Albina Northwick

### Likes

Learning and expanding her knowledge. Reading. Exploring cultures. Music, composing, playing and listening Spending time with her sibling.. The sea and its breeze. Luxurious dresses. Honesty. Having fun. Dancing.

### Dislikes

Feeling caged. The cold. Social expectations of a marchioness. Etiquette of a ball. Sitting still look pretty.

Albina’s parents had miraculously met in their first season, her father the already ranked as a Marquess, her mother nothing more than an endearing daughter of a baron. They had fallen deeply in love, and so the couple had been embraced by society. Albina is the oldest of the four Northwick children, albeit by a matter of mere minutes. She and her twin were only born ten months after their parents marriage. Her childhood was a blissful one, she spent her time between the city of London and their ‘country house’ near the Welsh coastline. She enjoyed a childhood that was mostly carefree in a strict yet loving household, that is, until she reached the mere age of twelve. Life drastically changed with the unfortunate demise of the head of the house, the Marquess of Aberporth, but most importantly, her papa, her father. As her mama went into mourning, hiding away in her bedchambers for days, her twin sister went awry, and her younger siblings were only 10, 8 and 4, all fell on her shoulders, and those of the staff that is. The family was barely hanging on. At thesame time however, this also granted her with the freedom she has so desired. No more prying eyes if she were to study a subject thathad peaked her interest, less voices telling her to always be the most ladylike self she could be. Between the age of twelve and eighteen,a significant amount of her time was spend studying, reading literature, listening to, playing and composing music, learning languages, but also the traditionally more ‘feminine’ skills such as painting and embroidery.  In that time as well, with the lack of attention from her mother, she became very close to her spinstress aunt, who was one of the strongest female figures in her life, yet, how remote and scrutinised she was from society made Albine pity her at the same time.Over these years, she had found her ways around the restrictions that had been put on her by the societal system. While she was not yet officially out in society, she knew that as the oldest child of the lineage, how she was viewed by the upper classes mattered. It mattered not only for her own prospects, but those of her younger siblings as well. Therefore she was in this everlasting balance between abiding by the system, and where possible find ways around as to not lose her authentic self and follow her own wants and desires. As she came of age, she was presented by her mother into society alongside her twin, and attended her first season of balls and feasts. While she had not particularly enjoyed all the stiffness of the rules and restrictions, being able to socialise and wear beautiful long gowns she had only dreamed off, was right in her alley. There truly had been no expenses spared, the modiste would supply both sisters with the most stunning freshly sown gowns throughout the whole season. During her debut season, it came to be that she had to refuse many a suitor, she was not just planning on marrying anyone. While multiple men had seen her physical beauty, they had not appreciated her person, who she was on the inside. With her brother now officially being functioning Marquess of Aberpoth, and her sister having been sent off to marry in their first season, this season there is no more time to play around, and more societal pressure on her than ever before to find a husband. Her brothers position in the ton very much depends on the connections. If she wants to do well by her family’s name, this might very well be the last season she has before society might begin to question her name and worthiness.

## Personality

Nothing in Albina likes being the daughter of a Marquess, not because she did not fancy the attention, no. Albina loves attention. The problem is, Albina is very much what one would call a free soul. Someone who absolutely stives to be independent, live the life they want to live it. If Albina could, she would love to study in a university, knowledge, learning new things is what she is passionate about. If she could, she would want to travel around anywhere, travel the world, learn about other cultures and people, all around the world, but alas, her being a Marquess is like a golden cage for her. A cage in which, she being a young women, is often not seen or valued for anything more than her looks or being able to carry children. Albina wants that love match like her parents had, she wants children, practically having helped raise her siblings, she adores children, but she also wants to be able to live her own live. Have her freedom, be friends with whoever she wishes to be friends with regardless of their rank,  social status, or gender for that matter, learn about things that fascinate her. At times, Albina wishes she was a born a boy, At times, Albina wishes she was not born as a first child of a Marquess. It has it advantages, that is clear as day, always getting everything she wanted, having multiple family mansions, having her title, it made Albina quite vain, spoiled and even a tad bit  arrogant at times. She has a certain standard of living and comfort that she has been used to since childhood, and that shows in how she thinks about the world.

For social events, which she has been attending often since her introduction in society, she can spend hours upon hours in her dressing room. Preparing herself, together with her maid, staring frantically at the mirror  to make sure every detail about her appearance is flawless. In that process, she is as much a perfectionist as anyone could be. This exterior almost wall of perfection, might make her come across as cold and quite unapproachable to many on  first impression. However, once she becomes comfortable, she is not afraid to let loose, make acquaintance with as many people as possible, and you could bet on her dance card being filled with many different names as she can get on it every night. Albina is a very social and outgoing person, meeting new people or talking with old friends, any of which gives her energy and new inspirations. She loves hearing new insights and perspectives that she might not have considered herself. While she enjoys the more light conversations, from time to time she needs to have deeper conversations, or might I even dare say a debate, one where she can show off her intelligence. There surely are more important matters than the latest gossip or the weather. Albina likes to be challenged mentally, that is when the best part of her comes out. While quite ironically,  she might be stubborn and have a hard time accepting when she is in the wrong. She has quite a strong and dominant personality, not afraid to bend rules a bit to get what she wants. If she sees someone who peaks an interest and she wishes to converse with, she makes that first step and  will surely try to make a formal introduction happen.

### Cornwallis Northwick

Albina's *papa* passed away when she was just 12 years old. Albina shared a particularly close bond with her father, making his loss especially difficult for her. Despite the emotional strain, Albina felt the responsibility to remain strong and serve as a pillar of support for her family during this challenging time. In a later revelation, Albina learned that her father's death occurred under suspicious circumstances, in contrast to the natural causes her mother had initially communicated to the 12-year-old Albina and her siblings.

