A Manor of Speaking: To The Point!

## Background

   A Manor of Speaking: To The Point is a 4-episode miniseries based on the Sense, Sensibility and Swordsmanship extension of Good Society: A Jane Austen Roleplaying Game RPG by Storybrewers Roleplaying.

Geek Space TV first showcased the game during its Kickstarter campaign.

This extension adds an "On the rooftops" sequence to each turn, during which the characters don masks and change into their secret identities.

As to the story, let's introduce it by borrowing this sentence from character Harriet MacNamara:

> *It's England, who doesn't like birds?*
>
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## Cast

### Players

* **Anna**: **Countess Eleanor "Damsel" Sharpe**

* **Lizzie**: **Thomasin "Nighthawk" Crawford**

* **Scotland**: **Harriet "the Nightbird" / "Starling" MacNamara**
* **A.J.**: **Leopold "The Falconer" Hawthorne**
* **Lauren**: **Catherine "the Dove" Lansdown**

## Main characters

### Countess Eleanor Sharpe

After their parents died, she clashed with her older sister Thomasin, who was trying to marry her. She ran away with her uncle **Robertson Sharpe** and became a privateer, only to return to her home city with a new name, a new title and intact rancor towards her sister. She is now 22-ish.

She doesn't pay attention to whose lovers she may be stealing, because *I'm a countess; that allows for certain flexible boundaries*. And if they come for her after she makes enough waves, *that day will be possibly more exciting than the ones that preceded it*.

She ends up reconciling with her sister Thomasin, dispatching the dishonorable Thomas Wallingford in front of the Monarch, and returning to life as a privateer for a new contract.

### Thomasin "Nighthawk" Crawford

This young lady is a friend of Catherine Lansdown's. During the day, she inquires about crime and criminals under the guise of innocuous socializing. At night, as Nighthawk, she actually fights crime in Bath.

Long lonely, she reconciles with her sister Eleanor and becomes gradually closer to her friend Catherine Lansdown, to the point that she accepts the idea of following her to America and lets her smooch her.

The two end up taking lessons in crime from Harriet a.k.a. the Starling and redistributing riches in Nottingham Forest.

### Harriet "the Nightbird" / "Starling" MacNamara

This young woman was born poor and has only recently become acquainted with the high society of Bath. She knew Eleanor in the past but didn't know she was Thomasin's sister until Thomasin told her at a Bath bath date.

As the Nightbird, she steals shiny things and leaves miniature starlings. She has a diary that's also a "shopping list": the ***Book of Crimey Crimes***. When she came to Bath, Harriet left behind her fiancé, *Alexandre Met'ncombs*.

Harriet and her sister successfully steal the Diamond Green before the Ball during which it is to be presented to the Monarch. At the Ball, the sisterly duo steal a lot of jewelry, replacing their loot with fakes. Then, the two leave for London, after failing to convince the Dove to tag along immediately. They make a lot of money fencing all they stole at the Ball.

### Leopold "The Falconer" Hawthorne

This 37-year-old widower served Britain in the War. Ten years ago, he inexplicably set out to America, leaving his wife Mary behind. He returned only recently, after he found out his wife had passed away a year ago, and there is reason to believe he never stopped serving the Crown as The Falconer. While in America he met a chef, a certain Issac Croft.

 He loves merriment—parties—and therefore is a close friend of Eleanore's. Rumor has it that he patrons a lot of women, not just the young Catherine Lansdown. He wants to leave the service, *set aside this charade of being the Falconer and just be Leopold again*, has wanted to do it for years, but cannot do it until while **Thomas Wallingford**, whom he doesn't trust, is the Falconeer. The nature of his relationship with Countess Eleanor Sharpe he only reveals to Thomasin after he is suspended and she rejects his offer to succeed him as Falconer: he admires Eleanor as a good fighter, but her actions cost a company of his men their lives, and him several years in prison.

 He ends up in possession of the real Dresden Green. He refuses to retire and lets Eleanor have the complete correspondence of his Ringmaster wife.

### Lauren: Catherine "the Dove" Lansdown.

This twenty-year-old lady was raised by her uncle, Viscount Charles Lansdown. Catherine believes that he resents having had to pay for her care since her patron, Leopold, went to America. He probably wants to have her marry an eligible suitor soon.

As the Dove, clad entirely in white, with feathers, she seeks to penetrate and counter the nefarious designs she suspects he pursues. The Countess agrees that the Viscount *is rather less than pleasant*.

Leopold thinks that the Dove *seems for the greater good and the lower class*. The Dove ends up foiling his nefarious blackmailing of the Earl of Somerset. His dreams of marrying the Earl's daughter shatter in front of the Monarch. With her girlfriend Thomasin she starts walking in the footsteps of Robin Hood, after an apprenticeship with the Starling and her sister in London.

