Will Mondrich is a former boxer and good friend of Simon Basset, the main shareholder of his former club.
History[]
Boxing Career[]
Simon often sparred with Will when he was upset about something, helping Will prepare for his matches. They were sparring when Anthony Bridgerton interrupted and stepped into the ring against Simon. Later, Simon went back to Will when Daphne resigned herself to marrying Nigel. Will took that to mean Simon was again free to do as he pleased, though Simon didn't seem pleased by this.[1]
Simon came to tell Will he was leaving London and wouldn't be there for his next boxing match. Will begged him to stay as he wasn't favored to win and was concerned about losing. When they arrived at the match, they met Archibald Featherington and encouraged him to bet on Will. Lord Featherington rejected his advice and bet on Will's opponent instead. The fight began and Will ultimately won.
When Anthony challenged Simon to a duel, he went back to Will's house in search of a drink. Will told Simon to apologize, but Simon told him that wouldn't be enough, so Will got himself a drink as well, saying he'd need it to be Simon's second.
The next morning, Will and Simon arrived for the duel. Will inspected the guns and approved them before the duel began. When the two turned to face each other, Simon pointed his gun straight up while Anthony fired at Simon, but missed. Daphne then rode in and declared that she needed to marry Simon immediately or risk being ruined by Cressida Cowper, who had seen the two of them alone together.[2]
After becoming engaged to Daphne, Simon came to Will's house and got himself drunk, causing Will to wonder if marrying Daphne would be so horrible. Simon said he felt awful because Daphne had to fight for a marriage she didn't want because of him. The next morning, Simon woke still at Will's house and invited Will and Alice to his wedding. They agreed and when Simon and Daphne were granted a special license to marry quickly, Will and his wife, Alice, came to the wedding.[3]
When Simon returned to London with Daphne when her brother, Colin Bridgerton, was involved in a scandal, Simon went to Will and they sparred. Will realized Simon was using it to work out his anger and asked Simon what happened, but Simon denied that anything had happened.
After seeing a flier for Will's next fight, Lord Featherington came to Will and offered him a cut of the winnings if Will would throw the fight. Will said his honor wasn't for sale, but after Lord Featherington appealed to his vulnerability and suggested that one fight could solve all their problems. He asked Will to consider it and after he left, Will did.[4]
Will lay awake at night, considering Featherington's proposal. As he prepared for his fight, he told Alice he couldn't fight forever and wanted to stop living fight to fight and plan for their futures. He suggested he might lose on purpose and use that money to make them comfortable. When the fight began, Will took a shot to his shoulder. He then held his shoulder and did not return the next few punches before falling to the ground. When he didn't get back up, his opponent, The Beast, was declared the winner.
After the fight, Simon confronted Will, asking why Will didn't come to him when he needed more money. Will said he didn't want charity and taking care of one's family was honorable, even if it meant throwing a fight.
Will and Alice later attended Simon and Daphne's party, where Alice wore a new necklace.[5]
Club Opening[]
At the Royal Races, Will told the Bridgerton brothers that he was opening a gentlemen's club and invited them to come to the grand opening. Benedict came as invited and Will told him George Cruikshank was there and he had connections in the art world. That was what Will wanted for his club, for all gentlemen to be welcome there.[6]
Will and Alice went to the lake with the other members of the ton. He thought he should be working at the club, but Alice told him they needed to recruit more members. When Jack approached them, saying he'd heard about Will's boxing prowess from America, Alice invited him to the club while Will was more reluctant to speak to him.[7]
Suspicions about Jack[]
While the guests waited to hear if the wedding between Edwina and Anthony would go forward, they mingled outside. Will was present when Lord Goring inquired about investing in Jack's mines. Will questioned Jack's response, as it seemed to indicate that Jack wasn't in charge. Jack turned the tables on Will, asking about his club and wondering what a boxer knew about running a business. Will said he knew as much as a gentleman knew about mining.[8]
Business at his club died down as more men in the ton made deals with Jack. Jack came in one day while the club was otherwise almost empty and hinted to Will that he knew about Will's deal with the late Lord Featherington. Will stayed silent on the matter, neither confirming nor denying.[9]
Will watched as Colin and Jack met in the club. Alice told him to mind his own business, meaning the club, but Will approached them and warned Colin not to entertain any dealings with Jack. Jack took offense to Will calling him a swindler, but Will said his cousin was the same way and Will got caught up in that. Colin said that the Featheringtons were a fine family and their reputation was unfairly sullied. He warned Will not to make accusations like that when he couldn't afford to lose customers. He suggested finding a new place for them to do business.
Colin later returned and told Will he was right about Jack. He apologized and brought a crowd of new customers to the club.[10]
Nicky's Title[]
Will and Alice were shocked when Walter Dundas came to Will's club and told them Alice's great-aunt had died and left Nicky an estate and a title. The family quickly moved to the new estate so Nicky could assume his title.[11] Mrs. Khanna showed them around the estate, escorting Alice and Will to their separate bedchambers, as she said it was done. Alice and Will both struggled with sleeping apart.
