Viola Fitzgerald

Viola Fitzgerald

Portrayed by Hayley Atwell
Full Name	Viola Mary Fitzgerald
Associated Noble House(s)	Earldom of Rotherham
Date of Birth	15th September 1787
Father	Richard Fitzgerald
Father's Rank	Earl
Mother	Madeleine Fitzgerald (nee Freye)
Mother's Rank	Countess
Town Residence	{{{residence}}}
Year of Debut	1805
Dowry	£45,000

Family

Richard Fitzgerald, Earl of Rotherham - father
Madeleine, Countess of Rotherham - mother
Robbie Fitzgerald - brother
Olivia Fitzgerald - sister

Richard Fitzgerald, Lord Surrey - brother
Cordelia, Lady Surrey - sister-in-law
Henry, Madeleine and Mortimer - nephews and niece

Dorothy Greystone - maternal aunt and chaperone in 1811 season

John Fitzgerald - paternal uncle
Emma Fitzgerald - aunt
John, Lucy, Helen, Percy - cousins

Christopher Carlisle - cousin

1787-1804: Early Years

Viola was born at Rotherham in Yorkshire and apart from occasional trips to Harrogate for assemblies and plays and to Southampton in 1803 to allow Olivia to recover from pneumonia, did not leave it until her debut in 1805.

She had a relatively liberal and happy upbringing in a happy household. She got on well with her siblings, particularly her brother Robbie and spent a good deal of time with the Fitzgeralds' close neighbours, Will and Charlie Devenish.

In terms of education, Viola had the advantage of excellent governesses and became an accomplished woman, displaying a particular aptitude for music. She plays the harp superbly, the pianoforte more than competently and has a sweet and well-trained mezzo-soprano voice. She speaks French and Italian fluently and is competent at embroidery though she does not enjoy it. She showed an interest in reading frivolously from a young age and quickly developed a taste for novels, narrative poetry and comic plays. Viola started a tradition of acting plays at Christmas time within the family at the age of eleven and read Tom Jones at the age of fourteen. Her artistic skill is almost non-existent. She spent a good deal of time outdoors in her youth and is an excellent rider.

In the summer of 1804 Viola became romantically attached to Will Devenish and they started a secret love-affair. She was torn between her growing feelings for Will and her sense of propriety and duty. Though intense at the time the affair was not consummated and faded away after Will returned to school in the autumn. As far as Viola knows it remained secret. In fact, her mother suspected it.

1805-1807: London Seasons

Viola made her debut in London in 1805, chaperoned by her mother. Her unconventional beauty, wit, charm and accomplishments made her an instant hit and she was crowned incomparable of the season. Her only rival was Miss Julia Dancy who went on to marry the Duke of Pennington, himself a rejected suitor of Viola's. Viola quickly found herself surrounded by admirers, none of whom she wished to marry, even though some were eligible. Her motivation was that she intended to marry to improve her situation. Being already wealthy, socially elevated and surrounded by a family she loved, this was a tall order.

Among her suitors was one Geoffrey Stapleton who fell in love with her and was rejected for her, on the grounds that he was not sufficiently rich or well connected. They became great friends however and his proposals and her refusals became a standing joke. He also revealed himself to her as the popular novelist Adam Lane.

Her best friend in her first season was Lady Priscilla Tanaquil, a rather silly girl who worshipped Viola. She married Sir Roland Taylor in 1805 and Viola was made godfather to her son, Harry. Priscilla died in 1807 in childbirth.

As well as Geoffrey, Viola tended to have more male than female friends. In 1807 during her third season, she was surprised to receive a proposal from one of them, Lord Foxford. She had not believed his admiration serious.

1808-1810: Rustication

Viola's cynicism about the marriage mart and the London season in general had grown through her three seasons and she missed her siblings and the freedom of country life. This growing distaste combined with the shock of Lord Foxford's proposal and Priscilla's death made Viola reluctant to return to London the following spring. As she had now had three unsuccessful seasons (at least in terms of contracting a marriage) and Lady Rotherham disliked London herself, little effort was made to persuade her to return.

After three years of little society and less male admiration, Viola was easily persuaded by her aunt Mrs. Greystone to return to London to accompany her sister for her debut.

1811: Current Season

Viola returned to town intending to take a semi-chaperonal capacity. However, she is not very good at relinquishing her limelight and has found herself just as popular as ever and is actually enjoying being the centre of the universe again, though she does feel very much older than most of the other unmarried ladies, both literally and in terms of maturity. For the very first time, she is starting to feel that remaining single is holding her back in society.

She has renewed her friendships with Mr. Stapleton, Lord Linley, Lord Foxford and Lord Parry in particular. She has also made friends for the first time with a circle of intelligent and well-bred ladies: Lady Louth, Lady Rosalind Fairmont and Miss Staunton.

Among Viola's new acquaintances are the Pritchard family, although she had met the Dowager Marchioness of Emerson previously at the 1805 Emerson House Party. Viola took an instant and mutual dislike to the current Marquess, Blake Pritchard who behaved very rudely towards her on several occasions. Their antagonism came to a head on the 11th April (Maundy Thursday!) when Mr. Hopkins-Lawrence, a fop and Viola's latest suitor, challenged Lord Emerson to a duel over his behaviour towards Viola. Fortunately Mr. Stapleton was able to prevent it from taking place, but it created a scandal and cemented Viola's dislike. However, they do have distinct sexual chemistry which Viola is unable to ignore. At the Emerson Ball on the 14th April, the Marquess apologised to Viola and has since then been behaving much more civilly.

Viola's first social event of the season was a musical soiree on the 16th April which everyone who was anyone attended. A buffet supper was served and the roast beef was exceptionally popular.

Marriage Proposals

Viola is one of the most proposed to ladies in town. The following men have definitely asked her to marry them:

Sir William Devenish (1804)
Geoffrey Stapleton (on more than one occasion 1805-1811)
Lord Foxford (1807)
The Duke of Pennington (1805)

It is speculated that there were many more!

Viola is played by Rose.