### Gertude Northwick nee Bowring

Albina's relationship with her mother has always been complex, marked by the expectation that Albina conform to the ideals of a perfect regency lady. As Albina doesn't align with these societal expectations, the mother-daughter bond has experienced significant strain. The gap widened following Albina's father's death, with her mother's grief adding another layer of complexity. Albina, feeling unsupported during that challenging time, harbored some blame towards her mother. Now, her mother's primary concern is securing a respectable match for Albina, ideally with a (future) duke, intensifying the pressure on Albina to conform to societal norms.

### Florinda Elfort nee Northwick

Florinda, Albina's twin sister and younger by a few minutes, has always been Albina's inseparable companion. The bond between them is so profound that Albina considers Florinda the one person she would go to any lengths to protect. The depth of their connection is evident in Albina's profound care for her twin. Unfortunately, circumstances forced a separation as Florinda was compelled by their mother to marry Mervyn Elfort, an elder widower, last season. Florinda has since moved to Manchester and now has a son. Despite the physical distance, Albina endeavors to spend time with her twin and her nephew whenever possible, cherishing the moments they can share.

### Harvey Northwick

Despite being barely 18, Harvey has already earned a reputation as a rake during his studies at Oxford. Indifferent to societal expectations, he firmly believes in the philosophy that people should pursue their desires freely. This outlook forms a strong bond between him and Albina, even though she occasionally feels a tinge of envy for her brother's unrestrained freedom. Regardless of any complexities in their relationship, Harvey remains a steadfast ally for Albina. He is always ready to support her in whatever she needs, ensuring a reliable and understanding presence in her life.

### Catherine Northwick

Catherine, the third-born Northwick daughter, stands as the one sibling with whom Albina shares the least closeness. In the eyes of their mother, Catherine holds the position of being the favorite daughter, seamlessly embodying the ideal image of a regency lady. While Albina does care about Catherine, a subtle undercurrent of frustration lingers due to Catherine's seemingly flawless perfection. The stark contrast between Albina's more rebellious nature and Catherine's adherence to societal expectations creates a nuanced dynamic between the two sisters.

### Benadicta Northwick

Benadicta, the youngest in the family, mirrors her position with her still-immature and playful nature. Albina, as the big sister, feels a compelling urge to protect her. Albina's influence is significant in Benadicta's life, and she is gradually evolving into a little reflection of Albina. While Albina takes pleasure in witnessing this transformation, their mother harbors a sense of apprehension, dreading the emergence of similarities that deviate from societal expectations.

## Relationships

### Aurelia Julliet Ellis

Albina and Aurelia share a longstanding friendship that traces back to their childhood, a bond that has been incredibly close over the years. Albina has always regarded Aurelia as her best friend, and their relationship has been characterized by mutual support. However, challenges emerged with the onset of their debut and Aurelia's unfortunate accident, causing a strain on their friendship. The question now lingers: can they rediscover the spark that once defined their connection, or will the prevailing challenges and negative emotions cast a shadow over their friendship?

### Cassian Adam Ellis

Through Albina's friendship with Aurelia, she also became acquainted with Aurelia's older brother, Cassian. During their childhood, they shared a fleeting romance - innocent stolen moments, perhaps a small kiss - that young and naive Albina believed would blossom into a beautiful marriage over the years. However, their connection took an unexpected turn, and one day, Cassian disappeared from her life, leaving poor Albina bewildered and without a clear understanding of the reasons behind his departure. Despite occasional glimpses of Cassian at the Ellis estate during visits to Aurelia, the once-shared connection between them appeared to have faded away.

### Adeline Grace Delaney

Adeline, another of Albina's cherished childhood friends, epitomizes the grace and perfection of a regency lady. In contrast, Albina brings a more rebellious spirit to the friendship. Their connection is a harmonious blend, offering mutual enjoyment and benefits as they complement each other effortlessly. The friendship thrives on a delicate balance, with each lady lending support where necessary and serving as a reminder of qualities the other may lack.

### Margaret Hastingston

Mirela Hastingston and Gertrude Nothwick have been good friends for a while now. Mirela would invite her and her kids over all the time, trying to help a lot when her husband died. That’s how Margo and Albina spent a lot of times together and why they are now really close. Margo would annoy her with flowers but listen to everything Albina composes, be her biggest fan. Albi would sort of pretend she’s annoyed by Margo talking about flowers so much but secretly she really loves it and actually likes learning a bit about them! They did a lot of fun things when they were younger, once they stumbled upon an abandoned and overgrown garden nestled behind their neighboring estates. The garden had been forgotten for generations, with roses and other flowers running wild, and a gazebo stood in a state of disrepair. They decided to restore the garden, spent weeks cleaning, weeding, and planting. It became their secret lil sanctuary, a place where they could escape their upper-class lives, especially at this time.

### Archibald Hastingston

Mirela Hastingston and Gertrude Nothwick have been good friends for a while now. Mirela would invite her and her kids over all the time, trying to help a lot when her husband died. That’s how Margo and Albina spent a lot of times together and why they are now really close - how Albina came to know Archie too. They never really spent that much time together, but Albina found herself developing a crush on Archie. He didn’t know she had a crush on him, but for her, her feelings were confirmed after one of their shared family dinners when he gave in to her flirting and kissed her, only to realize he was not interested in her and still had feelings for someone else, something that hurt Albina quite a lot. Things have been a little awkward between them but he doesn’t want to let that ruin a nice little friendship, or her friendship with Margo.