"Capital R Rake"
Daphne arrives in London for Eloise's coming out in society. A nervous Eloise's presentation to the Queen is interrupted by the arrival of a new Lady Whistledown pamphlet, the distribution of which Penelope watches proudly from her window. Lady Whistledown challenges the Queen to name the diamond of the season.
Anthony expresses his desire to marry any woman who meets his qualifications, and sets up droll interviews with the eligible ladies of the ton while he manages the estate. However, none of the women meet his standards. On an early morning ride he sees a young woman on horseback and struggles to catch up to her. Once he does, the two share some banter.
The young woman is Kate Sharma, who, along with her mother Lady Mary and genteel younger sister Edwina, is a guest of Lady Danbury for the season. Kate and Mary hope to overcome the scandal of Mary's departure from English society years prior and find a rich husband for Edwina.
Eloise expresses disappointment with Lady Whistledown, which miffs Penelope. The Featheringtons' finances are running low and the new Lord Featherington has not yet arrived.
At Lady Danbury's ball, the Sharmas make an impression and the sisters take note of the bachelors in attendance. Lady Featherington is accosted by the Finches, who pressure her about Philippa's dowry. Kate overhears Anthony talking about his flippant view of marriage and is disgusted. Later, Kate tells Lady Danbury that their finances are struggling, and that Mary's aristocratic parents, the Sheffields, will only cover Edwina's dowry if she marries a member of the ton.
Queen Charlotte hosts her own ball, during which Eloise and Edwina are properly presented to her. To Kate's disgust, Anthony dances with Edwina, who is named the diamond of the season. Anthony desires to marry Edwina.
The Featheringtons return home to meet the new heir, Jack, who has just arrived from America to take over the baronetcy from his deceased father. He breezily assures them that they are taken care of.
Tropes:
- Break-Up Bonfire: Upon receiving the program advertising his former mistress, Siena's, next performance, he immediately burns it to the fireplace.
- Hardwork Montage: There are montages between the scenes of Anthony's attempts to search for a wife and the scenes where he is seen stressed out from doing his tasks as a viscount.
- Harp of Femininity: One of the ladies Anthony interviews expresses her appreciation for the harp as a ladylike instrument. However, he rejects her when he learns she doesn't read.Lady: The harp is a wonderful instrument, my lord, teaching one patience, strength, and an appreciation for beauty, of course.
- How's Your British Accent?: Irish actress Nicola Coughlan usually puts on an RP as English aristocrat Penelope, but when she poses as Lady Whistledown's Irish servant, she uses her natural accent.
- Joke and Receive: When Eloise (a rebellious young lady uncomfortable with being out in society) is presented to the queen, she makes an unpolished comment about preferring emeralds to diamondsnote . After an uncomfortable Beat, the Queen is delighted by her comment, impressed by how Eloise "knew" her favorite necklace was an emerald one. Eloise is horrified at how she's just failed upwards.
- Terrible Interviewees Montage: Anthony has a montage of awkward dates with debutantes.
- Worthy Opponent: Queen Charlotte thinks that Lady Whistledown is a respectable nemesis. She respects someone that has the balls to seemingly disrespect royalty, and commits to finding her identity. She might be put out if she learns that Penelope Featherington, a romantic teenager, is writing the papers, to get some money on the side and show off her writing talent.
