Hi Isolde

First here's small something that explains the ranks in the UK . Coming back to your question, yes the "8th Earl of XYZ" is the 8th within the line of actual title bearers. Tommy's father was the 7th Earl . His brother would be number 9 if Tommy died without having a direct heir (= a child). Is that an explanation for you?

The Jeeves jokes aren't meant to be taken literally. It would be something like greeting Prince Charles as the King of England nowadays because he's the next waiting in line... which actually would be a tad premature and maybe that joke is meant to underline the ignorance of many foreigners regarding the British gentry system (count me in there, too). As far as I know Tommy Lynley has the title rightfully because his father is dead. He actually is the Earl of Asherton. And he's not just waiting in line for the day to come when he's allowed to use this title (in that Jeeves sense he would have seven others that have this particular right before he becomes Earl and besides that they all would have to die before he get's "his" title).

Hope this helps. But I'm not an expert on British royalty, maybe some fellow British members would be better in explaining that to you. We haven't had royalty and aristocratic titles in Germany for more than 90 years now.

Cheerios!

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