Cressida Cowper (Netflix)

## Cressida Cowper

**Cressida Cowper** is an ill-mannered debutante competing with Daphne Bridgerton for the affections of the most eligible suitors.

## History

### Start of the Social Season

Cressida Cowper is a young lady who debuted in the 1813 social season with her mother. At these events, her mother talked her up to potential suitors. At one event, she flirted with Colin, spilling her drink on Penelope to get her out of the way. She then invited Colin for a dance, but Colin rejected her in favor of Penelope.

Soon after, at a picnic, Cressida gossiped about Daphne while walking within Daphne's hearing range.

### The Prince's Arrival

Cressida was among those delighted when word came that Prince Friedrich of Prussia was coming to London in search of a wife. When he came to his first social event, Cressida immediately approached him to draw his attention to her, but the queen pulled Friedrich away to introduce him to Daphne, making Cressida jealous.

At a later event, Cressida swooned in the presence of the prince, who came to her aid. After this, they danced together at another event and it appeared that Cressida may have a chance at becoming his bride. However, the prince's attention was drawn away when Daphne entered and it was clear he was more interested in her. Cressida derided Daphne, saying she could have had any man, but chose the one she knew Cressida wanted. Daphne chided Cressida, saying that she couldn't help his choice, before gliding away to be by the prince's side.

Unbeknownst to Cressida, Daphne was not interested in the prince and instead continued to fantasize about Simon, the Duke of Hastings, who had ended their relationship and was planning to leave London. When Friedrich was about to propose, Daphne saw the Duke and became flustered, leaving the ball to go outside. Here, she and the Duke met and ended up kissing in the garden. Upon her return, Cressida snidely asked if she'd caught a chill, making Daphne realize that Cressida had seen her with Simon and could destroy Daphne's reputation.

When the announcement of Daphne and Simon's engagement arrived, Cressida and her mother smirked at the news, knowing full well what had transpired in the garden between them. Soon afterward, Cressida and Daphne had a private moment, and Cressida confirmed that she knew what happened in the garden. Daphne denied any knowledge and warned her that it would be unwise for her to make an enemy out of a future duchess.

Due to the scandal caused by Marina's pregnancy and broken engagement with Colin Bridgerton, the Featheringtons were social pariahs. Despite this, they came to the queen's luncheon. After they were asked to leave, Cressida made a hurtful comment about them to her mother, which Daphne overheard. Daphne shamed Cressida for judging them as she had.

### 1814 Social Season

Cressida reappeared for a second season. She was seen among the young debutantes rushing towards Anthony upon hearing Violet's announcement that he intended to find a wife this season. She mocked the idea of Eloise Bridgerton being named the season's diamond, hinting that it meant she would stop hanging around "wallflowers" and "refine" her circle of friends, indirectly insulting Penelope. Eloise told her off for her comments.

She soon caught the eye of Jack Featherington, a distant relative of the recently deceased Lord Featherington, upon whose death Jack had inherited the title of Lord Featherington. He called on her and gifted her a ruby necklace, which she and her mother showed off and bragged about at Lady Danbury's soirée for Edwina Sharma. They hinted to Lady Featherington that it meant he intended to marry her, which Lady Featherington denied.

Cressida and her parents soon joined Jack and the Featherington women for a formal dinner at the Featherington estate, upon Jack's invitation. Cressida flirted with Jack at the dinner table. She and her mother bragged about her "maternal" manners and piano skills to Jack. Jack invited Cressida to promenade. It was clear, to Cressida's delight, that Jack intended to make her his bride. Her hopes to become the new Lady Featherington were dashed, however, when Portia manipulated matters to pressure Jack into proposing to Prudence.

Cressida attended Anthony and Edwina's wedding. When it was abruptly called off in the middle of the ceremony, Cressida and the other guests were led out to the gardens, where Brimsley, working on the queen's behalf, planted a rumor that Edwina had called off the wedding because she wasn't pleased with the simple honeymoon Anthony had planned. Cressida immediately spread the rumor.

At the Featherington Ball, Cressida danced with Colin, who complimented her necklace, the one from Jack. He then said the clasp was broken and offered to have it mended for her.

