#because of this Violet couldn't ever relate to Portia's problems and emotions until much much time later

[lyramundana]

I imagine teen Portia as this serious, responsible but low-key playful girl. She doesn't like society's expectations on her, but she deals with it the best she can because she knows there's no escape, so she tries to make the best out of it. She's cunning, gentle and no-bullshit type of person. She can curse at people in such a graceful manner that they rarely notice it's an offensive comment. She has a talent for numbers and helps her father with finantial issues. Despite her resignation to her status in society, she secretly dreams of creating her own bussiness and become rich enough so that her parents don’t need to marry her off, and she’s determined to do it. She has a brother, but their relationship is not really the warmest and Portia kinda resents him for being the heir despite not being suited. Her mother is a rather cold woman, who sees her children as chores she had to fulfill, and treating Portia as an extension of herself, constantly pushing her to be a perfect lady to feel better about her own misery.

We’ve already seen teen Violet in Queen Charlotte, but I’ll add my headcanons anyway. She’s pretty much like in the series, but her and Portia become friends shortly after their debut. Violet admires Portia’s intelligence and determination, and Portia sees Violet’s cheerful personality and passion like a puff of fresh air. They both discuss political matters, their hobbies, the inclusion of black people into society with Charlotte and drink tea together. They become inseparable, like twins, and soon enough, the friendship starts to blossom into something deeper. 

Portia realizes she likes women. She always had the suspicion, but now with Violet, the truth is hardly in her face. She doesn’t know how to feel about it. It’s wrong, forbidden, shameful, but it feels so good and sweet. Violet brings light into her life and makes her heart pump so fast she feels dizzy. How can she give up on this, on the only good thing that has come to her life?

Meanwhile, Violet awakens her yandereism with Portia. She’s always been possessive of her, but recently, it has been worse. She can’t stop thinking about Portia. She’s the prettiest girl in her eyes, the smartest, the funniest. She’s perfect for her. They belong with each other. The mere thought of someone else enjoying her company, delighting on her voice, touching her soft skin, makes her blood boil in such ways that it even scares her at first. This feelings tune down a bit when she meets Edmund, who’s just like her. He’s the only person that understands this dark impulse, and so she grows to love him too. 

But their happiness must come to an end. Portia’s family is in ruins because of her mother’s wastes, and now the woman has ran away with a lover of hers, leaving her family behind with all the chaos. In a desesperate attempt to clean the scandal and recover their prestige, Portia’s father marries her off to Baron Archibald Featherington, a man barely younger than him, without asking her of course. Portia almost doesn’t have time to process everything; her mother’s abandonment, her family’s ruin, her new marriage, and she runs to the only person that she feels can comfort her, Violet. Maybe confess her feelings and both running away together.

Only to see the girl in Edmund Bridgerton’s company. Both of them laughing, playing around and clearly enjoying each other. Portia feels her heart break once again. She’s not stupid. She knows what she’s seeing. And so she turns back where she came from. 

She tries to make the best ouf her situation and focus on her new role as baroness. She quickly notices her husband is useless when it comes to money, so she takes care of it. It’s a cold comfort, but the duty distracts her. She’s no longer considered a young lady, but a full woman now, and that changes things. Her friendship with Violet becomes strained, mostly on her part, but it still stands and Violet is the only friend she has now. 

When news of Edmund and Violet’s marriage reach her ears, she decides it’s time to stop. To save herself more heartbreak and just accept what she has now. And so the years pass, they have children, but while Violet’s were conceived out love and passion, Portia had no choice. It was another duty for her. 

This is the reason she became a villainess in the future. Spite, resentment, overall bad luck, and maybe some sabotage from outside parties (that’s another headcanon of mine I won’t dig on now)

@daughter-of-sea-and-wisdom feel free to add or change whatever you like