Eleanor Clare
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| Portrayed by Felicity Jones | |
| Full Name | Eleanor Catherine Clare |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | Marquessate of Avening |
| Date of Birth | 4th January 1795 |
| Father | Edward Clare |
| Father's Rank | Gentry |
| Mother | Catherine Clare (nee Bentley) |
| Mother's Rank | Gentry |
| Town Residence | {{{residence}}} |
| Year of Debut | 1812 |
| Dowry | £15,000 |
Eleanor Clare is the only daughter of Edward and Catherine Clare. She is sixteen years old, has a fortune of £15,000 and is not yet out. Since her father remarried Miss Selina MacAlistair Eleanor has been at boarding school near Bath. She has recently joined her step-mother in London where she has met her guardian, Lord Avening. Eleanor's reserve and painful shyness conceals a keenly intelligent observer.
Family
Edward Clare - father
Catherine Clare (deceased) - mother
Selina Clare - step-mother
Oscar Moncrieff, Marquess of Avening - guardian and paternal second-cousin
Lady Gwendolyn Moncrieff - paternal first cousin once removed
Background
Childhood: 1795-1806
Eleanor was born into a happy family, a long desired child. Her father, though ten years older than his wife, was a kind man though not especially clever and his wife all that was sweet and lovely. Mr. Clare was one of the wealthiest men in Somerset, owning Shotley Park, an estate just outside Bath, and his wife the only child of Sir Roland Bentley of Clifton Hall in Kent. When Eleanor was only 4, however, Mrs. Clare died in complications surrounding the birth of Eleanor's younger brother. The boy died a week later as well. From that time on, Eleanor and her father, equally heartbroken, devoted themselves to each other. As Mr. Clare's health worsened and he became afflicted with gout, Eleanor was a source of comfort to him.
As time went on, however, and the Clares visited Bath more often and Eleanor grew older, Mr. Clare began to think of remarrying. His daughter would need a mother when she became a young lady and he began to long for some more grown up companionship. In the Autumn of 1805 he married Miss Selina MacAlistair, a young, pretty and apparently modest young woman who had shown a suitable devotion to his daughter. Eleanor instinctively hated her new step-mother and Mr. Clare was soon persuaded to send her to school.
School: 1806-1811
Eleanor has been at a select seminary for young ladies just outside Bristol since the age of 11. At school she learned all the feminine accomplishments, including dancing, drawing and music. However, her excessive shyness meant that she never became more than competent at anything involving performance. She plays the pianoforte nicely but despite having a tolerable voice, sings very badly. Her drawing again is pretty but nothing extraordinary. She enjoys reading poetry and improving books and has a strong religious conviction. She is also physically tough and rather stronger than her demeanor would suggest. She enjoys outdoor sports such as pall mall.
Eleanor made a few friends with like-minded girls but she was not wildly popular. Her best friend was Rebecca -.
1810 to the present
Mr. Clare died in 1810 while Eleanor was at school. In his will, he left her guardianship to his cousin Lord Avening but he was content to leave her in school and her care to Mrs. Clare. This would have continued at least until summer 1811 and possibly longer depending on how long she spend at school if the seminary had not been struck by an outbreak of diphtheria and forced to close. All healthy girls were sent home and in April 1811 Eleanor was abruptly sent to London to her step-mother.
Since arriving in London she has met her guardian Lord Avening and his sister, Lady Gwendolyn Moncrieff. Despite not being out, Eleanor found herself included in an invitation to the Brixton House Party because of her connection to Lord Avening. There he proposed that she came and lived with him.
Relationships
Friends
Elise Hampton: Best friend from childhood. Her estate, Jubilee Court was close to Eleanor's grandparents' estate, Clifton Hall. They have not seen each other for many years.
Lady Gwendolyn Moncrieff: Eleanor doesn't know her guardian's sister very well yet but she is inclined to like her and looks forward to spending more time with her.
Lady Imogen Rathbone: Lady Imogen always seemed a friend of her step-mother's in Bath but here in London, Eleanor finds her quiet good humour very pleasing.
Lady Elizabeth Dunford: Eleanor doesn't know her well yet but wants to like her because she likes her brother.
Harriet Fforde: Eleanor likes Miss Fforde but is subconsciously envious of her flirtation with the Duke of Claitonborough.
Crushes
Anthony Dunford, the Duke of Claitonborough: Eleanor met him in church where they shared a strangely intimate conversation. She doesn't know what a crush is, but she definitely has one.
Enemies
Selina Clare: Eleanor's relationship with her step-mother is strained. Eleanor thinks she is responsible for sending her away to school and separating her from her father.
Eleanor is played by Rose.