Day One: First Impressions

Day One

The rules for the first day are quite simple. The men will check out Charlotte, then she'll scope out the bachelors on offer. After that, free will commences! 

Day Two: Let's Play Some Games With Your Heart

Day Two

Today's agenda is a group activity and then one-on-ones. Two teams of three each get to play cards with Lady Iden. Then, each suitor gets some alone time with her. They'll play two hours of chess and test out some flirts. Any remaining time in each block will be a free will zone. The scoring formula will be nearly the same as Day One's. 

The lower-ranked three men get first crack. Charlotte kicks it off by asking each of the men to name something they like: 

Day Three: Do Not Uproot My Family Tree

Day Three

On the third day of competition, the five remaining bachelors have been instructed to make nice with the Idens. The average daily relationship with the family (with snubs set at -10), multiplied by two, will be added to the base scoring formula for today. The strong emphasis placed on the bachelors' overall relationship with Charlotte's family could send anyone packing. 

On the right is Alexander, Lord Iden (né Grey). He's the father of Charlotte and her siblings and the widower of the late Elizabeth Iden. Frederick, the youngest of the Iden siblings, is about to enter his last year of schooling. His father and sister are currently negotiating his betrothal to Desi Capulet. 

Caroline Iden is the middle sibling and a major reason for this competition. Ignorant and vain, Caroline is heir to her sister's position as Hereditary High Magistrate until Charlotte has her own children. Her husband, George (né Brandon), is often a buffer between the two sisters. Caroline and George have one daughter, Marianne, and a second child on the way (although it doesn't look like it today.)

Day Four: Proud of Your Boy

Day Four

On Day Four*, an army of insurance agents and lawyers complicate production of GTAGH over child labor laws or some such nonsense. A well-supplied craft services table is set out to keep them as placated as possible. The main task today will be for each bachelor to entertain, meet, and/or endure a group of seven children. This will simulate their performance as an involved father. Later, one-on-one dates will occur, during which the bachelors' non-bodily function motives will be tanked. It isn't easy to be a father, but the fair lady must continue to feel appreciated.

The score will be determined by the base formula, plus the average daily score of the kids toward the bachelor *and* the average daily score of the bachelor toward the kids. Snubs will counted at a flat zero, but an overall five point bonus will be awarded if a bachelor scores a uniformly positive impression with the children.

* Day Four happens to take place on a very special day in the Veronese calendar which there are six extra hours in a day (and not because I forgot how to add), which is convenient for insurance reasons. 

The group of children is comprised of three boys - Edmund, Tom, and Henry

And four girls - Julia, Fanny, Mary, and Maria.

Day Five: Kiss the Girl

Day Five

After two days of social/family challenges, Lady Iden is putting the attention back where it belongs. The final three will compete in group and solo settings for her affection and favor. The lowest-scoring bachelor, according to the base formula plus bonus points for the quality of their solo date, will be sent home.

The penultimate day of competition has arrived! Let's have a quick rehash of the final three: 

Strengths: Intelligent, easy-going, tries to please. Also, he's a flipping prince.

Weaknesses: Social situations and chemistry

Strengths: Confident, excellent chemistry, (well-hidden) soft spot for children

Weaknesses: Over-confidence and stubbornness 

Strengths: Warm personality, family-minded, amiable.

Weaknesses: Lack of initiative and maybe too family-minded.

Day Six: And at Last I See the Light

Day Six: Prologue

Charlotte had come to an impasse. 

On the one hand, she had Leon. From the start, she had been attracted to him more than anyone else. The connection was strong, strong enough to survive his cockiness and uneven performances. On the other, she had Thomas. He was quite the opposite of her. His sweetness had seemed a weakness to start, but he had steadily proved himself to be capable of giving her happiness and being the husband she thought a Lady Iden needed. What more could be done to help her choose between them?