From the start of her marriage, Lady Melbourne cultivated friendships that helped her position in society, and her husband's career.
These relationships were frequently with men, some of whom became lovers.
She was noted for discretion in her affairs: she famously remarked that no man was safe with another's secrets and no woman with her own.
Unlike her daughter-in-law, Lady Caroline Lamb, who conducted a very public extramarital affair with Lord Byron, Lady Melbourne had a clear understanding of what society would and would not condone.
She was highly intelligent, if not intellectual; it was said of her that, within the rather narrow limits of her experience, her knowledge of the world was remarkable.

She was a devoted mother and worked tirelessly to advance the careers of all her children, especially William.
Lord David Cecil remarked that few children have had a better mother, although her reputation for immorality caused them some distress: George once came to blows with a friend who said  "your mother is a whore".
William, though admitting that his mother's private life was not blameless, called her "the most sagacious woman [he] ever knew" and remarked that "she kept me straight as long as she lived".

After the marriage in 1774 of Lady Georgiana Spencer to William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, Lady Melbourne became a close friend of and personal advisor to the Duchess.
Until this point, Lady Melbourne had enjoyed unrivalled success as a political hostess and quickly recognised that the young duchess, with a higher rank and better connections, would be a more valuable friend than rival.
The two women were painted, alongside their friend, sculptor Anne Damer, by Daniel Gardner as the Three Witches in his 1775 painting Witches Round the Cauldron.
Lady Melbourne featured as the character of Lady Besford in the Duchess' novel The Sylph.

By contrast, she and the Duchess' sister, Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, disliked each other intensely, and Lady Melbourne's enmity later extended to Henrietta's daughter, Lady Caroline Lamb.
True to her practical nature, she did not allow this dislike  to interfere with her support for her son William's marriage to Caroline, which was a  social step up for the Lamb family, who were still, by the strict social standards of the age, considered to be newcomers to polite society.

By the late 1770s, Lady Melbourne was romantically involved with George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont.
There was a rumour that the Earl had bought her from a previous lover, Lord Coleraine, for £13,000.
Egremont remained unmarried, probably due to Lady Melbourne's influence.
It is believed that he was the father of Lady Melbourne's children William (b. 1779), Emily (b. 1787) and possibly Frederick (b. 1782).
Lord Melbourne, who had affairs of his own, was not greatly troubled by his wife's infidelities.
Only once, it is said, did they quarrel on the subject: this was in the strained atmosphere caused by the death of their eldest son Peniston, the only child whom Melbourne knew to be his own flesh and blood.
Melbourne is said on that occasion to have expressed resentment of his wife's favouritism towards William, whom Melbourne  (like everybody else) believed to be Lord Egremont's son.

In 1782, Lady Melbourne became acquainted with George, Prince of Wales while visiting her son Peniston twice a week at Eton College.
The relationship proved to be of benefit to Lord Melbourne, who was made Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George at Carlton House.
Lady Melbourne's fourth son George (b. 1784) was widely believed to have been fathered by the prince, who acted as the boy's godfather.

Later in life, Lady Melbourne formed a friendship with the poet Lord Byron.
She became his confidante during his affair with her daughter-in-law Lady Caroline Lamb.
Although she approved of her son's marriage on social grounds, Lady Melbourne disliked Caroline intensely and their relationship was always bad.
By contrast she liked Byron, and blamed him neither for having the affair with Caroline, nor for ending it.
Byro
From the start of her marriage, Lady Melbourne cultivated friendships that helped her position in society, and her husband's career. These relationships were frequently with men, some of whom became lovers. She was noted for discretion in her affairs: she famously remarked that no man was safe with another's secrets and no woman with her own. Unlike her daughter-in-law, Lady Caroline Lamb, who conducted a very public extramarital affair with Lord Byron, Lady Melbourne had a clear understanding of what society would and would not condone. She was highly intelligent, if not intellectual; it was said of her that, within the rather narrow limits of her experience, her knowledge of the world was remarkable.
She was a devoted mother and worked tirelessly to advance the careers of all her children, especially William. Lord David Cecil remarked that few children have had a better mother, although her reputation for immorality caused them some distress: George once came to blows with a friend who said  "your mother is a whore". William, though admitting that his mother's private life was not blameless, called her "the most sagacious woman [he] ever knew" and remarked that "she kept me straight as long as she lived".
After the marriage in 1774 of Lady Georgiana Spencer to William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, Lady Melbourne became a close friend of and personal advisor to the Duchess. Until this point, Lady Melbourne had enjoyed unrivalled success as a political hostess and quickly recognised that the young duchess, with a higher rank and better connections, would be a more valuable friend than rival. The two women were painted, alongside their friend, sculptor Anne Damer, by Daniel Gardner as the Three Witches in his 1775 painting Witches Round the Cauldron. Lady Melbourne featured as the character of Lady Besford in the Duchess' novel The Sylph.
By contrast, she and the Duchess' sister, Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, disliked each other intensely, and Lady Melbourne's enmity later extended to Henrietta's daughter, Lady Caroline Lamb. True to her practical nature, she did not allow this dislike  to interfere with her support for her son William's marriage to Caroline, which was a  social step up for the Lamb family, who were still, by the strict social standards of the age, considered to be newcomers to polite society.
By the late 1770s, Lady Melbourne was romantically involved with George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont. There was a rumour that the Earl had bought her from a previous lover, Lord Coleraine, for £13,000. Egremont remained unmarried, probably due to Lady Melbourne's influence. It is believed that he was the father of Lady Melbourne's children William (b. 1779), Emily (b. 1787) and possibly Frederick (b. 1782). Lord Melbourne, who had affairs of his own, was not greatly troubled by his wife's infidelities. Only once, it is said, did they quarrel on the subject: this was in the strained atmosphere caused by the death of their eldest son Peniston, the only child whom Melbourne knew to be his own flesh and blood. Melbourne is said on that occasion to have expressed resentment of his wife's favouritism towards William, whom Melbourne  (like everybody else) believed to be Lord Egremont's son.
In 1782, Lady Melbourne became acquainted with George, Prince of Wales while visiting her son Peniston twice a week at Eton College. The relationship proved to be of benefit to Lord Melbourne, who was made Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George at Carlton House. Lady Melbourne's fourth son George (b. 1784) was widely believed to have been fathered by the prince, who acted as the boy's godfather.
Later in life, Lady Melbourne formed a friendship with the poet Lord Byron. She became his confidante during his affair with her daughter-in-law Lady Caroline Lamb. Although she approved of her son's marriage on social grounds, Lady Melbourne disliked Caroline intensely and their relationship was always bad. By contrast she liked Byron, and blamed him neither for having the affair with Caroline, nor for ending it. Byro
Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne