Penelope Grove

Penelope Grove

Portrayed by Zooey Deschanel
Full Name	Penelope Anne Grove
Associated Noble House(s)	Marquessate of Pendleston, Earldom of Stanwood
Date of Birth	August 8, 1791
Father	Benjamin Grove
Father's Rank	Marquess of Pendleston
Mother	Marianne Grove
Mother's Rank	Marchioness of Pendleston
Town Residence	{{{residence}}}
Year of Debut	1810
Dowry	£50,000

Lady Penelope Grove is the only daughter out of four children of the fifth Marquess of Pendleston, Benjamin William Grove, and his lovely late Marchioness, Marianne Marie Grove. She is currently enjoying her second Season in London with her father and eldest brother Patrick Grove, the Earl of Stanwood. She is supposed to be in search of a husband, but finds herself bored and dreamy at any social function, on top of already feeling quite out of place among the doting and dribbling debutantes her age.

History

What happened before her London Life?

Childhood

Penelope is the the middle child and only daughter in a world of men. She is the jewel of the family, having always been a very amusing girl. As a very small child, Penny loved to toddle around, following anybody who would listen to her. She would hold onto the skirts of whomever was closest, be it her mother, her nursemaid, or even a servant who was bustling here or there. She was not one to discriminate, and would try to keep up with her chosen person for the day, pointing and asking questions about everything. She was most often found in her father's study, sitting with a book as big as herself in her lap, sucking her thumb and looking at the pictures.

Her parents were extremely social people in their younger years, always throwing parties and galas, and in turn befriended many other couples of the peerage with children her age. Her childhood included play dates with Charity Pritchard, Elise Hampton, Nicholas Gosling, William Gosling, and Daniel Rossington.

Growing older was not a problem for Penny. She grew from an amusing child to a calm and intelligent young lady. She never morphed into that rebellious stage as many of her friends did, and instead focused on her lessons. She loved all subjects and had just as pleasant a time with her harp, singing, and dancing as she did with her languages, history, and mathematics. Despite her parents' best efforts, Penelope is not particularly accomplished. She can only play simple tunes on the harp, her singing ability will certainly not win her any admirers, and her dancing is fair at best. Where she does excel, however, is in her artistic talents. She enjoys nothing more than trying a new style of drawing or painting, though she can hardly ever get her family to sit still long enough for her to take their likeness properly.

Her mother's death was not a surprise to the family, though no less of a tragedy. She had been ill for some time and died peacefully in her sleep, though Penelope's world was suddenly anything but peaceful. The generally steady tempered girl would throw sudden fits of emotion, turning the family's idea of her on it's head. In the time just after her mother passed, Penny began to take up strange hobbies. Sometimes she would lock herself in her room and draw what she could remember of her mother over and over again. Other days she would play her mother's favorite tune on her harp repetitively. Less frequently, but no less of a despondent act, she would forget herself and accidentally call her the late Marchioness' name, only to look up to the hollow faces of servants pitying her. Her father and brothers put up with a full year of this behavior before light slowly began returning to her features. Four years later, and Penelope is outwardly back to her bright, usual self, though her person is perhaps ever so slightly aged.

Family

Immediate

Benjamin Grove - Father
Marianne Grove nee Bridges - Mother (deceased)
-Patrick Grove - Brother
- Phillip Grove - Brother
- Percival 'Percy' Grove - Brother
- Rebecca Garrison - Governess and Chaperone

Extended

Lady Anna Grove - Aunt, sister of Benjamin

Lady Doris Danver nee Grove, Baroness Farston - Aunt, sister of Benjamin
Lord Camden Danver, Baron Farston - Uncle
- The Honourable Charles Danver - Cousin
- The Honourable Claire Danver - Cousin

Lady Moriah Edmondson nee Bridges, Viscountess Morrension - Aunt, sister of Marianne
Lord Edmund Edmondson, Viscount Morrension - Uncle
- The Honourable Harry Edmondson - Cousin
- The Honourable Sarah Edmondson - Cousin
- The Honourable Alexander Edmondson - Cousin

Mr. Humphrey Bridges - Uncle, brother of Marianne
Mrs. Diana Bridges - Aunt
- Miss Emmaline Bridges - Cousin
- Miss Ruthie Bridges - Cousin

Present

Now, at the ripe age of nineteen, Penelope has come to London for a second Season. She has been brought to London for the obvious reason of being married off, however as she grows and finds herself at more lavish parties, she's not so sure being married to a wealthy noble is what she wants. She is starting to yearn for something more than the easy luxury she has become used to, she longs for adventure.

She is growing older, and everyone around her seems to be becoming increasingly aware of it. Her father is gradually losing his mind to dementia and spends most of his days in a pleasant fog. Her brother staying with her in London sees every man as a potential threat to her womanhood, and most recently her governess and constant companion of nearly six years has married a man of less than reputable background. Feeling suddenly quite alone, she continues to wonder what she wants for her future. Security like Miss Garrison? Or love.

Events Hosted

Small Dinner Party Saturday the 20th

Grove Masque Saturday the 27th

Connections

Rebecca Garrison - Penelope's governess and companion, and more over recent wife to Captain Sterne.

Thomas Sterne - Miss Garrison's new husband. She knows only the rumors that have been whispered.

Daniel Rossington - Long time family friend. He and Patrick were always exceedingly irritating as boys and seem not to have grown up at all. Still, Penny has a deep fondness for Neil and loves him like a brother.

Nicholas Gosling - An old friend of the family and her brothers. Penny has always respected Nick and accepts him as another brother-like figure in her life. She enjoys his quiet and steady demeanor, although she does think him far too serious at times, but finds she can feel easy around him.

Charity Pritchard - Close friends, similar in appearance, vastly different in personality.

Elise Hampton - Another close friend, the girls have known each other for several years.

Helena Wriothesley - Although somewhat silly, Penny does enjoy spending time with Helena. A good friend from her debut year.

Arthur Dalrymple - Met in the park after the Easter Church Service. He seems a very nice gentleman.

Victor Kincaide - Took part in teasing her at the Emerson Ball, which was annoying. However they are great married lovers in one AU fan fic.

Evander Whinging - She has a crush on him..

Jane Middleton - She met her last season through Helena, and finds her to be everything that is elegant.

Julia Hissop - Penelope has met the Duchess briefly and found her beautiful, yet a little strange. She was hard to like.

Charlotte Tolson - Her brother spoke of the new arrival from India, then met her on the mass shopping trip. A very nice lady indeed.

Elizabeth Dunford - Met on the shopping trip, and Penelope found the lady to be nothing but pleasant and very pretty. She finds her style of humor and take on the world akin to her own, and decidedly likes the her.

Gabriel Pritchard - The cousin of her friends. Not entirely sure what to think of him, as they only spoke briefly, but he is handsome.

Emma DeLancey - Daughter of her father's friend, she invited her to a dinner party and finds her quiet, awkward, but sweet.

Benedict DeLancey - A handsome man, yet Penny has yet to form an opinion of him.

Annabelle Beacham - A very pretty girl, but Penny could call her nothing more than an acquaintance.

Juliet Landon - Although Penny is friends with Elizabeth Landon instead of Juliet, she has nothing against the girl, although she finds her "battle" with Julianne Grafton rather ridiculous.