Later, as Anthony and Kate danced, Cressida's mother made a snide comment about them, only for the queen to shoot them down. Cressida then became visibly upset when the queen began telling Edwina about Prince Friedrich, clearly hoping to match the two of them.

## Personality

A self-centered, rather ill-mannered debutante who wanted nothing more than to be named this year's Incomparable. If only Daphne Bridgerton would have chosen to sit this season out...

## Relationships

### Romantic

#### Prince Friedrich

Cressida is first seen meeting Prince Friedrich during a ball, in which his aunt, Queen Charlotte, was introducing him to the ladies of the Ton. Despite her inital efforts to impress the prince, he was quickly pulled away by his aunt, who was eager to set her nephew up with what she saw as the "season's diamond," Daphne Bridgerton.

Later on at the same event, Cressida swooned in the presence of the prince, causing him to immediately come to her aid.

After this, they pair danced together at another ball and it appeared that Cressida may have a chance at becoming his bride, much to her and her mother's excitement. However, the prince's attention was drawn away when Daphne entered and it was clear he was more interested in her. Friedrich did not even say goodbye to Cressida when he left England without a bride-to-be.

#### Jack Featherington

Cressida was called upon by the new Lord Featherington, who gifted her a ruby necklace, which she proudly showed off at Lady Danbury's soirée. She and her mother bragged to Portia Featherington that it meant he intended to become her suitor. Jack invited her and her parents to a formal dinner at his new estate, where she flirted openly with him. She was delighted when Jack invited her for a promenade. It was clear that Jack very well intended to make her his bride, much to her delight. However, Cressida's chance at another fine match was ruined, yet again, when Portia intervened.

### Familial

Cressida and her mother, Lady Cowper, are both seen as eager in the effort find Cressida a husband.

### Rivals

#### Daphne Basset

Daphne and Cressida both entered their first season together, competing for the top pick of eligible bachelors. Daphne's fortunes exceeded Cressida's upon being named the season's Incomparable. Their "rivalry" became particulary heated when Prince Friedrich arrived in London in search of a wife. Cressida was clearly interested, but Friedrich pursued Daphne instead. Cressida finally caught the prince's favor and was making progress with him until Daphne changed her mind about the duke and went for Friedrich, who dropped his pursuit of Cressida as a result. Cressida saw this as a betrayal, as Daphne had many suitors but stole the only one Cressida had. When Daphne had a heated moment with the Duke of Hastings in the gardens, Cressida saw, and hinted to Daphne that she knew, subtly threatening to spill the scandal and ruin Daphne. When she saw Daphne at the modiste, she taunted her, accusing her of using Friedrich to make the duke jealous and trap him into marrying her, but Daphne shut her down, reminding Cressida that she was to be a duchess while Cressida was to remain unmarried and untitled, so it would be unwise to make an enemy of her. Even at Daphne's wedding reception, Cressida was snide and smug, calling her keeping Daphne's secret a "kindness." During a luncheon hosted by the queen, Cressida and her mother attended while Daphne did the same with her husband. Daphne shut Cressida down for making a comment about Lady Featherington and Marina. They met again the next season during Anthony and Edwina's wedding. Despite not seeing each other for almost a year, Cressida's resentment toward Daphne had not changed anything and Cressida coldly called Daphne her "duchess" instead of doing it respectfully such as the rest of people there did.

## Appearances

 **#02** | "Shock and Delight"
 **#03** | "Art of the Swoon"

 **#02** | "Off to the Races"
 **#03** | "A Bee in Your Bonnet"

## References

1. ↑ Diamond of the First Water, 1x01
2. ↑ Shock and Delight, 1x02
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Art of the Swoon, 1x03
4. ↑ An Affair of Honor, 1x04
5. ↑ The Duke and I, 1x05
6. ↑ Capital R Rake
7. ↑ Off to the Races, 2x02
8. ↑ A Bee in Your Bonnet, 2x03
9. ↑ Victory, 2x04
10. ↑ The Choice, 2x06
11. ↑ The Viscount Who Loved Me, 2x08