anthony Ellesmere frowns upon this. (Rated 6)
Arthur Dalrymple
The fact that he has a broken engagement is widely known. (Rated 10)
The circumstances of Arthur's broken engagement are unknown. (Rated 1)
Who broke off the engagement is also a secret. (Rated 1)
Arthur is married.(Rated 1)
Emma DeLancey
Emma has no fortune at all (Rated 10)
Emma and her father's heir, Benedict DeLancey, as certain to be engaged this season. (Rated 7)
Emma refuses to marry Benedict because she wants to be a nun. (Rated 6)
Emma refuses to marry Benedict because she has secretly betrothed herself to a landowner from Kent. (Rated 6)
Benedict refuses to marry Emma for a variety of reasons (ugliness, temper, she's secretly an idiot, etc). (Rated 6)
Emma is secretly engaged to a Russian nobleman, and has been since birth. (Rated 6)
Emma's father is so controlling that he will not allow her to marry anyone, and would prefer she stay with him forever. (Rated 7)
Anthony Dunford
Anthony Dunford has a two-year-old son in Jamaica. (Rated 6)
(In Conjunction with Above) His name is James (Rated 4)
(Alternative to Above) His name is George. (Rated 5)
(In Conjunction with Above): Anthony Dunford was married in Jamaica, but his poor wife died of a fever. (Rated 3)
(Alternative to Above): Anthony Dunford was married in Jamaica, but following the deaths of his father and brother, his wife was deemed unsuitable by the duchess and paid a substantial sum to get lost at sea. (Rated 3)
Elizabeth Dunford
Lizzie Dunford was expelled from seminary after taking up with a footman. (Rated 6)
Lizzie Dunford was secretly engaged last summer to Mr. Charles Johnson, of Kent. (Rated 2)
Lizzie Dunford has absolutely no intention whatsoever of marrying this Season, despite all her minxlike flirtatious looks. (Rated 7)
Marcus Fairmont
Marcus raced a lady on horseback through Kensington Gardens (Rated 7). The lady was blonde. (Rated 5).
Marcus still carries a torch for Viola Fitzgerald (rated 4), for Claudia Morton (rated 2).
Marcus' mother Camilla is sick of greiving the loss of her much loved husband and would like to move on with a new lover. (Rated 3)
Marcus would have proposed to Miss Grace Torrington but his best friend Jack O’Donaghue beat him to it and the girl, eager to be married, accepted. (Rated 5)
Rosalind Fairmont
Rosalind Fairmont is taking her sweet time in finding a husband because no one is good enough compared to the gentleman she loves back home in Ireland. (Rated 5)
(In Conjunction with Above) He's a handsome stablehand. (Rated 4)
(Alternative to Above) He's a dashing friend of her deceased father. (Rated 5)
Rosalind's mother Camilla is sick of greiving the loss of her much loved husband and would like to move on with a new lover. (Rated 3)
Olivia Fitzgerald
Olivia is in love with her country neighbour, Sir William Devenish. (Rated 1)
Olivia is in love with her country neighbour, Charlie Devenish. (Rated 4)
Viola Fitzgerald
Viola's absence from society for the past three years and decision not to marry is because she had an affair with Geoffrey Stapleton (rated 8);
(Alternative to above) She has a love child with Geoffrey Stapleton in the country (rated 4);
(Alternative to above) Her family has lost all its money (rated 7).
(In conjunction with above) All the money the Fitzgeralds have now was loaned to them from their generous Rutland cousins. (Rated 1)
(Alternative to above) She was married by proxy in youth to a foreign royal and has been waiting for her husband to return to claim her. (Rated 6)
Francis Hopkins-Lawrence proposed to Lady Viola Fitzgerald at her musicale. (Rated 7)
She murdered her best friend Lady Priscilla (who died in childbirth) because she was in love with Priscilla's husband. (Rated 6)
Viola and Julia, Duchess of Pennington mutually hate each other. (Rated 9)
Viola is so desperate to marry this season that she is flinging herself recklessly at Lord Emerson and even provoked him into challenging Francis Hopkins-Lawrence to a duel over her on Good Friday. (Rated 7)
(Alternative to above) It was the other way round: Francis challenged Blake. (Rated 6)
The duel was only averted after Viola persuaded both men to leave off. (Rated 2)
Hugo Fotherington
Hugo may be getting a promotion soon (Rated 8)
Hugo is home from Spain due to some backfired prank (Rated 7)
Hugo is hiding from some señorita's family (Rated 4).
