Elise Hampton
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| Portrayed by Kirsten Dunst | |
| Full Name | Elisabeth Marie Hampton |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | Marquessate of Emerson |
| Date of Birth | 10th June 1793 |
| Father | Calvin Hampton |
| Father's Rank | Solictor, Middle class |
| Mother | Therese Hampton |
| Mother's Rank | Middle class |
| Town Residence | Emerson House, 38 Grosvenor Square |
| Year of Debut | 1811 |
| Dowry | £40,000 |
Miss Elise Hampton is the only orphan daughter of solicitor Calvin Hampton and Therese Hampton. She is eighteen years old and is currently living with the Pritchard Family in London. She is god-daughter to the Marchioness of Emerson, Winifred Verlaine-Pritchard, sister to Blake and Gabriel Pritchard, and cousin of Charity Pritchard.
Contents
Early Years (1793-1810)
Elisabeth Marie Hampton is the only (known) surviving member of the Hampton family, her mother having passed away at childbirth and her father following soon after suffering from Pneumonia. She was only two when her father died and was left as a ward of the Pritchards, and since treated as a daughter of the house. Elise was a delight as a child, beautiful in both her fair features as well as her disposition and manners. At the age of four, she began accompanying the Marchioness into town during the Season, reveling in all the attention that the Marchioness’ friends gave her. She was a cherubic young girl that said many a clever thing in the afternoon at-homes that she attended with her guardian.
Elise is fluent in English and her god-mother's native french as well as accomplished in painting, embroidery and music. She plays both the Pianoforte and the Violin.
Elise was known to be rather shy as a child, always listening to the opinions of others and never really having one of her own. She has a companion in Charity Pritchard, the orphan niece of the Marchioness who also lives with the family. is the one who eggs Elise's on to be an accomplice in her plans, and usually the one who gets into trouble.
And while Elise counts Charity as family, she has a best friend in Julianne Grafton. The two have known each other from the cradle, their mothers being friends themselves. Elise admires Julianne's ambition and ability, and finds Julianne uncommonly pretty. She and the other girls in their group, Sarah Nielson and Vera-Jane Gordon have always accepted Julianne as their Leader.
Debut (1811)
Elise debuted with Charity Pritchard at the Annual Emerson Ball, dressed as a snowflake. Her gown was a pearly white, with a boat shaped neckline that showed off her creamy shoulders. The sleeves of her gown were short and puffed, but showed only two inches of her skin before being covered up by elbow length gloves. The gown was pulled tight about her bust, before flowing to the floor; stiff taffeta overlaid with Chantilly lace and beaded crystals. A pink diamond sat, nestled right between her collarbone, given to her by Blake's father when he was still alive, matching diamond squares adorned her ears [1].
Her hair had been washed and air dried, before being painstakingly curled and pinned, curl upon gleaming curl. Starched lace cut outs had been pinned to her hair, in addition to a rope of seed pearls; Elise was a snow fairy.
She had been looking forward to this party for the last half a year, and more so in the days nearing the party, for her scheduled first dance with the Duke of Leighton, Nicholas Gosling. She also danced with Daniel Rossington, heir to the Dukedom of Welby, Patrick Grove, the Earl of Stanwood, and Thomas Sterne among others.
Prior to the Emerson Ball, she attended Almack's, in attendance for Julianne Grafton's formal debut into society. There, she met the Nicholas Gosling while looking for Charity on the Terrace. She found herself quickly liking the Duke very much, aided by the impressions he gave her, both by sending flowers, and also calling on her the next day [2]. That same afternoon however, she suffered an unfortunate fall from her horse while out riding with Lord Daniel; it was only good luck and skill on his part that he caught her unharmed [3][4]. The little Drama in the Park had led to confusion and subsequent coolness on his grace's part, for which he apologized for later on at the Emerson Ball [5].
She performed the Violin at the Fitzgerald Musicale hosted by Lady Viola Fitzgerald and her aunt Mrs. Greystone, playing a piece from Haydn. It was during this musicale that she again, conversed with the Duke, almost cementing the idea of his attraction for her [6]. And she hugged this same thought to herself all the way to the weekend of the Brixton House Party.