At their first ball, Will and Alice struggled with feeling like they didn't belong. Benedict noticed them entering and told them not to be intimidated and that not resisting was the easiest way through. He also informed Will that as a married couple, the rules were more relaxed for them, as the rules were designed to keep the marriage mart working.
That night, Will joined Alice in her bedchambers, saying they were going to do things their own way. Alice expressed that she was worried that they would mess something up and it would all go away, but after talking to Will, she decided she'd do away with Lady Kent's clothes, but wanted to keep the jewels.[12]
Alice and Will attended a party, where Alice debuted her new style. They met up with Colin and Alice admitted she'd read about what he did for Penelope in Lady Whistledown and she found it admirable, not scandalous. Will agreed that it was the mark of a good man to help those in need. Later, while talking, Will told Alice he missed working at the club, which she missed spending time at home. They agreed not to go to the ball that evening. Instead, Will went to the club, where he tended the bar. Lord Garret came in and told Will that he could no longer own the bar as members of society do not work. Will said he thought he had some freedom as a member of society, but Lord Garret told him it only extended so far.[13]
Will was dismayed when more people told Will he had to give up the club. Alice suggested maybe he should just sell the club, upsetting him. He was insistent that he would be keeping his club. Since Will was unable to afford another bartender, he left Alice to attend a dinner without him.[14]
Betrothal Party[]
While Nicky showed off the new skills he was learning for his new role in society, Will was distracted by his ledge, though Alice encouraged him to set it aside to avoid missing things with their family.
Together, the family attended Colin and Penelope's betrothal party. Alice and Will were pleased when Nicky was called by the two youngest Bridgertons to play with them.
Will and Alice then participated in a game of charades with the other adults, where they also discussed the potential unmasking of Lady Whistledown. They were all shocked when Cressida stood up and told everyone that she was Lady Whistledown and further shocked when Penelope Featherington collapsed.[15]
Club Closing[]
After talking it over, Will and Alice went to Lady Danbury and told her they'd decided to sell the club. She was delighted and said it was the right decision. She encouraged them to draw positive attention to themselves by throwing a ball. They reluctantly agreed.
As he prepared to sell the club, Will drank with Benedict, Colin, and John Stirling, who were celebrating John's engagement to Francesca. He said he was determined not to let the good alcohol go to the new owner, so they drank it all that night.
As they prepared for the party, Will asked Alice if she was enjoying herself and she said she enjoyed the thought of giving the best ball. They were shocked when Cressida showed up at the party uninvited and distributed an announcement that Lady Whistledown would be returning soon.[16]
The night before Colin's wedding, Will went with Colin, Benedict, and John to toast to his marriage. When John got up to leave, Will said he was going to leave as well, as he found it strange to drink in someone else's club.
Will and Alice struggled with their busy social calendar. At the wedding, they spotted the Barragans waving at them and Alice reminded him that they hadn't made it to the Barragans' luncheon. Throughout the wedding event, Will and Alice fielded more invitations.[17] Will and Alice then attended John and Francesca's wedding, a small ceremony at Bridgerton House.[18]
Personality[]
A strapping, up-and-coming boxer climbing London's strict social hierarchy with apprehension due to his newfound celebrity, and his close friendship with the Duke.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Alice Mondrich[]
He is married to Alice Mondrich.
Familial[]
His father was a soldier.[19]
Friendships[]
Simon Basset[]
He is friends with Simon Basset and attended his wedding to Daphne Bridgerton.
Career[]
Will is a boxer and is his family's main source of income. He took an offer from Lord Featherington to throw his match in exchange for enough money that it would sustain his family for a long time. After that fight, he retired from boxing and used the money to open a club.
Notes and Trivia[]
- Will is based on and his name is a spoonerism of the real-life 19th century boxer Bill Richmond.[20]
Gallery[]
|
A more complete gallery with pictures of Will Mondrich (Netflix) can be found here. |
Appearances[]
| Bridgerton, Season 1 | |||||
| #01 | "Diamond of the First Water" | #04 | "An Affair of Honor" | #07 | "Oceans Apart" |
| #02 | "Shock and Delight" | #05 | "The Duke and I" | #08 | "After the Rain" |
| #03 | "Art of the Swoon" | #06 | "Swish" | ||
| Bridgerton, Season 2 | |||||
| #01 | "Capital R Rake" | #04 | "Victory" | #07 | "Harmony" |
| #02 | "Off to the Races" | #05 | "An Unthinkable Fate" | #08 | "The Viscount Who Loved Me" |
| #03 | "A Bee in Your Bonnet" | #06 | "The Choice" | ||
| 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
|