Dominique Foredale

Dominique, a character in the Desire & Decorum series, is the Dowager Countess of Edgewater and Your Character's grandmother. She is first seen in Book 1, Chapter 1.

Appearance

Dominique has short gray hair, blue eyes, and slightly tanned skin. She wears a bronze dress with shoulder paddings, complete with a gold necklace.

Personality

Dominique is a strong-willed woman, referencing her Cordonian blood as a source of her toughness. It is implied that she was against the decision to send your mother away, as you receive relationship points with her if you say you don't think she supported her husband's decision. She dislikes gossip, saying that she stopped attending sewing circle as soon as she was no longer mistress of Edgewater. She is also not above laughing at the expense of her daughter-in-law Henrietta, whom she dislikes, showing her willingness to disregard manners occasionally.

Occasional lapses in decorum aside, Dominque is a traditional woman and wants you to be a proper lady, though she seems to regard you with great affection. However, she also assumes to know what is best for you, even engaging you to Duke Richards without consulting you. She eventually admits to her mistake, showing some degree of humility.

Chapters

Desire & Decorum

Book 1

Chapter 1: The Journey Ahead
Chapter 2: Ties That Bind
Chapter 3: Threading the Needle
Chapter 4: Best Foot Forward
Chapter 5: The Road to London
Chapter 8: Ill Repute
Chapter 9: An Indelicate Proposal
Chapter 10: On Your Marks
Chapter 11: The Clock Runs Out
Chapter 13: A Better Place
Chapter 14: Fight or Flight
Chapter 16: Season's End

Book 2

Chapter 1: Betrothal & Betrayal
Chapter 2: A Royal Introduction
Chapter 5: Celebration
Chapter 6: A New Set of Rules
Chapter 7: Moonlit Deception
Chapter 8: Hunt Or Be Hunted
Chapter 10: In the Balance
Chapter 11: A New Horizon
Chapter 14: Before the Bell Tolls
Chapter 15: Eye of the Storm
Chapter 16: The Final Vow

Book 3

Chapter 1: Family Matters
Chapter 2: Ashes to Ashes
Chapter 3: A Mother's Touch
Chapter 4: Sugar & Spice
Chapter 5: Double Trouble
Chapter 6: Keep Your Enemies Closer
Chapter 7: London Calling
Chapter 8: The Price of the Past
Chapter 9: Fifth Time's the Charm (Mentioned)
Chapter 10: By Royal Appointment
Chapter 13: Love and War (Mentioned)
Chapter 14: Anticipation (Mentioned)
Chapter 15: With This Ring
Chapter 16: A Joyous Union
Chapter 18: 1817

Desire & Decorum: First Winter

Chapter 1: Deck the Halls
Chapter 2: All I Want for Christmas
Chapter 3: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Chapter 4: Sleigh Ride

Relationships

Rupert Foredale

Dominique had been raised to see compatibility as a matter of breeding and wealth rather than shared ideals and affections. Her marriage to Rupert was a political arrangement, but they grew to love each other and she found common ground with him. She states that he made mistakes in their marriage, but so does everyone, and she does not regret her marriage to him because it gave her the family that she cherishes and she would not want to trade that.

Vincent Foredale

Vincent is her son. He seems to respect his mother, and the two get along well during your time at Edgewater. She is distraught by his death, and mentions that she is glad that they reconciled their differences before his passing. This implies that they did not always have a good relationship, likely due to her failure to prevent Rupert from sending Mary away.

Your Character

Your character is her granddaughter. She wants her to succeed and marry someone rich. Out of all four of the love interests your character can pursue, Dominique is the most receptive to Ernest Sinclaire due to his family's pedigree and the history that both families have shared over the years. She can also approve of Prince Hamid, although she expresses concern over the fact that he travels frequently. She does not approve of Luke Harper as a husband due to his lower rank, nor does she approve of the idea of openly being with Annabelle Parsons.

Duke Richards

Because she only knows the Duke by reputation (that is, she knows his title, land holdings, and wealth), she pushes you to gain his attention and an offer of marriage. In the end of Book 1, she arranges your engagement to him, despite your arguments. However, by Book 2, Chapter 6, she realizes the error of her ways.

Queen Charlotte

Dominique was able to bring her to stop the wedding between your character and Duke Richards in Book 2, Chapter 16. She mentions that they are friends. They had bonded over their marriages being political arrangements and both of them were foreign brides.

Other Looks

Miscellaneous

Trivia

In Book 1, Chapter 3, she mentioned that she is from Cordonia, but that she has lived in England since she was seventeen. Her father was the Cordonian ambassador to England.
In Book 2, Chapter 16, she mentions that her marriage was a political arrangement. While she didn't know her betrothed well, she learned to love him in time.
The name Dominique is of French origin, which means "belonging to the Lord".