# Lady Alexandrina De Courcy — The Small House at Allington character guide > Lady Alexandrina De Courcy in The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Alexandrina, Lady Alexandrina, Alexandrina De Courcy **First appearance:** 0015-xvi-mr-crosbie-meets-an-old-clergyman-on-his-way-to-courcy-castle ## Snapshot A cool, exacting De Courcy daughter who reads her letters while being dressed and never lets her maids see her flinch, she marries for position and finds the bargain bitter. ## Who they are Lady Alexandrina belongs to the proud, cash-poor De Courcy clan, whose London season is a market in which daughters are priced and exchanged. Married to a man she considers beneath her, she discovers that a husband who counts the cost of a fly can make even a titled wife feel imprisoned. Her cold composure and her mother's counsel keep her from open revolt, but her discontent quietly exposes what such marriages cost the women who make them. ## In the story ### [Lilian Dale Becomes a Butterfly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xii-lilian-dale-becomes-a-butterfly) Mentioned as one of the De Courcy daughters who particularly wants Crosbie to visit Courcy Castle. ### [Courcy Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xvii-courcy-castle) Lady Alexandrina converses with Crosbie, showing interest in his engagement and allowing him to mystify her about his true intentions. ### [Lily Dale's First Love-Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xviii-lily-dale-s-first-love-letter) The object of Crosbie's weak fondness, part of the scheme to detach him from Lily. ### [Mr. Plantagenet Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xxiii-mr-plantagenet-palliser) Pressures Crosbie to fulfill his promise to confess his feelings, showing her interest in him despite his engagement. ### [XXIV: A Mother-in-Law and a Father-in-Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xxiv-a-mother-in-law-and-a-father-in-law) Alexandrina is present during the Countess's conversation with Crosbie, showing a reserved demeanor and wearing a white muslin peignoir. ### [Adolphus Crosbie Spends an Evening at His Club](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xxv-adolphus-crosbie-spends-an-evening-at-his-club) Referenced as the woman Crosbie now intends to marry, having abandoned Lily. ### [Lord De Courcy in the Bosom of His Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xxvi-lord-de-courcy-in-the-bosom-of-his-family) Discussed as Crosbie's new betrothed; defends herself to Lady Amelia regarding Crosbie's past engagement. ### [XXVII: “On My Honour, I Do Not Understand It.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xxvii-on-my-honour-i-do-not-understand-it) Reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of marrying Crosbie, resolving to be a dutiful wife despite her family's lukewarm support. ### [The Board](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xxviii-the-board) Crosbie's new fiancée, whom he now sees as ugly and graceless compared to Lily. ### [Preparations for the Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xl-preparations-for-the-wedding) Insists on a proper trousseau, shows coldness toward Crosbie, withdraws her hand when he tries to caress her. ### [Valentine's Day at Allington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xliv-valentine-s-day-at-allington) Alexandrina is the bride in the wedding that takes place on Valentine's Day. ### [Valentine’s Day in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xlv-valentine-s-day-in-london) The bride, who is more concerned about her bonnet and dressing-case than about emotional connection with her new husband. ### [XLVIII: Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/xlviii-nemesis) Finds her new life dull and querulous, confesses to Amelia that she has made a mistake. ### [Showing How Mr. Crosbie Became Again a Happy Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/lvi-showing-how-mr-crosbie-became-again-a-happy-man) Complains to her mother about Crosbie's silence, lack of companionship, and stinginess; seeks permission to accompany her mother to Baden-Baden. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/chapters/lx-conclusion) Lives with her mother at Baden-Baden in reduced circumstances, sharing a one-horse carriage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/characters/alexandrina_de_courcy - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_small_house_at_allington_se/characters