*Style note*: the recaps use both the civilian and the masked identity of each character in the rooftop scenes, to avoid repeating the longer bird name or to show that a character may be revealing a little too much about themselves.

## More characters

### Connexions

* Lauren: **Julianne Clarke**. The sister-in-law of Leopold, she lives on his estate. She is in her early thirties and has little love for her brother in law and for his acquaintances such as Sir Thomas Wallingford. Exhibit A: when Leopold feels compelled to remind her that *I'm not dead yet, sister*, she immediately retorts: *Unfortunately*. Lauren also played **Judith Barton**, Thomasin's frenemy, in a scene at Leopold's party.
* Lizzie: **Sir Thomas "The Ringmaster" / "The Falconeer" Wallingford**. This man, adept at catching the light of the full moon to strike the perfect pose, is The Falconer's boss. He recalled Leopold from America for reasons that needn't be recalled. He doesn't miss an opportunity to taunt the one he derisively calls *Falcon* and *Old Boy*. As if this weren't enough, Sir Thomas invites himself to Leopold's house and his upcoming party the first time they meet after his arrival in Bath. Leopold trusts this opinion to his log: *The Ringmaster has arrived, with all his bombastic flair; and while I know his intentions are pure [...] I cannot help but to be exasperated*. He fights Eleanor twice in duels: the first time, only his pride is badly wounded; the second time, she wants him dead. He falls on his knees after she slashes his two legs; thence, he literally falls on his sword.
* Anna: **Constable Dunwich.** This grumpy constable in Bath has a hard time dealing with the masked personalities, vigilantes and thieves alike, on his turf.

* A. J.: **Alexandre Met'ncombs**. This Oxford professor is something to look at and writes scandalous novels such as ***The Rising Son of Rome*** or ***The Six Spears of Spartha*** under the pen name *W.E. Partridge*. During the party on Leopold Hawthorne's estate where he is invited as Alexandre Met'ncombs, after his fiancée Harriet urges him to own up to his novels—which she loves—, he grudgingly accepts to lift his mask (or, rather, his glasses) and take questions from his readers, who have all recognized him already, as **W. E. Partridge**. He ends up reconciling his true name with his pen name as Alexander Partridge.

* Scotland: **Elsa MacNamara**. She is Harriet's sister and leaves London when her sister summons her to help with her planned Dresden Green heist. Elsa has not been involved in Harriet's misconduct in the past. Scotland also controls **Admiral Norbert Holden**, a friend of Countess Eleanor's uncle Robertson.

### Supporting characters

* Charlemagne: though long dead, the French *Emperor with the Flowing Beard* has made regular incursions in conversations, both in and out of character, since the Falconer first mentioned that the Falcons date from his reign. This historical connection caused the Starling to nickname the Falconer Charlemagne, among other puns.
* The Earl of Somerset: more talked about than seen, he has acquired the Dresden Green to offer it as a gift to the Monarch.
* Louise: the 19-year-old daughter of the Earl of Somerset.
* Mary Hawthorne: Leopold's wife. She died a year ago. She was the one who, as Ringmaster of the Agency, sent him to America as a foreign agent fifteen years ago and stayed behind.
* Jeeves: Eleanor's butler. Whenever anything goes wrong, Jeeves is fired, but not for real.
* William: Eleanor's personal attendant, *he is a good one*. *Now William, William is a proper lieutenant! He knows what’s up!* 😉