Rebecca Garrison
Rebecca is not married because she suffers from some kind of delicate ailment and can never bear children. (Rated 2)
Rebecca is married and has three children. She has abdicated from that dreary life, leaving the children with her sister, and has run away to start fresh with the Groves.
Nicholas Gosling
Nicholas Gosling has a daughter tucked away in his family estate (Rated 3)
(In Conjunction with Above): Her name is Nichola. (Rated 2)
(Alternative to Above): Her name is Violet. (Rated 2)
Nicholas likes blondes. (Rated 10)
Nicholas Gosling has a beautiful, 17 year old, obscenely wealthy female ward, that he keeps tucked away in the remote country for fear that she'll be preyed upon by the Ton's mercenary. Or Will. (Rated 2)
Cassandra Gosling
Cassandra died of a broken heart when she discovered her husband's mistress. (Rated 3)
William Gosling
William Gosling has an illegitimate son. (Rated 8)
William Gosling has an illegitimate son who is currently in Town with his mother. And William doesn't know yet. (Rated 3)
William Gosling is sleeping with two women. Who are both married. And are sisters. (Rated 7)
William Gosling is sleeping with the very newly widowed Lady Eliza Atwood/his landlord's wife Mrs. Kirk/an unknown Marchioness/all of the above (Rated 7)
Lady Pike's young twins are not Lord Pike's, but actually the offsrping of William Gosling. (Rated 6)
Will Gosling belongs to an exclusive, underground society consisting of nobles from across the country. They practice bizarre rituals and indulge in general debauchery. (Rated 6)
William Gosling ruined Anniemarie Thwaites, the rich little ward of old Lord Locklere, sometime during the week of April 14th. (Rated 5)
Julianne Grafton
Julianne had an affair with a country squire's son. (Rated 5)
(In Conjunction With Above) Julianne was ruined by the squire's son. (Rated 3)
Julianne is the illegitimate daughter of Lady Raulings and a Russian archduke. (Rated 2)
Julianne is engaged in a social battle with Lady Juliet Landon. (Rated 8)
Julianne Grafton is only friends with blonde girls. (Rated 7)
(In Conjunction With Above): Julianne tried to get her sister to color her hair for her debut so Julianne would stand out more. (Rated 5)
Benjamin Grove
The Marquess of Pendleston, though a good man, is quite obviously and rapidly losing his mind. (Rated 3)
Patrick Grove
The Grove family is relying on Patrick to lead them now and that he doesn't really want to. (Rated 5)
He's come to London with the idea of perhaps finding a wife. (Rated 6)
He came to London to escape an entanglement with a friend's sister. (Rated 5)
Penelope Grove
Penelope is the author behind several popular novels. (Rated 2)
George Hackett
George Hackett has come to London to look for a wife. (Rated 10)
George's father is dying. (Rated 8)
George got entangled with a woman whilst in Italy. (Rated 4)
George is having an affair with a married lady. (Rated 1)
Elise Hampton
After having been seen enjoying the company of the Duke of Claitonborough, the Duke of Leighton and Lord Daniel Rossington, it is to be supposed that Elise is setting her sights on a Duchess' coronet and isn't picky about which. (Rated 6)
Elise is the illegitimate daughter of the late Marquess of Emerson. (Rated 3)
Elise has no fortune to speak of whatsoever. (Rated 3)
Georgiana Haworth
Georgiana is pregnant. (Currently rated 2)
Julia Hissop
Julia accepted the Duke of Pennington's offer of marriage mere weeks after he was rejected by her society rival, Lady Viola Fitzgerald. (Rated 8)
Victor Kincaide
It's no real secret that Victor is on the lookout for a bride. (Rated 9)
Victor is a Russian noble sent to integrate into London Society until his services are needed. (Rated 1)
Juliet Landon
Lady Juliet Landon has formed an army of debutante warriors to fight against Lady Julianne Grafton in the battle for the title incomparable. (New recruits welcome) (Rated 7)
Henry Layton (deceased)
The first Lord Parry was murdered. (Rated 4)
The first Lord Parry is still alive. (Rated 3)
The first Lord Parry worked as a spy against the French. (Rated 2)
The first Lord Parry worked as a spy for the French. (Rated 2)
The first Lord Parry had an affair with Lady Emerson. Who is French. (Rated 3)
Henry Layton
Henry enjoys reading philosophy. (Rated 9)
Henry is a spy. (Rated 2)
Henry has sung professionally on the stage. (Rated 5)
Henry is in love with Charity Pritchard. (Rated 4)
Henry is in love with Viola Fitzgerald. (Rated 5)
Henry is in love with Henry. (Rated 10)
Phoebe Layton
Lady Phoebe converted to Catholicism and resides happily in a convent in Bavaria. (Rated 8)
Lady Phoebe lost her character in her first season and keeps a faro-bank in Edinburgh with her widowed sister, Lady Kirkfries. (Rated 7)
Lady Phoebe is locked up in Crantock Abbey by her evil great-uncle the Marquess of Crantock where she is forced to eat rats. Her brother visits her once a year. (Rated 6)
Lady Phoebe was won off her brother in a card game by a dashing Italian Count. She is locked up in his castle in the Appenines. (Rated 4)
Lady Phoebe is a French spy. (Rated 4)
Lady Phoebe was kidnapped by pirates and sold to a sultan as his fortieth wife. (Rated 2)
Jane Middleton
The former Lord Essex, Henry Sterne, sold his daughter to a merchant in exchange for his debts, and then the shame made him commit suicide. (Rated 5)
Claudia Morton
Claudia ignored her chaperone duties in Bath with Regina Rutledge and spent the time being romanced by a young buck. (Rated 8)
Claudia has raced a certain gentleman on horseback through Kensington Gardens (Rated 6).
