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Who Should Duncan Marry?

Blackguard

By Blackguard,
in Out of Character Topics

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Who Should Duncan Marry?  

10 members have voted

  1. 1. His Current Choices

    • Ellen: She will take care of business for Duncan, give him wealth and leave him free for politics and warfare.
      1
    • Natalie: You can hire a steward. Take the enormous wealth and keep her pregnant and happy in some castle somewhere, or show her off at court. She will produce beautiful children presumably.
      3
    • Frances: Can you go wrong marrying into a blue blood family? She will have many siblings marrying important lords and the family alliances will grow.
      3
    • Wait: Other opportunities may arise. For example, Lauderdale seems to be on his way out and the Hamilton family is the great power in Scotland. Duncan has befriended James, the next great duke with royal Scottish blood. James has lots of sisters.
      1
    • Marry Frances and get Douglas to marry Natalie. Two birds with one stone.
      1
    • Marry Natalie, she meets with an accident or dies in childbirth, and then he marries Frances or Margaret Cavendish next.
      0
    • Tell Langdon about Natalie. He could use a dumb and trusting wife while he carries on numerous affairs.
      0
    • Buckingham has all the power. Marry a Villiers girl!
      1

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Blackguard

Blackguard

Posted
Posted

Background

Duncan married Cedric Doolittle's second daughter Ophelia.  She was the book smart one of the three Doolittle daughters.  They had a daughter who they named Ellen but then Ophelia died, possibly by poison.

Duncan needs to remarry to gain a male heir, though he still grieves the loss of his wife.  He has met Frances Cavendish, daughter of the Duke of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the scion of the Cavendish family now that his father, William Cavendish, has passed.  Frances was betrothed to the Howard heir Arundel initially, but bad blood and rivalry between the families broke the betrothal.  Frances was then betrothed to Charles Sackville,Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, but there was a fire and some sort of scandal with fingers pointed in each direction. There is now bad blood between Dorset and the Cavendishes.  Our own Earlof Chichester became interested in Frances and there was thought that the two would become betrothed, but George, in a surpise move, married Caroline instead.   Poor Frances has lost three suitors in a row.

Duncan seems sold on the idea that convincing Cavendish to allow a Scottish Viscount to marry his daughter is the best move for him.  Ordinarily, the Duke might decline, but Frances has been earning a reputation of unwanted, he has another daughter in need of marriage, and Duncan has friends in high places, suggesting ultimate success.

Let's look at his options objectively:

 

Lady Frances: 

Pros:  Second daughter to the Duke.  Her elder sister married the powerful and wealthy Duke of Ablemarle.  The Cavendish family has many branches and has great sway in England, especially in the north.  Her father is a very wealthy man with large land holdings.

Cons:  The Cavendishes are rivals with the Norfolk and the Howards,as well as the intriguing double Earl of Dorset (and his Villiers kin perhaps).  While her mother produced many children, she produced only one boy.  Her older sister appears to be barren,and is considered mad is some circles.  The Duke has several daughters to wed, including Margaret (who has also debuted at court).  The dowry is likely to be sufficient, but Duke's tend to value alliance to a great family as worthy of more than a large dowry.

Ellen Doolittle:

Pros:  business smart, sure of herself, and likely to help a mercantile husband or noble who could use a wife that also might be a steward.  She is already related to Duncan by marriage.  Her dowry is likely to be sizeable, in the 10-15,000 range.

Cons:  Being so headstrong has led her to not have any worthy suitors.  She is frustrated living in a man's world.

Natalie Doolittle:

Pros:  Doolittle's favored child and he will leave her everything in his last will and testament.  She will be Cedric's heiress.  Great wealth will come to her husband.  She is a beauty.

Cons:  She is simple-minded.  She can barely read and write.  She will depend on her husband for everything. She is naive.