## List of *A Manner of Speaking: To The Point* episodes

While the *Nightbird*—also known as *Starling* after the small statues they leave—sets out to steal it, the vigilante who calls themselves *Nighthawk* is on a mission to thwart the thief. The *Dove*, who doesn't trust her uncle's motives, and the *Falconer*, whose continuing service to the Crown has brought back from America, have their own noble designs.
The Countess, to whom all are connected by bonds old or new, is the only one to know the diamond is to be shipped directly to its new owner, the **Earl of Somerset**.
Later, Thomasin barges into the Countess's bedroom, causing the fleet of her naked companion. Thomasin is angry at her younger sister, Eleanor, who went away with her uncle rather than letting Thomasin carry out the marriage plans their deceased parents originally had for her. She never gave news and didn't make herself known when she had the aplomb to return to her hometown of Bath. Catherine Lansdown, who has come for her scheduled fencing lesson, hears them.
On the same day, Harriet has tea and brandy with Thomasin at the Crawford estate. During a tour of the house, she notices a starling she left ... somewhere. She doesn't recall robbing this house. Thomasin, who finds her position *somewhat liberating*, could see *why one wouldn't want a different life*.
Leopold invites his neighbors to a party in a mere week. It is time for merriment—or *marriment*, as some smudged letters seems to say.
Thomasin apologizes to Catherine for the scene with Eleanore by inviting her for dinner. Catherine leaves clumsy, scratched out sentences in her reply about her good relationships with both sisters.
Harriet calls her sister to Bath for a heist.
In a mysterious scene, the Dove sneaks into her uncle's office, reads a letter from the auction house to Alexander Met'ncombs that the Viscount intercepted, then sneaks out.
The Falconer meets his boss, the Falconeer, on top of the highest building: the church's bell tower. The Falconeer *is staring out into the distance, moodily but attractively; clad in very flattering shadow; silky hair, tied back with a ribbon*.
The dressed-up Falconeer dresses down his Falcon: he brought him back from America for what seems a simple affair because *nothing is ever quite so simple*. The Falconeer keeps his pose, the Moon right behind him, during their whole dialogue, *very dramatically lit* and *cognizant of his lighting*. He tasks Leopold with bringing the local birds to the service of the Crown. In the meantime, the Falconeer will stay at his home and be at the party. He notices that *I fluster you, I have that effect on people*. When his boss starts bringing up why Leopold had to be removed from America, the latter can only promise to *operate with more discretion*.
The next day, or a few days later, Eleanore sends spare servants with wine to help Leopold, who has no more than two himself, set up his upcoming party. While they are there, the Falconeer makes his appearance, and introduces himself to Leopold's sister in law, Julianne Clarke, who won't let him hand-kiss her. She soon excuses herself and, to his courteous *It was lovely to meet you*, replies *It was something indeed to meet you*.
Harriet, Catherine and Thomasin meet at the Crawford Estate for lunch before heading off to the public bath. Harriet brings her host a present, a weird, unique bird carving she stole from the **Shiny Trinket**. Their talk in the public swimming pool includes a monologue by Catherine about the *certain ways* in which Harriet and Eleanore know each other well. They overhear young ladies reading aloud from ***The Rising Son of Rome***, a scandalous romance novel by one **W. E. Partridge**. Catherine, who finds these novels entertaining and has heard that Partridge is *quite something to look at*, wonders why Harriet has a *loom of gloom* and calls it *a quite unfortunate book*. It turns out that Partridge was Harriet's little love affair in London, and that she has sought a break because *he was a bit smothering at times* and *Too much affection can be like too much good wine, or too many sweets*.
Harriet needed to think about marrying him because shes making her way in the world just fine, she has earned her wealth in Import & Export, and that's how she became friends with a countess. Harriet can assure Catherine that neither of them are pirates, to which Thomasin adds that privateers are pirates for the Crown and *that's a legitimate business*. She adds that her mother was always disapproving of her brother and proceeds to explain how she is related to the Countess, how her younger sister fled and how she only saw Eleanor again at the party where she introduced herself like they were strangers. because she is still very cross with her. Thomasin admits that she she may have pushed too hard, trying to carry out the plans her late parents had for Eleanore, because she was worried for her future. As she presently tells Catherine: *I was lonely when you met me. I had no one, no family left [...] I wasnt prepared for them to die*.
Harriet sees a silver lining, reason to hope Eleanore doesn't hate Thomasin, in the fact that *She never spoke of you, but she never spoke badly either*. It seems to her that only Catherine doesn't have any interesting little secrets. Alarmed and slightly confused, Catherine confirms that *I am merely an open book*.
Harriet moves from this embarrassing topic to fencing, which leads to a discussion of the lessons arranged by Leopold and to Harriet mentioning the rumor that he is a gigolo, or at least the patron of many attractive people. The invitation they all received also seemed scandalous all by itself. Catherine only sees her patron as a generous person who, seeing her bored, encouraged her to take fencing lessons for self-betterment and to displease her uncle.
Thomasin confirms that Leopold seems like an honorable man and opines that, with so many people invited, there is no harm in all of them attending and looking out for each other.
Meanwhile, Leopold and the Countess go on a discreet, chaperoned horse ride. Leopold wants to take advantage of the party to set rumors straight by upholding an American principle: *Being bold, sometimes, is the way to be*. Leopold also discusses his boss Wallingford, a pill but a noble man to be well taken care of and entertained. Eleanor thinks that Catherine will make a fine sword-fighter, which pleases Leopold because she is wasted on this town *so full of old thinking and petty squabbling* and could go into the service if she wished. Eleanor doesn't agree entirely but accepts that it is up to Catherine. Most important to Leopold is to keep her away from her uncle, whom Eleanor agrees *is rather less than pleasant*.

