Alfred Debling is a suitor who pursued the affection of Penelope Featherington.
History[]
Lord Debling attended Lady Danbury's Four Seasons Ball. There, he spotted Penelope Featherington, who had just taken a bite of ice cream. He noticed the looks the other young ladies were giving Penelope and deduced that she wasn't popular among them. As Penelope tried to leave the conversation, Cressida Cowper stepped on her dress, causing it to rip as she moved. Debling said he'd find a maid to assist her, but after he left, Penelope then walked away.[1]
When Lord Debling declared his intent to find a wife that season, he drew the interest of the mamas, though they had concerns about his interest in nature and his insistence on eating only vegetables. Cressida approached him at a ball and they talked.
He also talked to Penelope and expressed how he felt like prey with all the mamas. When Penelope told him she found the party dull, he applauded her frankness.
At the hot air balloon debut, he talked to Cressida, who feigned an interest in nature, specifically the great auk, which he dedicated his life to saving from extinction. Penelope joined the conversation and similarly feigned interest in nature. When the hot air balloon became untethered and was at risk for hitting Penelope, Debling covered her with his body, protecting her. After he ensured she was safe, Cressida cried out, saying one of the ropes must have hit her ankle. Debling stepped in to help her get to a seat.
Later, at the Innovations Ball, Debling started talking to Cressida. However, Penelope found him getting some lemonade and admitted to him that she preferred the indoors to outdoors. He appreciated her honesty and told her he wasn't looking for a match exactly like himself. Instead of taking the lemonade to Cressida, he gave it to Penelope and they continued talking and later danced together.[2]
Lord Debling came to the Featherington house to call on Penelope. He brought her a plant so she could enjoy nature from the comfort of her window.
Lord Debling later attended the opening of the Fuller collection, where he talked to Penelope about the Northwest Passage. Debling asked Penelope what kinds of books she enjoys and she told him she was most drawn to tales of love. Under the guise of talking about books, Debling inquired about how he might ask for permission to propose marriage to Penelope. When he asked her if she'd say yes, she said he'd have to read the book to find out.
Debling visited the Featherington house and talked to Portia, who gave him her permission to propose to Penelope. At a ball that evening, Penelope and Debling danced and Penelope asked if he believed love could blossom between them if they formed a practical match. He admitted he wasn't sure because his work held so much of his heart. Before the dance ended, Colin interrupted and asked for a moment with Penelope. Lord Debling stepped away to allow them to resolve whatever they needed to resolve. Cressida stepped in to finish the dance with Debling. While they danced, she told him that Colin and Penelope had been friends since the Featheringtons moved in across the street from the Bridgertons. Once the dance was over, Penelope came back to Debling, prepared to accept his proposal. He asked her why she preferred the drawing room window at her house. When she struggled to answer the question, he realized she loved it for its view of Bridgerton house. She claimed she and Colin were just friends, but he asked her if she wanted them to be more. She stammered and said that the idea of Colin being interested in her was laughable. Lord Debling said that he would be gone on a work trip for three years and that he needed to make a match with someone who wasn't engaged elsewhere and left.[3]
Personality[]
Lord Debling is a serious man who prefers to take a wife who he considers a practical choice.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Penelope Featherington[]
Lord Debling met Penelope at Lady Danbury's Four Seasons Ball, which opened the 1815 social season. Their first encounter was awkward, with Penelope being caught off-guard when he complimented her, something no man ever had done before.[1] He crossed paths with her again sometime after Penelope's arrangement with Colin to help attract a suitor was revealed in Lady Whistledown. They shared pleasant conversation, and Penelope was thrilled when he showed signs of interest in her. He even threw his arms around her to shield her from the hot air balloon gone awry. She briefly competed with Cressida Cowper for his attention, both pretending to share his interest in nature, but Penelope ultimately came clean to him about her true self, which actually secured her his favor, as he greatly admired her honesty.[2]
From then on, he began officially courting Penelope, and eventually asked her mother for her blessing to marry her, much to both Penelope and Portia’s excitement. Later, he disclosed to Penelope that he did not know if he could ever love her, as his job took up a large portion of his heart.[3].
Cressida Cowper[]
Although he did not appeal to her initially, Cressida was urged by her mother to pursue Lord Debling as a suitor. She pretended to share his interests by reading books about nature that she borrowed from Eloise, and got an intimate moment with him by pretending to be injured after the hot air balloon incident. At the next ball, Cressida got his attention, and she seemed to be making progress, until Lord Debling left to fetch her lemonade, and was intercepted by Penelope Featherington, who ended up impressing him with her honesty. He gave her Cressida’s lemonade and then shared a dance with her, leaving Cressida defeated and dismayed[2].
Familial[]
He doesn't get along with his family and decided to go his own way to avoid them.[2]
Career[]
He works as a naturalist and often travels to rural areas with his crew.
Notes and Trivia[]
- He has a staff of 24 and a fleet of curricles.[3]
Gallery[]
Episodic[]
Episode Stills[]
Appearances[]
| Bridgerton, Season 3 | |||||
| #01 | "Out of the Shadows" | #04 | "Old Friends" | #07 | "Joining of Hands" |
| #02 | "How Bright the Moon" | #05 | "Tick Tock" | #08 | "Into the Light" |
| #03 | "Forces of Nature" | #06 | "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" | ||
References
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