The Shadow of Great Britain

Spring has come, all things are waking, and once again it is the season when the animals begin to breed; the air in the woods is thick with the scent of hormones...

Ahem, my apologies; perhaps it ought to be described in another way.

With the coming of spring and flowers, London’s social season arrives on cue.

Almost within the space of a week, the main roads leading to the capital suddenly grow crowded. Carriages from the country roll in one after another, lining up impatiently at the city gates. The coachmen nod to one another in greeting, as if wordlessly confirming between themselves—yes, the season has truly begun.

Of all districts in London, Mayfair and Belgravia, where the upper classes cluster, are the first to awaken.

On the paths in Hyde Park, this change is especially obvious; the walkers, riders, and people in open carriages are noticeably more numerous than in winter.

Those luxurious houses that had spent the winter with doors and windows shut, keeping on only a gatekeeper, now open wide again.

The servants here have long since come up to town weeks in advance. First they light fires, air out the rooms, count the silver in the sideboard and the precious artworks in the drawing room, and then conduct a thorough cleaning, driving every speck of winter dust out of the house.

By the time the mistress arrives, the fireplaces are already lit, the tableware laid out, as though she had never left at all.

The ladies’ return to town is usually not ostentatious, but it is highly orderly. As the good helpmeets of their husbands, managing the family’s social circle is their primary duty. Thus, from the first day back in London, invitations begin to circulate again, visiting cards are once more delivered, and ladies who are acquainted with one another will, within a week, use servants or mutual friends to confirm whether the others have returned to town.

Compared with the discreet mothers, the appearance of the young ladies is far more conspicuous. They usually go out in the afternoon, either driving to the park or accompanying their mothers on calls to relatives and friends. Newly tailored spring dresses, season-appropriate colours, and whether they wear ornaments symbolising a ”first appearance in the social season” will all be carefully noted by young men with an eye for such things.

Satirical cartoon ”The Coming of the Season”, published in the 1870s in Harper’s Bazaar

Most girls proudly throw aside their books the moment they are promoted from the classroom to the ballroom salon, vowing to become the new generation of social belles. After all, in order to qualify for court balls, they have been receiving strict training in etiquette since childhood. Before their official debut, most are even sent by their parents to special schools of court etiquette for several months’ finishing: learning a foreign language, refining their dancing, bearing, and that all‑important Royal curtsey. Now, at last, they have the chance to put their life’s learning into practice.

Their fathers and mothers, for their part, are firmly resolved to push these well‑bred daughters onto the marriage market. To hook a golden husband, they do not hesitate to spend vast amounts of time poring over the Noble List, which records the names of all heirs of the Nobility of Britain, and use it as the basis for deciding in which social settings their daughters will appear over the next few months.

After all, the events of the season are far too numerous: the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual flower show, the Royal Academy of Arts summer exhibition, the Royal Ascot Race Meeting, the Royal Regatta, Eton College’s Fourth of June celebrations, and an endless variety of grand balls... It is, of course, utterly impossible to attend them all.

To cope with these engagements, the young ladies typically must prepare at least six gowns, one of which must be white, reserved for the Royal court ball in May. Another two or three must be long and relatively formal, for London’s large balls. The remainder may be short, suitable for informal private dances. And of course, they need at least six pairs of shoes, gloves, fans, and hats to match.

As a rule, Arthur pays little attention to the social season, for over a very long stretch of time he was seldom considered a participant in it at all. Even after he received the title of Sir, he still was not regarded as one of the set. On the rare occasions he was invited, the hosts of social entertainments were usually merchants and factory owners; he scarcely received invitations even from country gentlemen and landlords.

There was nothing to be done; society is simply this shallow. However great his power at Scotland Yard, however firmly he stands at the pinnacle of Britain’s Internal Affairs System—still! If you are not Nobility, you will always rank a step lower in these Nobility‑worshipping social circles.

He has little to complain about on that score, for even within the Nobility itself there are ranks upon ranks.

The Royal Family’s Nobility are, of course, the most exalted, followed in turn by those whose titles are highest down to those of lesser degree.

The Nobility of Ireland are not esteemed as highly as those of Scotland, and the Nobility of Scotland are less sought after than those of England.

Even among the Nobility of England, one must sort them by the antiquity and lineage of their houses.

Among commoners, clergy, Army and Navy Officers, doctors, and court lawyers clearly stand a cut above the rest, since these professions count as ”noble” occupations; therefore their wives and daughters are entitled to the honour of an audience with the Royal Family. As for the wives and daughters of businessmen (bankers excepted), they cannot enjoy such privilege.

Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that they feel deeply honoured when Sir Arthur happens to appear at the social balls they host.

After all, Sir Arthur is already very nearly the pinnacle of their particular stratum.