Elizabeth Harcourt
 |
|
| Portrayed by Aitana Sánchez-Gijón | |
| Full Name | Elizabeth Jane Harcourt |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | No connections |
| Date of Birth | 1764-1806 |
| Father | James Sutton |
| Father's Rank | Gentry |
| Mother | Marianne Sutton |
| Mother's Rank | Gentry |
| Town Residence | {{{residence}}} |
| Year of Debut | 1782 |
| Dowry | £5,000 |
| Year of Marriage | 1783 |
| Spouse | Richard Harcourt |
| Spouse's Rank | Gentry |
| Issue | Amelia (1788), Grace (1791, stillborn), James (1799) |
Elizabeth Harcourt was born Miss Elizabeth Sutton, only daughter of Mr James Sutton and his wife Marianne. Though acknowledged both a beauty and a kind, charming woman, from childhood she was plagued with a particularly frail constitution. For many years it was doubtful she would be able to make her debut at all, but thanks to a stubborn streak she made her bow in 1782. She was popular amongst her set, but was not considered the most eligible prospect by virtue of her health.
At a house party in the summer of 1782, she met Mr Richard Harcourt - a young man of good standing and old family, though not a peer, who was darkly handsome with a captivating smile. It did not take long for Elizabeth to be swept off her feet, and she thought Mr Harcourt might feel the same towards her. They met again during the next Season in London, and it was clear the time apart had not changed the way they felt. Mr Harcourt proposed and was accepted, and they married in early 1783.
Elizabeth's poor health proved an obstacle when it came to starting a family. For five years they remained childless, Elizabeth suffering more than one miscarriage, but were overjoyed when their daughter Amelia was born in 1788. Pregnancy and birth were both very hard on Elizabeth and in the years that followed she again suffered several miscarriages and the stillbirth of another daughter, Grace, in 1791. They doted on Amelia, however and would have been content with only her - but fate proved kind in 1799 and Elizabeth was able to bear a healthy son, James.
With two beautiful children, both of whom adored each other, the Harcourts happiness was complete. Amelia had inherited a little of her mother's constitution, and one fever in particular had damaged her hearing, so Elizabeth and Richard were keen to delay her coming out. But she had also inherited her mother's stubborness, and in 1806 they travelled to London for Amelia to make her debut.
It was there that tragedy struck and half-way through the Season, after a particularly rainy day, Elizabeth contracted a severe fever. Richard nursed her, but after a few days succumbed to the fever himself. They died within days of each other in mid April 1806, leaving their children utterly devastated.
Elizabeth is an NPC and belongs to Sarah