The conversation then moves to the Countess's alleged stealing of partners, and to the rumor regarding Thomasin's in particular: Eleanor: *So, I'm sorry, whose partner did I...?*Leopold: *Don't tell me you've stolen many a lover already!*Eleanor: *Well, perhaps, I tend not to pay too much attention. [...] My good friend, I'm a countess. That allows for certain flexible boundaries.*Leopold: *[....] Sooner or later you make enough waves, they'll come for you.*Eleanor: *Fair enough. And that day will be possibly more exciting than the ones that preceded it.*Leopold, who forgets things due to his old age, needs some prodding to return to the matter at hand, namely Thomasin leaving Eleanor's estate almost in tears: *Clearly, she was in love with whoever you bedded*. The conversation ends with Eleanor's denying she broke Thomasin's heart and going to a gallop.
Catherine receives a form letter from W. E. Partridge. It brings his upcoming book *The Roosters Warble Into the Sunlight* to her attention. She blushes and notes down that she has a new book to buy.
The Dove leaves a note for the other masked characters, namely a call to *stopping those who would get their grimy mitts on* the Dresden Green, with a time and location for a meeting. This starts a conversation, with Starling informing her through the same means that *this diamond needs to be stolen [...] by no other person than me [...] and I am the only one who knows how to remove the curse*. Constable Dunwich then threatens the vigilantes, who *will be dealt with appropriately*. He also retorts to Starling's *Be well and do bad things* with his *Be warned and do good things*. To which she reacts with another note that reads: *Dearest Constable Dunwich, stuff it. Signed: Everyone. Love the bird people.*
The Falconer informs his superiors at the Agency that everything is going according to plan.
Eleanor receives a letter from her uncle Robertson, who is proud of her and has high hopes for her future.
A note announces the arrival of Oxford scholar Alexandre Met'ncombs. He will grace Bath with his presence for a period of residence and help its inhabitants reach a new level of enlightenment, going as far as offering private tutoring sessions.
In a log entry, Leopold summarizes the current events, lays out his thoughts on the Falconeer and the vigilantes and laments that, though *old*, and *tired*, and *practically dead*, he cannot resign from the Agency and enjoy his last years in his estate until the situation with the Dresden Green is resolved.
In a flashback, Eleanor, still in bed, reluctantly prepares to confront her sister. She concludes her monologue thus: *I have to deal with this crap. Too old for this. Where are my pants?*
Subtitle:
Of Rome's Son, Sparta's Spears and Charlemagne's Falcons.
The Starling arrives a little later, after a nightly "shopping" visit. She lurks in the shadows, passes a note to signal her presence. Leopold arrives, smoking a pipe. He is after whoever wants to steal the Dresden Green from the Earl of Somerset. He introduces himself as the Falconer, tells the story of his Agency's existence since the times of Charlemagne.
The Dove reveals that Viscount Charles Lansdown, who is basically dead as well, wants the diamond to twist the Earl's arm and marry his eligible daughter.
The Starling, whom all agree is a criminal whose motivation is financial gain, passes another note: *I propose we steal this diamond [...] We cannot let this happen*.
After getting temporary immunity for acceptable crimes from the Falconer and the Nighthawk, the Starling shows herself. They all agree that thwarting the Viscount's evil plan is the highest priority, and the Dove can easily look the other way if a rich person being robbed of the Diamond translates into money for people who need it more. Leopold was sent by the Falconeer, which means that there must be a deeper connection. He wants the Dresden Green returned in proper, to which the Starling cannot agree. Instead, she will give the Falconer the chance of a lifetime to hunt for the diamond in the Starling's possession.
The Starling hands out to the others letters they shall not open before it is time, has a small quarrel with the Nighthawk who finds her taller than she expected then takes her leave after throwing a smoke bomb.
Soon after this scene, Harriet's sister Elsa arrives from London, travel weary after a day's journey. They have a sunny day stroll and discuss everything from the way she left, Alexandre and their upcoming life of crime together. They could steal a globe to pick a country where to go. Harriet recounts the recent meeting, and doesn't fail to mention the incredibly old man who's been around from the time of Charlemagne. They agree on a bait and switch strategy, on getting the others to fight each other while going after a fake diamond, namely a large, green glass "replica". A carriage passes by, a tall gangly, handsome man wearing glasses is on his way to a meeting with one of the most powerful figures in Bath: Alexandre Met'ncombs is on his way to meeting Thomasin Crawford. The professor, while enjoying tarts, fruit and tea, pontificates on Academia not having *done* *enough for people in satellites* and mentions he is planning to meet friends from London such as Harriet. Elsewhere, Eleanor feels that *there is a disturbance in the Richness* and *Harriet throws up*.
Just as Thomasin invites Alexandre to Leopold's party, Catherine enters the room and is immediately ashamed as she recognizes Alexandre and calls him by his pen name: Partridge. Alexandre brought his latest scholarly book, *but* Catherine has *a penchant for different books*. Thence the conversation moves to the Rising Sons of Rome—they were popular–, to Greek mythology—scandalous people— and bacchanalia—not a suitable topic in mixed company.
After a digression about Thomasin and Alexandre never meeting before, Catherine brings the talk back to the theme at hand: his shameful works, which somehow leads to America and *steam engines penetrating tunnels*. After he leaves, Catherine and Thomasin keep talking about him being a professor and a woman writer needing a pen name. Catherine, who read two chapters of Partridge's novel last night engages in an inner monologue replete with phrasing, which she concludes thus: If only I could tell Thomasin, *it wouldn't be so hard, unlike that book*.