Arriving at Brixton in the late morning, was seen with the duke, heading to the stables to visit the famed Pendragon[7]. Happy with how things were moving along, she returned to the house, only to have her bubbles burst by Victor Kincaide, Viscount Hawksley, who gave her a firm but roundabout lecture on the merits of setting one's standard to an acceptable level[8]. His lecture not only opened her eyes to the ways of the Ton, but also gave way to the insecurities she tried so hard to keep locked away. Understanding the Viscount's points though, she has resolved to not look to the Duke any longer, to save herself and to avoid disappointment.
Since coming to London, she has renewed her friendship with Elizabeth Dunford, Harriet Fforde, Penelope Grove, Francis Hopkins-Lawrence, Eleanor Clare and expanded her circle of friends to include Juliet Landon and her cousin Charlotte Tolson, Viola Fitzgerald and her sister Olivia.
Battle of the Debutantes
Elise, since the beginning of the Season, has been caught smack middle of this raging battle between the debs of London. She is best friends with Julianne Grafton, allegedly the antagonist of this entire scenario, and most recently made friends with Juliet Landon, who is in fact, even closer to Charity Pritchard. She was also the one who provided the identity of Lady J.L. to Julianne, an act that angered Charity, who found the idea of Julianne wanting to make friends with Juliet rather ridiculous. Charity also spat that Julianne doesn't have friends, she has connections! and that Elise would be better off knowing that.
On her part, she is adamant, despite articles in Society News, in her beliefs that Julianne is still the deserving Incomparable. And she has wasted no efforts in telling Julianne so. She has always been the one to encourage Julianne, and fill the rare holes that her insecurities created[9].
Rumors (1806)
Elise has been rumored to be an illegitimate daughter of either the Marquess or the Marchioness of Emerson, though her lack of features from both should have correctly dispelled any thought of adultery. Both the Marquess and Marchioness possessed dark coloring, and either green or hazel eyes, and Elise has blond hair and bright blue eyes. She is in fact, a splitting image of her mother, Therese Hampton, who was the daughter of a middle class family. Her father was the third son of a landowning family further up north and took up the profession as a solicitor upon his graduation at Oxford. Calvin Hampton then entered Lord Emerson's employ, as his Uncle's assistant, and on his Uncle's retirement, became solicitor to the Pritchards. The Pritchards had made it clear to the ton that she was their daughter in all concerns, and she was written into the Marquess' will just as the daughter of the house would. In hindsight, it would have perhaps been clearer to have announced the circumstances of Elise's birth and subsequent adoption, however, not it remains too late to change the decision the Marquess had made while he was still alive.
Rumor also has it that Elise is nothing but an impoverished girl, and now only survives by the goodwill of the Pritchards. This is in fact untrue; before his death, the Marquess had made sure she was well provided for, he himself all to clear of how society ran. Elise is to have a dowry of £40,000 upon her marriage, or failing that, to be hers on her 23rd birthday, to spend as she pleases. In addition, her mother was promised £500 a year until her father's death, or her own, and that amounted to, £2,500, at her death having married Mr. Hampton for five years. This money ensures that Elise will be able to live on a very comfortable income for the rest of her life even if she does not marry.
Engagement
At the Ridotto, Miss Hampton took a walk with Mr Robert Vickery, brother to one of her friends, Miss Emma Vickery. Their long acquaintance and friendship had blossomed into something more on Mr Vickery’s part, and he asked Elise if eventually, she could come to love him. Elise considered it, and requested for a week’s time in which to give an answer. During the week however, she spent more time with Mr Vickery, and found that indeed, they suited and she could come to love him. She accepted his proposal, and the two were engaged on Thursday, May 16.
Early Saturday morning, May 18, Society News reported a Mr. R.V. seen in Bloomsbury, alleging that said gentleman was visiting the house of a not-quite-lady. Elise made the conclusion that it was Mr Vickery, a fact that was later confirmed by Mr Vickery himself, that he was indeed in Bloomsbury. His purposes as to his appearance there in the late night was unconfirmed. Teary-eyed and frustrated, Elise asked him to leave, effectively breaking off their engagement in anger.
At present, she finds solace in family and close friends – like the Fairmonts and Mr Francis Hopkins-Lawrence.
