Duchessness

It would make little difference to most of us now whether the Duchess of Portland or her stand-in had posed—except that both might be lacking in any abstract quality of ‘Duchessnesss’.

Take tippy-top care of your Duchessness. / Hugs, / Bess / […] / > With Love & Hugs, / > Rosie S. / > Demented Duchess

If she had a brother she wouldn't be a duchess, she'd just be a <*insert less nobby title for unnecessary sprogs of nobles after the succession has been assured by the birth of an older or male heir*>. / […] pTerry has asserted her accepted duchessness (e.g. her dealings with the Gaiters in Hogfather, for one) so I think that's definite in any case.

By the time Sam swung the camera around to face me, I was pouring tea like I had been born to it. I even had enough wits about me to say, with much duchessness, “Thank you, Palmer, that will be all. I will ring if I need you.” / “As you like, Your Grace. I shall go attend to the many and varied duties which Your Graces have bestowed upon me.”

With every button she pushed the Machine would sing: / bing / a dabbing dose of duchessness / a pretty princess knows / ring / can manner beauty beautifully / as growing sweetly show / zing / and brilliant the sight will be / when seeing does expose / fling / the graceful magnificents of love / for friendship’s vastness grows / wing / a stable set will stability make strong / the ties that bind to loving friends along.

Does she get to keep the Duchessness, what with being divorced? Hmmmm, it appears that she does.

“Stand up, girl. Respect for your elders is all very well, but one duchess should never grovel to another.” / “I stand corrected.” Mariah rose, eyes dancing but voice demure. “But I am the newest and most inexperienced of duchesses. I can’t begin to match your...your duchessness.” / “You will in time,” her grace said grandly, but her lips quirked with amusement.