Thomasin, like Catherine, has had many late nights: she has engaged in correspondence with her sister. Catherine wants to support her and find out whether Eleanor hates her by broaching the subject during their next fencing lesson, today.
In the next scene, Catherine, attired in athletic wear, meets her teacher. The Countess shows her how to practice with a mirror, and can lend her a book with illustrations. As Jeeves gets the book, Catherine asks about Thomasin. Eleanor avoids her and regrets coming to Bath because of their difficult past. The conversation moves to Nottingham, its wood and its sheriff; Eleanor adjusts Catherine's form so she is less awkward; Catherine blushes often. Eleanor is not sure Bath is still home, and she can't bridge differences with her sisters. Catherine, who is lonely and has no siblings doesn't get what being a younger sister means. They compare their uncles: Catherine's is impressive in his own (not good way); Eleanor's gave her a sense of adventure, which Thomasin never understood. The scene ends with Catherine swinging at the countess and offering to help both sisters. She takes the fencing book and will return tomorrow. In the meantime, they will meet at Leopold's party.
After these scenes, the Dove gains reputation as Defender; the Falconer gets Condonation; Harriet is known as trusting but is beset with flip-flop; and Thomasin is duplicitous for taking the Starling's side but also a defender for fighting corruption, which makes her a Hero of the People.
Rumors spread: the Earl of Somerset is terribly ill; vigilantes are swarming Bath; Partridge has come to audition young women for his new book: the Six Spears of Spartha; the Crawford estate is heading towards bankruptcy; *the Monarch is coming*.
Alexandre didn't get the letter in which Harriet asked him not to come while she was considering his proposal: he was on his way already when it reached his home.
The Earl of Somerset conveys to the Countess his satisfaction, his enthusiasm even, about the way her company handled the Dresden Green; he is also excited about giving it to the Monarch.
The Falconer uses the bulletin tree to summon the Nighthawk to a secret meeting. He adds a post-scriptum: there is one Falconer *per generation*.
Eleanor signals to the Dove that she is aware of her and her associates' plans, still feels beholden to the diamond and may be of use.
In other news, Admiral Norbert Holden announces his upcoming visit to Eleanor.
Later, in the shadows by the large oak tree. The Nighthawk is right on time at the meeting with the pipe-smoking Falconer. The Starling and her sister are sitting on a tree nearby. The Nighthawk has a quest, *all things nefarious happen in the shadows, one has to become one with the shadows, with the night*. She won't join any official agency, because *I have no wish to be [...] anyone's lackey; I am my own person*. She doesn't have later generations in mind and acknowledges that *there will be always be a new head of the Hydra*. Leopold stops the music that was playing, rehashes his story of generations of Falcons and Falconer, to which he adds that he is looking for the next Falconer. Constable Dunwich suddenly comes out of nowhere with a deputy, trying to arrest the Nighthawk. Only the Falcon stays to reason with him.
Meanwhile, the Dove makes her way to the Countess's estate, slips in through an open window and his greeted by Eleanor herself. They enjoy good, imported tea and discuss the exploits of the Dove as well as the Countess's continuing interest in the circumstances of the Dresden Green. Eleanor takes in the interesting things the Dove says to her investigative mind; and observes her guest, her drinking her sitting, trying to find who she is. She offers her extensive resources and her own blade to help protect an innocent.
The Dove hopes they are on the same side, she thinks the Countess may deserve the title she purchased more than others and reiterates for her that she doesn't care if the Earl doesn't get it. His daughter doesn't deserve it either. The Dove adds: *I look forward to working with you again*, and is gone. Her next appointment is with the Starling, still on the tree whence she witnessed quite a hilarious show. The three are talking when the Constable goes after Thomasin, which Harriet finds funny.
As the Dove and the Starling realize that they are on the same page, Harriet starts telling her story. In the timey times before her crimey crimes, their family was not rich, their father was taken away by the cruel Earl he served, their mother died and they sought to work in London. When trains made the Earl richer, Harriet felt compelled to take everything from him as he had from them. It felt good, and she's never stopped doing it because it's fun and she can help people. The Dove concludes that: *We're on two pages of the same book*, because *I despise my position but I can leverage it for some good*. She continues, starts divulging too much about her charitable parents, recalls the stories of Robin Hood and goes on to say she doesn't need great wealth and could help people if she put her hands on the Dresden Green. Still, she is not made for the life of crime the Starling offers her to share.
They keep talking; Harriet mentions the odd discovery—one of her straling pins—she made at Thomasin's place; Catherine corrects her name to Thomasin Crawford: she has *heard of the Crawfords*.
Leopold invites himself at Eleanor's after Catherine's lesson: the two old friends have business to discuss. Catherine is welcome to join, but leaves because they need a chaperone. Leopold notices that she blushes easily. Eleanor enjoys that in her pupil *maybe a little*. The latter is too pure for the countess's taste, but she is good with a sword.
Just as the Falconer told the Nighthawk about finding a successor, so does Leopold with the countess. He even sees her as a future Ringmaster. Eleanor agrees it is possible, but it would take time: she will see what she can do.
