Fashion covers a host of ills; in Lady Ada Towneley's case, expensive habits in jewelry and clothing, added to the fact that she stands to become the Countess of Bridgewater upon her father's death and wields her wit like a rapier, very nearly obscure the fact that her features are rather plain, verging on insipid. A weak chin and bland colouring (brown eyes and hair are hardly remarkable) have rendered would-be portraitists hapless to present an appealing view of their subject... yet, engaged in conversation, few notice those flaws as much as they do her talent for mimicry or witticisms on a variety of subjects.

Useful Rumours & Gossip

Her husband, the Hon. Wm. Towneley MP, is happily ensconced in London nearly year-round, and he and Ada are almost never seen in each others' company, which is reputedly why their marriage has been so successful. (Wags have been known to quip that Lady Ada's correspondence with several of her husband's mistresses, past and prior, may be at least as responsible.)

Her own affairs are numerous and equally poorly-disguised, by the standards of society; however, a persistent rumour that she denies is that among her amours was her husband's uncle Charles, prior to his death five years ago.