Lord Osborne is nobleman (either a viscount or a baron) who owns Osborne Castle, in Surrey, where he lives with his mother Lady Osborne and his sister Miss Osborne. His tutor was Mr. Howard, who is now the clergyman of the parish.
In appearance Lord Osborne is fine young man, and Emma Watson says he would be handsome even if he were not a lord, but in manner, he is awkward, careless, and cold. He has sense and a good disposition. He is not fond of women's company and never dances. He is kind to young Charles Blake, whom he has given a horse and allowed him to ride with when he went hunting.
He attends the assembly where he admires Emma Watson, standing nearby to talk with Charles Blake while she dances with him. He tells Tom Musgrave to dance with Emma and introduce him to her, and he watches from the doorway as Emma tells Musgrave she is already promised to Mr. Howard. He talks to Mr. Howard through their dances instead. When the Osborne party is leaving, Lord Osborne pretends he lost his gloves and searches for them near Emma, even though they are clearly in his hands.
Three days later, Lord Osborne and Musgrave call on the Watsons. Lord Osborne is awkward and accidentally insults the Watsons for their poverty, but he recovers after Emma gives him a mild reproof. When he leaves, he invites Emma to come out on Wednesday morning and give her good wishes for his hunt.
The novel was abandoned after this point. According to Cassandra Austen, in Jane Austen: A Family Record, Emma would have turned down a proposal from Lord Osborne and ultimately married Mr. Howard.