Leopold tells how his wife Mary was the first female Ringmaster, how he was sent to America fifteen years ago to save the day, how he has wanted to retire since five years after that, how Wallingford replaced her when she died one year ago, how he can't retire until the power-hungry Falconeer is out and how he needs Eleanor's help to retire him.
And then it's party time. Leopold couldn't put all the finery one would expect in his rush job. There is a string quartet, and dancing, but *this night will be forgettable*.
Catherine and Thomasin make their entrée with the Viscount in tow. Thomasin is cold and polite with him, until she locks arm with her friend and they excuse themselves. Catherine repeats what Eleanor told her. Thomasin justifies her behavior again, until she concedes that she was, perhaps, *vindictive* and Catherine drives her to the Countess. Eleanor came with a foreign dignitary, a princess from Monaco. The two sisters acknowledge Catherine's ingenious lack of subtlety when she beelines away for a drink and leaves them, essentially, forced to talk. Eleanor has just asked about the rumor of the Crawford Estate's bankruptcy when Judith Barton hails Thomasin. She behaves like that kind of "nice" friend out to humiliate, visibly faking dismay at Thomasin's declining fortune, at the bankruptcy that allegedly leaves her unable to afford a carriage. She can't resist taking a jab at Eleanor while she is at it: *I should have heard of you*. Eleanor and Thomasin to send the *quite dreadful* lady away, toward the Professor or the Viscount.
Thomasin and Eleanor resume their talk; Eleanor stresses that her way of reaching the goals they both have is bold, Thomasin hints that her sister doesn't know her that well.
Harriet, still at the entrance, thinks she's at a funeral. Catherine comes and leads her to *the drinks*—of which Harriet is seriously in need after a trying day—and introduces her to Alexandre. He is recognized by several people, such as the woman who confides *I like your spires!* It's like a boulder was dropped over Harriet, and all kinds of feelings swirl in her head: *He's so pretty*; Elsa *can't see me like this: Disgusting!*; *He must be writing about Charlemagne*; *I loved him*. The real sticking point for her is that *I can't stand his attitude: he won't acknowledge his dirty words*. Well, that and his smothering her with his attention.
Catherine talks to Partridge, and the conversation turns pointedly risqué: To her *Spartans were known for their spears*, he replies that he wasn't interested in wars. Harriet can't hold her rage and explodes: *Tell them what you write!*
Catherine lays out that they are not simpletons for living in Bath: *Everyone is aware your W. E. Partridge!*
Alexandre has come to Bath among all places for work, and to find new friends. As Partridge, he experiments in his books. Catherine is sorry, understands why he may need to hide behind a mask.
Alexandre manages to have a private talk with Harriet: his latest book is special; he would like to settle down—she doesn't— and be forgotten—she finds him pretty, hard to forget; and all these people talking about modeling? they want to be in his book. Harriet still prods him to think about what he wants to do and *open your eyes, stop wearing your stupid glasses*, before W. E. Partridge formally announces he is ready to answer questions.
Meanwhile, Leopold and Thomas Wallingford talk business and service—*King and Country can be quite vengeful*. Leopold reiterates that he is old and tired, doesn't care who's here either while Wallingford silently reflects on his *Falcon*'s grand estate and wealth as well as on the beautiful woman Mary was.
A rainstorm pours on the party, as the host announces: *Ladies and Gentlemen, I have dairy news: the Earl of Somerset has fallen gravely ill.*
 Thus closes the novel chapter.
Reputations have changed: Catherine acted against conventions as a meddler; Eleanor has been unrelenting in acting against her desires; Leopold is an idealist for revealing his identity to the Countess and gains the negative condition Career Peril; Harriet gains her fifth positive tag: selfless, for compromising her lust towards Partridge; and Thomasin has been restrained when electing not to punch her "friend" Judith.
Met'ncombs' secret identity as W. E. Partridge is outed in a newspaper article: he is disgraced and sales of the Six Spears of Sparta skyrocket.
Harriet writes a drunk entry in her dear Lil Book of Crimey Crimes: she lays out her plan to steal the Dresden Green and sail to France with Elsa.
Thomasin pens a thank you letter to Leopold. In it she inquires about the man she saw him talk to. Is he a good friend of his? As she was attending Mary in her last days, he became a familiar sight. Mary warned her against trusting this *Tom*. Thomasin concludes her missive with these words: *I couldn't remain silent*.
All the characters receive an invitation from the Earl of Somerset: he is giving a ball in two weeks on the occasion of his daughter Louise's nineteenth birthday, his current flu notwithstanding. The Monarch will be present.
As a condition to accepting the Resolve token from Lauren that causes this discovery, the Nighthawk walks on her precisely at that moment. As the Dove whispers to herself: *Thomasin, you are the Nighthawk*, Thomasin opens the door, takes off her mask, and approaches, pleading to know what this *rather honorable person* intends to do with that information.
The Dove laughs at the idea that she may report Thomasin to the authorities, or anybody else, because: *I owe you more than you know* and *You can trust me as I have trusted you in the past*.
The Dove then vanishes through the window, her own secret still intact.
In a monologue prompted by a Resolve token from Lizzie, Catherine, staring longingly into the stars, ponders whether *Perhaps I should have told her*. They lied to one another despite being best friends, even though they could have done more if they had worked together. After coming to the conclusion that *I think* *we can do great things for this world*, the Dove vanishes like a moonbeam in the mist.

