Eleanor Rose Pendergast 
"I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?"
Name:Pendergast, Eleanor Rose
Age: 17
Occupation: Heiress
Class: Upper
Eleanor is petite- 5 foot, 100 pounds. She has a slight build, with narrow waist and shoulders. She has curly auburn hair. She has wide gray eyes and long dark eyelashes. She has a dainty, upturned nose. She favors simple dresses usually in dark colors like green, blue or purple. Eleanor likes to wear the same straw bonnet and gray shawl every day.
Play-by: Emily Blunt
Eleanor can be shy and diffident especially around strangers. She dislikes crowded noisy places; spending her early years in the country allowed Eleanor to gain a deep appreciation for nature and it's peace. Eleanor also has a strong independent/self-reliant streak from years of being left to her own devices. Having experienced loneliness, tragedy and ostracism herself, Eleanor has a deep sense of compassion. To her friends, she is extremely loyal and would do anything to help them. Eleanor has struggled against society's expectations for her as an upper class women and has little patience for society's gender roles.
Loves:
- literature
- poetry
- learning
- nature
- freedom
Hates:
- frivolousness
- embroidery
- etiquette
Strengths:
- intelligent
- beautiful singing voice
- can play the piano
- writes poetry
- loves to read
Weaknesses
- frail
- emotional
- shy
- serious
- not athletic
- terrible at embroidery
Family:
Mother: Alice Rose Whitley-Pendergast- died shortly after Eleanor's birth of child bed fever
Father: Edward Pendergast- died shortly after Eleanor's 1st birthday, after struggling for years with a weak heart
Grandfather: George Pendergast, Duke of Pendergast- widower who's only child Edward passed away, leaving Eleanor the sole heir. By turns neglectful and indulgent, Eleanor lived with him until she was 11 years old, when George passed away from a lengthy illness.
Cousin Augusta; A distant relation of George Pendergast. A wealthy, aged dowager who was not happy to find herself responsible for an 11 year old child. Sent Eleanor away to an upper class boarding school as quickly as possible.
Mr. Algernon Pendleton: Aunt Augusta's lawyer and Eleanor's guardian
Miss Hattie: Lady's companion and Eleanor's chaperone.
History:
Eleanor Rose Whitley-Pendergast was born January 6, 1838 at Pendergast Manor, the country estate of her grandfather. Her mother Alice died of child bed fever on February 3, 1838. Her father Edward then set up household in London, sending for Eleanor in May of 1838. A caring and attentive father, Edward lavished attention on his daughter, trying to ease the grief over the death of his young wife. His health, never very good, had begun deteriorating since the death of his wife. By November he was bed-ridden and finally passed away on January 21, 1839.
Eleanor was sent back to her paternal grandfather George. Busy with his own affairs and often away on business, George had little time for a small child and Eleanor's care was left to servants. Once fed, bathed and clothed Eleanor was left to her own devices. She had only her own imagination as company; books offered her only other escape from boredom and loneliness having taught herself to read by the age of four. No one gave a second thought to the child as long as stayed out from underfoot and so Eleanor grew up wild, reared only on books and countryside. By the time Eleanor was 8, tuberculosis had begun to take its toll on Grandfather George, leaving him bedridden for long periods of time.
After the death of Grandfather George in September of 1849, Eleanor – having no close relations- was sent to live with a distant cousin of her grandfathers. Aunt Augusta, nearly 90 when Eleanor was sent to live with her, was not happy to find herself responsible for a rather wild 11 year old. Dispensing with the child as quickly as possible, Eleanor was sent to a boarding school for upper class girls- Miss Leticia Hotchkiss’s Seminary for Young Ladies; the curriculum consisted of embroidery, painting, music, dancing and etiquette.
The next six years were difficult for Eleanor- she disliked having her freedom curtailed and had little in common with the strictly raised upper class girls. Her best friend was Suzanna Jane Collinswood, who also disliked the school for it's snobbery and strict rules. At the death of Aunt Augusta, her lawyer Mr. Algernon Pendleton, Esquire became Eleanor’s guardian. Under the guise of wanting to take their first season in society both girls requested to leave the seminary permanently. It was agreed that the Collinswood would also sponsor Eleanor during her first season. Mr. Pendleton allowed her to leave the seminary on the condition that a lady's companion would be procured to act as her chaperone in London. In the company of her lady's companion, Miss Hattie and her friend Suzanna, Eleanor left the seminary to begin her new life in May of 1855.
Anything Else:
Eleanor wears a gold locket that belonged to her mother
Name: Danielle
Age: 19
RP Experience: none
Password: ----
Pendergast, Eleanor Rose, New Biography