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Duncan Melville

Duncan Melville

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Hamilton’s eldest daughter should debut next year. Duncan has considered her. The fact that his good friend Douglas is under Lauderdale’s influence gives him pause, though. The Viscount would like to keep the few friends he already has. Yet, a good option.

My research did not turn up any Villiers girls available besides Lady Susan. Are there any? Having collaborated with Lord Langdon in the past, the Lowlander would not even entertain the thought of competing with the Englishman. Now, if there were any other lady cousins of the great Buckingham, things might get interesting.

The Newcastles are rich and influential, but they have loads of daughters, so dowries are bound to be somewhat modest. Modest for a rich duke, that is. Duncan has a chance, but not a certainty, to be allowed to marry Lady Frances. Is it his best move? Probably not.

Either of the Doolittle girls would earn him a small to large fortune. He sees them as his sisters. Does one marry one’s sister? He would eventually control Horizon Ventures if he did, though. This is probably the best financial move.

If Duncan wants to increase political influence, especially in Scotland or the north of England, then Hamilton and Newcastle are the best options. If he wants more money, and lots of it, then a Doolittle girl would be the play.

There is also the Langdon gambit, one Duncan has been considering for some time. He has not acted on it out of fear of having to obey the King’s “advice” once he asks for it. In his innermost heart, Duncan is convinced that the King would marry him to Fiona (the Scot is not privy to many things, of course). He would obey, but it would not make him a happy man, he thinks.

Who do you all think would be Duncan’s best choice? Vote and comment freely!

 

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Davina Wellsley

Davina Wellsley

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Lord Melville is being sensible as he must be over this decision. 

Lady Frances brings much to the table - her family connections on both sides as well as those that her elder sister married into - could well serve him in the years ahead.

To marry 'For Love' does not exist for daughters of Peers.

If there is 'like' and the foundation is good then there is the chance that fondness even love might come in time. Respect surely and a caring of the others' needs make up the foundation as well. 

Besides Lady France has been pulled thru the mud enough. She is allowed to be Happy and to be settled.

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Charles Blount

Charles Blount

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As marriage in this time is viewed as transactional, I have the following opinion.

Surely Ophelia must still be under warranty so Sir Cedric owes Duncan a replacement. If he still has the original packaging Natalie is the one. She will inherit and money makes up for many shortcomings. Being a looker is a bonus. Otherwise, he can get Ellen as store credit. She will help Duncan earn his money instead of inherit it and she would keep him on his toes. Headstrong yes but mo money mo problems.

If Cedric refuses leave him a bad review and wait to see what goes on sale.   

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Charles Blount

Charles Blount

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So, to recap. Duncan called customer service to cancel his subscription. Sir Cedric not only fulfilled the warranty but also offered a hefty refund, premium channels for free and membership in their platinum plan. The offer is too good to refuse least you wake up with a horse head in your bed.

Time for Duncan to channel his inner man-whore and take the money like any good Scotsman would do.   

 

PS: This is what you get for asking Blackguard for a poll 😊

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Duncan Melville

Duncan Melville

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On 9/9/2024 at 5:25 PM, Sobriety said:

There are only three ladies in the poll, but there is a long list of eligible lasses already carefully compiled. Maybe take another glance at the list whilst Duncan considers his options?

There are 27 marriageable ladies according to Duncan’s research. Out of those…

- Lady Isabella Dormer is available, and her father is looking for a son-in-law. A very good catch.

- Her Highness Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach has been earmarked by the King and Buckingham for Lord Kingston. Foolish to even try.

- Anna Petrovna Sheremetev, daughter of the Russian Ambassador, Duncan has not even heard of. Untouchable by Duncan for OOC reasons.