(In conjunction with above) The gentleman was Marcus Fairmont, from whom she waited for a proposal, and with whom she was in love. (Rated 5)
(Alternative to above) ... with whom she is still in love. (Rated 2)
Claudia's marriage with Lord Worth has not been consummated. (Rated 4)
Claudia has had at least two illegitimate children in secret. (Rated 4)
Lord Worth has had at least two illegitimate children in secret. (Rated 3)
Claudia hasn't given birth to an heir due to an inability to conceive. (Rated 1)
Oscar Moncrieff
Lord Avening has a bride in Asia, the daughter of a Mongolian chieftain, whom he has left behind but is in correspondence with. (Rated 5)
Lord Avening has lost all his money and is forcing his ward, Miss Clare, to marry him next Season. (Rated 3)
Jemima Palmer
Jemima has been living in a French convent for the last few years, due to certain indiscretions. (Rated 2)
(Alternative to above) Jemima has been in France acting as a companion to an elderly relative. (Rated 8)
(Addition to above) Said relative is extremely wealthy and has named Jemima as the sole heir to her fortune. (Rated 5)
(Addition to above) Lady Francesca Palmer started the rumor about the fortune. (Rated 1)
Blake Pritchard
Blake ruined a debutante named Evangeline Listern, then refused to married her. She was forced to move to America to cover up her shame. (Rated 2)
Charity Pritchard
Charity turned up to her coming out ball in a negligee. She was then forced to change it but not before most of the guests had got a fair impression of her assets. (Rated 8)
Gabriel Pritchard
The real Gabriel Pritchard is dead. (Rated 1)
Daniel Rossington
Lord Daniel Rossington's sudden absence from England last season had nothing to do with his desire to tour the continent, but instead over heartbreak. (Rated 8)
His sister-in-law, the Duchess of Welby, died just before his departure (Rated 10).
Lord Daniel Rossington has at least one illegitimate child running around Europe. (Rated 6).
(In Conjunction With Above) The boy has been rumoured to live either in Germany, Italy and France. (Rated 5).
(In Conjunction With Above) His name changes between Matthew and Richard. (Rated 5).
Demelza Quartermaine
Mrs. Q was quite the fox in her day. (Rated 5)
Walter Roydon
Though there have been rumours of duels, no one can produce bodies or injuries to account for Walter's having fought anyone on any account. (Rated 8)
Walter Roydon has various illegitimate children. Estimates range between 3 and 30. (Rated 10)
(In Conjunction with Above): One of them is William Gosling.
