Maria Fitzgerald
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| Portrayed by (Barbara Flynn) | |
| Full Name | Maria Jane Fitzgerald |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | Earldom of Rotherham |
| Date of Birth | 1859 |
| Father | Andrew Fitzgerald |
| Father's Rank | Earl of Rotherham |
| Mother | Jane Fitzgerald (nee Derby) |
| Mother's Rank | Countess of Rotherham |
| Town Residence | York |
| Year of Debut | N/A |
| Dowry | £30,000 |
Lady Maria Fitzgerald was born in 1759, eldest daughter of Andrew, Lord Rotherham and his second wife Jane. She was always rather sickly, suffering from severe asthma as a child, and for that reason did not have a London season, despite her health improving somewhat as she got older. She has never married and moved to York when her father died to live with her mother's relatives. At the age of 35 she moved out of her uncle's home and took her own house in York, bringing with her a young cousin to live with her as a companion.
As she grew older and the prospect of making a marriage receded, Maria grew in confidence. She used her dowry to make a series of shrewd investments and considering her expenses are minimal, is now a fabulously wealthy woman. She is closer to the Derby family than her Fitzgerald relatives and has provided for several Derby cousins, having them as her companions until they marry or move on. She is known in York society for good sense, generous patronage, and an uncomfortably satirical sense of humour. Her current companion is her twenty year old cousin, Jane "Jenny" Derby.
She is the elder sister of the late Lady Anne Carlisle and Andrew Fitzgerald.