## Glossary

**Bath**: *This town is so full of old thinking and petty squabbling*.

**Book of Crimey Crimes (the Lil)**: Harriet MacNamara's beloved, trusted diary.

**Bradshaw & Bradley**:the auction house that managed the sale of the Dresden Green to the Earl of Somerset. After it became clear that the auction house was targeted by thieves, it was secretly decided to ship the diamond directly to its new oner.

**Cardinal Peregrine**: the author of the following message, posted on the Crimey Crime Message Board: *Recant of your Thieving Ways, Before the Fiery Wrath Comes For you! Come to the Welcoming Embrace of Saint Nicholas, Patron Saint of Repentant Thieves, and receive the Blessed Forgiveness and Walk in the Truth and Light.*

**Dashing Duel (the)**: In this book, Alexander Partridge narrates the coming of age story of a young man—himself—who finds himself after witnessing the greatest sword fight in history. The author follows the victor, Countess Eleanor Sharpe, in her next adventure, by becoming a writer on her boat.

**Dresden Green (the)**: a diamond Eleanor Sharpe has been tasked with shipping to its new owner, the Earl of Somerset.

**Eyrie (the)**: *the supreme store featuring all your preening needs for your bright plumage, imported from such places as Turkey and English Guinea*.

**Falcons**: this secret organization at the service of the British Crown is an age-old tradition. Since Charlemagne, every generation ...

**Falcons and Falchions**: *a store dedicated to providing Equipment for all manner of Outdoor Activities, be they Falconry or Swordplay*.

**Gigolo**: *one who cares for many people*.

**Monarch (the)**: the Prince Regent.

**New Steam Engine Treatise (the)**: a steamy treatise, *thrusting westward through many a pristine unexplored valley cleft [...] this treatise shall examine in vivid details the vigorous world of railroads*.

**Privateers**: *legitimate sea-business people*.

**Regency (the)**: the period of British history during which the show is set.

Comments about the precise dating of the show by Anna, pulled from Discord:

> *We all have varying degrees of history knowledge regarding the Regency period, so we try to leave current events ambiguous. **I always imagine the 1810s, personally**. Too much later than that and we drift away from the age of sail and into the age of steam. I imagine though, that each of us have a different timeframe we’re envisioning.*
>
>

> *[...]*
>
>

> *From what I know, **the Regency period refers specifically to the nine years when George IV was prince regent** (1811-1820, I think), and is part of the Georgian period, which ended in the 1840s. Stylistically, there’s plenty of overlap and all the* A Manor of Speaking *shows could happen almost anytime in the first half of the 19th century. If you get too far before that, though, things are messy with the French Revolution and Napoleon and all that. That’s actually the time frame I know a bit more about as I was recently reading The Black Count, a biography of Alex Dumas, the father of the author Alexandre Dumas and a very accomplished general. And the regency period wasn’t exactly free of conflict either, with the war of 1812 and what not. That’s where I figured the Countess and her uncle made their fortunes and why, at least in my head, we’re mid 1810s.*
>
>

Leopold's formula, *five years from Ascension of His Majesty to the Throne*, seems to set the date at, or very close to, 1816.

**Rising Son of Rome (the)**: a scandalous novel penned by Harriet MacNamara's boyfriend, Alexandre Met'ncombs, under the pen name W. E. Partridge.

**Six Spears of Spartha (the)**: a novel penned by W. E. Partridge. Contrary to what one may think, the author is not interested in warfare.

