Katherine Harpole
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| Portrayed by Bella Heathcote | |
| Full Name | Katherine Margaret Harpole, née Winter |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | Duchy of Leicester, Marquessate of Foxford |
| Date of Birth | 01 April 1793 |
| Father | John Winter |
| Father's Rank | Gentry |
| Mother | Anthea Winter |
| Mother's Rank | Peerage |
| Town Residence | currently disputed… |
| Year of Debut | 1811 |
| Dowry | very small |
| Year of Marriage | 1811 |
| Spouse | Evelyn Harpole |
| Spouse's Rank | Gentleman |
| Issue | N/A |
Background
History
Katie’s privileged childhood ended abruptly when, at sixteen, the Winter siblings were informed that her father had successfully gambled away the vast majority of the family fortune. Katie’s dreams of a lavish debut (complete with gowns from Paris!) vanished in a puff of reality. However, fine appearances remained of primary importance to her mother. Lady Anthea has insisted upon maintaining the facade and, since Mr. Winter finds himself in a weak position to negotiate much these days, the family is currently renting a house in London – at tremendous expense –in the hopes that Katie will make a strong match during the Season.
Her sister has had two seasons “out” and has yet to make a match and so the family’s hopes have been pinned on Katie who, with her blonde locks and butter-wouldn’t-melt smile was really a much safer bet from the start. The Fairmont side of the family is utterly clueless as to the state of the Winter family finances. Katie well likes her grand cousins but finds them rather intimidating. She is in complete awe of Rosalind and, for the imposing Dowager Marchioness, she simply has no words.
Katie was educated at seminary for young ladies and was presented in Court this year.
Family
Katie is one of four children: Jack Winter, Andrew Winter and Augusta Winter.
Appearance
Katie answers anyone’s description of pretty. She is of unremarkable height and has a nice but unremarkable figure. One feature that is remarkable, is her pair of large, wide-set mossy green eyes. Of these she is deeply self-conscious as her siblings branded her “Goldfish” as a child, teasing relentlessly as children love to do.
She posses a clear, fair complexion and silky straight blonde hair that absolutely refuses to curl as the latest fashions dictate it should. Her smile is sweet and she has lovely teeth.
Character
Katie Winter is not dissimilar to a ray of sunshine: full of energy, cheerful and easily deflected by shiny objects. Not in the least bit book smart, her fortes - such as they are- lie in the arts. Her drawing skills are impressive and she plays both flute and pianoforte tolerably well. She is prone to bouts of perceptiveness about people’s characters though is generally clueless when it comes to practical skills and absolutely hopeless when it comes to academia as she lacks motivation to study.
Her lovely figure is rarely put to advantageous use as she is painfully clumsy and is more likely to stub her toe on an end table than make a successful turn about the room to impress a gentleman. Dancing is a terrifying prospect. Balls are both dream and nightmare rolled into one.
Katie is a thoroughly loyal and thoroughly obliging creature. She will happily spend hours embroidering with her mother or aunt- not because she particularly enjoys it - but because she knows it makes them happy and brings the family closer together. However, this sense of loyalty means that the girl feels fully the weight of the entire family’s expectation that she marry extremely well. In competition with so many handsome, titled and rich ladies, Katie is uncharacteristically unsure of herself. A great reader of novels, she would very very much like the chance to marry for love. Whilst she realises that this may not be possible, she has discussed how she would ideally like this to happen at great lengths in her diary.
Katie– unbeknownst to her - is also a shocking flirt. She is as yet unsure of precisely what flirting entails but her limited experience in the field has suggested to her that just smiling is highly effective. Her prettiness attracts male attention and she finds this absolutely thrilling.
The lady speaks what she thinks or, rather, does not think before she speaks. She has been raised with impeccable manners and has been fixed with a solid sense of propriety, but sometimes all the excitement of being in society is simply too much and her thoughts come spilling straight out. Finally, like many pretty, sheltered debutantes, she has a great deal to learn about the world. A positive ramification of her youthful naiveté is her irrepressible cheerfulness (or tiresome perkiness, depending on whose opinion one asks.)
In Katie’s opinion, the greatest bliss a lady could know would be marriage, children and a well run household. She can see no greater felicity in life than to be the cornerstone of a happy home.
Now
Week of 13 May
The week begins with Miss Vickery's ball.
Saturday is the Fitzgerald Ball and Katie is thrilled to be invited. She dances the first with Mr Lazenby [1] and a little crush blossoms. After a somewhat awkward encounter with all of the Astor family females and Mister Scarborough [2] she sits out the fourth dance and then stands up for the fifth with Charlie Devenish [3].
- ↑ "Sunshine and Roses" http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/2736-sunshine-roses/
- ↑ "The only thing that could spoil a day was people" http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/2928-the-only-thing-that-could-spoil-a-day-was-people/
- ↑ "Dance my pretties, dance! http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3013-dance-my-pretties-dance/