- Lady Amelia Murray, daughter of John Murray, Marquess of Athole. Her father is Lauderdale’s toady. No way Duncan will even consider her.
- Mistress Henrietta Sutherland, daughter of Alexander Sutherland, Lord Duffus. Could be a possibility, if she ever returns to London.
- Any of the MacBain sisters. Not much to gain here and, in the case of FIona, much to lose. Besides, Duncan likes to keep his friends as friends.
- Mistress Agnes Dundas, niece of the Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch. Duncan inherited an ancestral feud with the Dundas clan. Sadly, not an option (ooc: char sheet flaw).
- Lady Catherine Hamilton, daughter of the Duke of Hamilton. An interesting possibility, if Duncan ever gets to meet her.

- Mistress Sarah Jennings, Maid of Honor in the Duchess of York's Household. Her position gives her interesting connections, but no information on her dowry. Still, a possibility.
- Lady Susan Herbert, sister of the Earl of Pembroke & Montgomery, and Maid of Honour to Her Majesty the Queen. Being courted by Lord Langdon. Don’t even think about it, laddie!
- Lady Alice de Courtenay, daughter of the Marquess of Sherbourne. In bad terms with the Lord Attorney General.
- Mistress Anne Killigrew, daughter of Henry Killigrew. Sir Cedric’s offer is better, Duncan thinks.
- Any of the Butler sisters. One being courted by Lord Chatham and Duncan has no real interest in Irish affairs.
- Lady Isabel Paulett, Dowager Marchioness of Winchester. She was married, and had no issue. Not the best choice, even if she is a Howard.
- The Cavendish sisters. Lady Frances is probably attainable, Lady Margaret is probably not. That there are many sisters makes dowries smaller, for sure.
- The Osborne sisters. Duncan helped Danby fall, out of loyalty to the king. He is not marrying one of his daughters.
- Lady Arabella Bertie, daughter of the Earl of Lindsay. Niece of Danby, so again, no.
- The Doolittle sisters. Ellen would be a good match for Dundarg, Duncan thinks. Natalie he had not even considered… until Sir Cedric offered Duncan a fortune if he married her. A possibility, but she would have to be kept in Melville Castle.
- Mistress Catherine Sedley, daughter of Sir Charles Sedley. Her reputation precedes her, so no, thank you.
- Lady Anne Saint-Leger, Baroness Doneraille. Henry is interested in her, and it would be very difficult for me to do the writing of that rivalry justice. So no, for OOC reasons.

- Lady Maria Gonzaga. Duncan has not met her yet. Perhaps a good option, perhaps not.

- Margaretha Nassau. Large dowry but no local advantages. Besides, Duncan fought against the Dutch under the French banner. No thanks.

So, to sum it up, although there are 27-ish single ladies, Duncan’s options are really limited to 7 tops: Lady Isabella Dormer, Mistress Henrietta Sutherland, Lady Catherine Hamilton, Mistress Sarah Jennings, Lady Frances Cavendish, Mistress Natalie Doolittle, and Lady Maria Gonzaga. Out of those seven, several may be hard, even impossible, to attain for various reasons. Others may be obtainable, but not necessarily they are good choices. The true options are, in the end, few.

Now, to let you all peek a little inside Duncan’s head:

Duncan would like Scotland to be more relevant. He resents his country playing second fiddle to England. Whatever he can do to make his homeland stand out, he is all for it. Thus, Lady Catherine Hamilton and Mistress Henrietta Sutherland would weigh heavily on nationality alone. Lady Frances a little less so, because her father, although not a Scot, is powerful in the North of England.

As a corollary, making his dream of an Artillery Regiment a reality weighs heavily on the balance. Thus, Sir Cedric’s offer has enormous appeal which goes beyond the massive dowry and inheritance the man offered. Other, higher-born or better-connected young ladies would be considered if their dowries and connections allowed Duncan to form his regiment, though.

Finally, he feels guilty for Ophelia’s death. If she was poisoned, which no one is sure of, he thinks the target was him, not her, and she was just an innocent bystander. Thus, he feels like he might owe something to Sir Cedric, even if he will never admit it willingly.

I have tried to look at this from a very IC point of view, although a few details here and there are OOC. I do hope you find the ramblings of my addled brain entertaining.

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