**Shiny Trinket (the)**: a store, where prices are cheap enough to not bat an eye, from which Harriet stole a present for Thomasin, a weird bird. *If you need Materials for Outfits, Decoration, or for a Masquerade, Come Feather your Nest at The Shiny Trinket!*

## Notes

1. ↑ See Ep 2.
2. ↑ Anna renounced her masked personality during Ep 2. The countess had no use for it.
3. ↑ Whom she had met at least twice in the past: when she was first knighted, and when she got her peerage.
4. ↑ See Ep 4.
5. ↑ See Ep 4.
6. ↑ Or dowager, to use Lauren's word.
7. ↑ The name actually showed up in chat.
8. ↑ See Ep 2.
9. ↑ See Ep 4.
10. ↑ See Ep 4.
11. ↑ See Ep 2.
12. ↑ See Ep 4.
13. ↑ See Ep 2.
14. ↑ See Ep 3.
15. ↑ See Ep 2.
16. ↑ See Ep 4.
17. ↑ *NftE*: I had to check the spelling with Scotland.
18. ↑ See Ep 4.
19. ↑ And Lauren, in Ep 4.
20. ↑ or, to be frank, Frank.
21. ↑ See Ep 4.
22. ↑ *NftE*: No bragging here, none at all. Nope.
23. ↑ See Eleanor's monologue at the end of Ep 2.
24. ↑ Source: Anna. Pulled from Discord.
25. ↑ As laid out by the Falconer in the *Falcon's Log*. See Ep 2.
26. ↑ Borrowing this one from Lauren.
27. ↑ *NftE*: Lizzie concluded this hilarious trolling of her husband with: *And my job here is done*. The rest of the cast applauded.
28. ↑ *NftE*: More kudos at the end of this scene. Also, this:
A.J. : *Why did I do this?*
Lauren: *You hate yourself, you love your life.*
Lizzie: *You're welcome.*
29. ↑ *NftE*: <3 it. Ain't that great?
30. ↑ Here are two related suggestions from chat:
**@Iffrithiel**: The Rooster's Morning Warble
**@GrinnyWeasley**: The Rooster Warbles in Paris
31. ↑ a.k.a. *The Falcons' nest*.
32. ↑ #Promptbird
33. ↑ To which the Dove reacts: *You're basically dead!* *NftE*: this running joke doesn't get old.
34. ↑ Here, more trolling, this about about the Falconeer, the legendary hero who is extremely old.
35. ↑ That is, a period-appropriate one.
36. ↑ Which led to this proposal in chat, by @bpphantom: Written by D. Owager
37. ↑ *NftE*: about the heist
38. ↑ His connections, including the Falconeer, will take his side.
39. ↑ Because William was at the meeting and saw everything. *NftE*: A little bird told me he even took copious notes.
40. ↑ And Charlemagne is mentioned again.
41. ↑ Or, rather, Anna summons him through one of Eleanor's Resolve tokens.
42. ↑ Summoned by a Resolve token from Lauren.
43. ↑ In Lauren (who played her) 's words: *she may be the actual worst*.
44. ↑ This last monologue of Wallingford's came in the epistolary phase.
45. ↑ *NftE*: Wallingford.
46. ↑ *NftE*: This editor and Geek Space don't endorse crime in any way, shape or form.
47. ↑ *NftE*: Not sure I got this one right. At any rate, it was a reference to the Dove's white costume being adequate camouflage in the clouds and the mists of the country.
48. ↑ Source: Leopold, in Ep 2.
49. ↑ See Ep 1 and later.
50. ↑ See Ep 1 and later.
51. ↑ Introduced by @pumpikin1. Quote from a donation message by @pumpikin1.
52. ↑ *NftE*: The mixing of real and pen name is no error. As confirmed by A.J.: *It was on purpose for him accepting his new place in life*.
53. ↑ See Ep 1 and later.
54. ↑ Introduced by @pumpikin1. Text taken from a donation message by @pumpikin1.
55. ↑ Lizzie didn't let A.J. finish the sentence. She completed it herself: ... there is a Slayer. See Ep 2.
56. ↑ Introduced by @pumpikin1. Text taken from a donation message by @pumpikin1.
57. ↑ Source: Harriet, to Catherine, in Ep 2. And then it dawns on Catherine, who saw the word in a book, what it is all about: *Oh, that sort of caring*.
58. ↑ See Ep 4.
59. ↑ Definition by Harriet. See Ep 2.
60. ↑ *NftE*: By someone you could even say has a veritable encyclopedic knowledge of the local goings-on. 😇
61. ↑ See Ep 2.
62. ↑ See Ep 3. *NftE*: This title may have given rise to some pointed phrasing.
63. ↑ Introduced by @pumpikin1. Text taken from a donation message by @pumpikin1.