Henrietta Halifax

Henrietta Halifax

Portrayed by Ella Purnell
Full Name	Henrietta Iona Halifax
Associated Noble House(s)	Selirk
Date of Birth	February 1st 1788
Father	George Halifax
Father's Rank	Gentry
Mother	Elizabeth Halifax
Mother's Rank	Gentry
Town Residence	Alba House
Year of Debut	1806
Dowry	£17,000

Henrietta Halifax is the second child of [[George Halifax|Lord George] and Elizabeth Halifax but raised by her paternal uncle and his wife, Lord Selkirk and Lady Selkirk. Her brother, Harry, is heir to his uncle's estate.

Henry is played by Alex.

Family

• Uncle: Lord Alasdair Halifax, Marquess of Selkirk (and Viscount Douglas)
• Aunt: Lady Louise Halifax

• Cousin: Lady Elspeth ‘Elsie’ Halifax

• Father: Lord George Halifax

• Mother: Lady Elizabeth Halifax

• Brother: Mr Harrison George Halifax

Background

Ripplevale Grove is the seat of the Marquess of Selkirk. For much of Henrietta’s life it was the home of her Scottish grandparents and a place for best behaviour, speaking when spoken to, perfectly pressed gowns and the absolute finest of table manners. Lord and Lady Selkik were particular to say the least.

Though occupying a prominent position in every book on such things, this particular peerage is often forgotten in parlour gossip and accidentally left from invitation lists (then hurriedly added when the oversight is recognised). Perhaps it is because, historically, they lacked the outgoing charm for which the Eastborough marquesstate is known, the black mark of Irishness that was on the Foxford house and the noteworthy lack-of-luck-in-love of the Marquess Emerson and his family. The Selirk marquesstate and those associated with it have long been considered to be every inch the aristocrats: nothing more and nothing less.

This particular Lord and Lady Selkirk -- Henry grandparents -- were blessed with two very suitable sons. The elder, Alasdair, married well, as was expected. The younger, George, followed suit. For a while, all was happy and simple. There was, briefly, some rumbling about the younger son seeking a profession in the church but it amounted to little. After all, Lord and Lady Selkirk had firm views about work: it was for others. Accordingly, George and his wife were settled at a subsidiary estate by the border and soon blessed with two children, Harrison and Henrietta. Harry and Henry. Two pretty little children, thick as thieves. When a carriage accident took young Lord George and his wife, Harry and Henry were brought to live with their paternal aunt, uncle and cousin. This family – Uncle Alasdair, Aunt Louise, Cousin Elspeth – is the only one Henry can now remember and never has she had cause to feel anything other than a daughter (often, despite her cousin’s best efforts).

Henrietta was educated at Miss Eamont’s and, there, she finally found the sister she could never make of her cousin: Miss Athena Ainsley was at once terrifying and inspiring and Henry loved her immediately. The two shared pride in their prettily alliterative names, their deepest secrets and their plots for grand debuts in London.

In 1806, the Selirk town residence, Alba House, was opened to launch Henry – and Athena – into society. Her ladyship was delighted to have not just one debutante to fuss over but two and showed the young ladies a wonderful first season replete with expeditions to museums, art exhibitions, soirees and top quality gossip. If she was somewhat remiss in encouraging constructive matches – well, she was not truly to blame. The girls were so very young, and seemed it. And so, the two friends passed a whirlwind of a season flirting (Athena) and learning (Henry) their way about London. Throughout the season Henry took it as her due that all attention was first and foremost focussed on Athena – how could it not be, when she was always the one with the plan and the prettier line and the confidence to say it? (Took it as her due, that is, with only a trace of bitterness now and then, and only ever on a bad day.) The girls also readily befriended Misses Amelia Harcourt and Lily Ruxburgh.

Come season’s end, Athena received a handful of proposals and, as the perspicacious suitors had ruefully rather expected, refused them all. Henry was not quite sure what to think when one of them, the nice Mr Reid, immediately turned around and proposed to her. Her refusal was as swift as her friend’s had been (... and some of the terminology even the same, for what best friends did not practise eloquent refusals together, just in case ever needed?).

But that was six year ago and much has changed.

Without Athena to inspire her to devilish dares and make her say yes to adventures, Henry found the following seasons a good deal less – well, fun. The wonderful Aunt Louise succumbed to a vicious case of consumption and, without her positivity and patience, the recently-promoted Lord Selkrik has become increasingly disillusioned and their home a far gloomier place. Brother Harry is still her favourite person in the world but he has, in recent years, devoted significant attentions to becoming one of London’s most notorious libertines and is so often from home that Henry does not quite know what to make of him any more. Elsie has grown into a beautiful young woman of one-and-twenty (single still, still manipulative). And the ladies have gained as companion, the late Lady Selirk’s sister-in-law, the aspiring Mrs Helen Starling. (Aspiring, to be clear, to be the next Lady Selkirk in short order.)

The household at Alba House comprises: Henrietta; her uncle, Lord Selirk; brother, Harry; cousin Elsie; and, despite the latter’s best efforts, Mrs Starling.