John Rutledge
John took/takes singing lessons from an Italian music master. (Rated 9)
This Italian music master is a woman. (Rated 8)
John is heir to the Westmore barony due to the death of his brother. (Rated 9)
He'll inherit a ton of money, if the way Lord Westmore lives is any indication (Rated 7)
He'll inherit a ton of debt, unless his father turns the estate around. (Rated 4)
(In conjunction with above) John doesn't know about the aforementioned debt. (Rated 4)
Regina Rutledge
Regina is an accomplished artist. (Rated 10)
Regina is madly in love with her penniless painting tutor, whom she can never marry, but gets extra special lessons from. (Rated 5)
Regina refused the hand of a wealthy suitor in Bath. (Rated 7)
Regina had no suitors or interest in Bath. (Rated 7)
Regina ignored the advice of her chaperone, Lady Worth, for her own whims and follies while in Bath. (Rated 4)
Rutledge Family
Victor Rutledge, John's older brother, died in a carriage accident. (Rated 10)
(In conjunction with above) The circumstances are still ambiguous regarding what he was doing in that part of town at night...(Rated 6)
The Rutledge twins were not actually fathered by Lord Westmore. (Rated 3)
(In conjuction with above) ... but were actually fathered by a close family friend who is also a baron. (Rated 3)
Geoffrey Stapleton
Geoffrey has a private income. (Rated 7)
Geoffrey is the real identity of popular novelist Adam Lane. (Rated 1)
Geoffrey has a peculiar skin disease that means he rarely removes his gloves. (Rated 3)
Geoffrey is in love with Viola Fitzgerald (rated 9); had an affair with her (rated 8); has married her in secret (rated 3); has a love child with her (rated 4).
Felicity Staunton
Felicity has no fortune to speak of. (Rated 7)
Felicity is always snappy at Marcus Fairmont because she is secretly in love with him (Rated 3)
Felicity has attracted the attention of Algernon Culpepper and a proposal is expected within the next few weeks. (Rated 9)
(In conjunction with above): She is excited about becoming a Culpepper. (Rated 10, if you ask Algernon Culpepper)
(In conjunction with above): She is dreading becoming a Culpepper. (Rated 8, if you ask anyone else)
Linus Staunton
Linus has no fortune to speak of. (Rated 6)
Linus is really only friends with Algernon Culpepper for his money. (Rated 7)
Linus has taken laudanum for more than medicinal purposes. (Rated 6)
Linus is a member of the Hellfire Club. (Rated 5)
Linus was seen in a quite compromising situation with an actress in a shadowy area at Vauxhall recently. (Rated 3)
Linus has fathered at least 7 children, some which have been disguised as additional Staunton siblings as no one would notice the surplus. (Rated 4)
Linus has nicked one of Auntie D's stockings and gave it away as part of a card game forfeit. (Rated 3)
Katharine Steele
Katharine Steele is back in town not only for her sister's debut but also for a new husband herself. (Rated 6)
Katharine Steele is back in town not only for her sister's debut but also to take a lover. (Rated 6)
Katherine Steele has certain talents that would drive many men out of their wits. ;) (Rated 1 in polite society; closer to 4 or 5 in less genteel company.)
Richard Sterne
Richard is a very mysterious and reclusive man who spends most of his time traveling to exotic locations. (Rated 8)
(Alternative to Above): In one of his trips, Lord Essex contracted an unknown disease which has rendered him quite mad. (Rated 6).
Thomas Sterne
Captain Sterne has killed a man in a duel. (Rated 8)
He has sung serenades under Mrs. Quartermaine's window. (Rated 9)
The captain is in love with Mrs. Quartermaine. (Rated 5)
The reason why the captain has been seen prowling about Miss Staunton is because he is trying to get closer to his beloved, Demelza. (Rated 3)
He is participating in a wager on who can seduce a greater quantity of Spanish officers' wives. (Rated 8)
He has seduced, become engaged to, and broken the latter engagement with a certain baron's daughter after being back in London for less than a week. (Rated 1)
James Tibbord
Old Mr. Tibbord was murdered because he threatened to expose a competitor's involvement in a smuggling ring. (Rated 5)
Charlotte Tolson
Miss Charlotte Tolson has been romantically linked to much of English society in India (receiving at least 3 proposals!), and has also been linked to members outside of Anglo-Indian society. (Rated 7)
Charlotte was the belle of Bombay society. (Rated 5)
(In Conjunction with Above): But that was India and who really cares about that in London? (Rated 4)
Charlotte practices Indian pagan sorcery in her London garden (Rated 1)
Edward Tolson
Mr. Edward Tolson had once considered abandoning his title and wealth to join the East India Company as a soldier, but as the only son of the current Baron Middleton, had been forcefully coerced out of such a path. (Rated 7)
Edward was so loathe to leave India as he had fallen in love with a native, the daughter of his Amah.
Louisa Westcott
Louisa has a background in trade. (Rated 6)
Lousia's marriage is already an unhappy one, with no romance at all except Louisa's love affair with interior decorating fabrics. (Rated 1)
Helena Wriothesley
Croquembouche is the sole descendant of Marie Antoinette's favourite King Charles Spaniel. (Rated 2)