novel canons


females


elizabeth georgia holland
eighteen years old
upper-class
formerly engaged to a Mr. Henry Schoonmaker, neither party cared for each other but Elizabeth carried out her wedding obligation after learning of the numerous debts her father had left the family at his death, and knowing marrying any lower would leave her family destitute. A furious Penelope Hayes. who was and still is convinced Henry loves HER, threatened to reveal Elizabeth's former relationship with her coach driver unless the wedding was called off. The two faked her death, and Elizabeth moved out west to live happily ever after with Will Keller, leaving her family grief-stricken and shocked, under the impression of her death, with the exception of Diana.
played by Mischa Barton
^Character not up for adoption. Is just here for plot clearance and purposes.^


diana louisa holland
sixteen years old
upper class
The only one who knows of her sister's true fate, Diana is, despite what a one Penelope Hayes might say, the true love of a Mr. Henry Schoonmaker. They learned of their mutual affections during Elizabeth's engagement,but did not engage in a total affair out of common sense. Now that Elizabeth is gone for good, it leaves an opening for the engagement of herself and Me. Schoonmaker. The problem? Mr. Schoonmaker is still mourning the death of his former fiancee, and thinks it inappropriate and much too soon for their romance. Because she is the only one that knows the true whereabouts of her sister, Diana must go on pretending to be stricken over her sister's death. As time moves on, she grows impatient with Henry and considers letting the ultimate secret slip about what happen to Elizabeth, while at the same time battling with Penelope Hayes over who has the true claim to the bachelor's heart. Soon, though, her personal maid Claire Broud will come to her with horrible news, that Diana knows is completely false but has no way to tell Claire or her maid's sister that. An outcome must be reached quickly, but how?
played by Emma Watson


penelope katherine hayes
eighteen years old
upper-class
beautiful, young, sassy and sinfully wealthy makes this young lady one of the most sought-after bachelorettes in the city. She, however, has her heart set on a Mr. Henry Schoonmaker, convinced after a few playful flings his loyalties remain with nobody but her. When she learned that Henry's father, who plans on running for office of mayor, arranged an engagement with his son and the elder Ms. Holland for appearance's sake, she was outraged and immediately began plotting to break them up. For years she pretended to be Elizabeth's friend, while in secret hating and envying her every move. Gaining proof of Ms. Holland's affair with her coach driver, she planned to ruin her forever if she didn't stop the wedding. Together, the two faked her death and now Penelope believes Henry Schoonmaker is all hers, unknowing that his heart lies with his former fiancee's sister. What will happen when she learns of this? Jealous, spiteful and with a temper to match, heads will butt and flares will fly as she tries to win back the man she never won over in the first place. She will stop at NOTHING to have him as her own. That's right. Nothing. And with her attempts getting more desperate by the minute, nothing's looking pretty darn sweet now a days.
played by Natalie Dormer


carolina 'lina' broud
seventeen years old
lower/limbo class
former personal maid to Elizabeth Holland, she turned on her mistress when she discovered that her boss was having a love affair with HER secret love, in her head at least, Will Keller. She left the Holland household for good and met up with a Ms. Penelope Hayes. On a revenge spree, she agreed to spill every single family secret minus their verging on poor financial state, in exchange for five hundred dollars and some old clothes of hers. Drunk one day, she met up with a shady gentleman and somehow got into a conversation about killing Elizabeth Holland. Two days later the papers read that she was drowned in a river. Lina was horrified, and still thinks that she was responsible for her mistress's death by edging the gentleman on. The guilt piles on every day and it won't be long until she cracks and announces to the world her part in the tragedy, unbeknownst that Elizabeth is very much alive and living it up in California with both their loves, Will Keller
played by Johanna Strickland


claire hannah broud
twenty one
lower class && servant to the Hollands
Personal maid to the younger Ms. Holland since the latter's sixteenth birthday. Sensible, practical and fiercely loyal while at the same time loving a good piece of gossip, she and her sister were very close until Lina turned on her mistress. She now never brings up her sibling unless forced to, and hasn't seen her since she left the home two weeks ago. Soon, though, Lina will return to her sister with a terrible confession, that neither party knows is completely false. What will the sisters do, with the information behind Elizabeth's supposed death? Claire doesn't want her sister thrown in prison, but Lina can't live with this information on her back, hidden from the world. Eventually, they must come up with a resolution, but it won't be easy to compromise both sides.
played by Anna Lutoskin


prudence laura schoonmaker
seventeen years old
upper-class
Sister to the famed Henry, young Prudie has up until recently stood in his shadow. She has never been as prized as her brother, but since her debut a year ago men and women alike have began to realize that she's grown out of her awkward adolescence and into a very presentable young lady. She is not nearly as pretty as some of the other society girls, but because of her wealth and status in the city she is held as high as anyone else in the social scene. Despite their perpetual friendly rivalry, Henry adores his sister and vice versa. Prudie can be something of a bore at times if she's with the wrong people, but being a terrible gossip and always on top of the latest fashions out of France, others of her class absolutely adore her She has yet to properly meet her would-be sister in law, Diana, but when the two do they will immediately form a friendship, as Di sees a lot of her beloved Henry in Prudence.
played by Cary Mulligan

original canons
female


renette noel chabot
nineteen years old
upper-class & french import
Recently, famed French opera singer Lucien Chabot moved into the upper-class New York neighborhood in order to further his career in the Americas. In tow was his lovely young daughter Renette, charming, beautiful, flirtatious with everyone and obscenely wealthy, she will soon become the apple of nearly every single wealthy bachelor in the city, including a Mr. Teddy Cutting. Too bad she's engaged. Her promised fiancee, Mr. James Jocombe, joined his future bride and her father for the over-seas adventure. Mr. Jocombe is the heir to a flourishing railway business in France, and Renette's father saw him as a suitable match for his daughter. Whimsical and thinking not much about the arrangement, the young lady continued on life as if nothing changed, aside from attending a few extra public events with her will-be husband. But will he be able to hold onto his prize until the wedding, what with the competition moving in from every corner?
played by Cintia Dicker


clarissa evelyn derby
nineteen years old
upper-class & one of the 'big three'
Clarissa's birth was considered a miracle. So were that of her brother and sister, who happened to be born on the same day. They were the first set of surviving triplets that New York had seen in years, and the middle-class Derby family was skyrocketed into the fame hotseat of of the city. Their little shop flourished because of all the free advertising and because everyone wanted to come and get a piece of the angel triplets. Now they live like royalty. Not on the level of the Hayes and the Schoonmakers, but they are respected among the upper-class crowd and generally receive an invitation to a ball where it is likely you will spot a Schoonmaker or a Hayes. Kind, gentle Clarissa is her mother's favorite, because she is young and beautiful, and now of marrying age. She is determined to see her married to a young man of equal or greater value than she before her next birthday, which is only three months away. Clarissa just smiles and nods politely to whatever the woman says. She considers herself a social queen bee, and is good friends with Penelope Hayes. Soon, she will meet a certain Mr. Granger at a ball, and her attraction towards him will be instant. Too bad he has his sites set on her sister, considering Clarissa pompous and boring.
Played by Clemence Poesy


isabella lucille derby
nineteen years old
upper-class and one of the 'big three'
As a child, Izzie was praised just as much as her brother and sister, being one of the city-wide loved 'big three' Derby triplet children. But as she grew, an obvious preference came out among the parents towards her 'perfect' sister Clarissa. Wild-child Isabella tried to ignore their swooning and continued on with her life of partying, flirting and basic immaturity. She always wondered how her sister could be happy leading such a dull life. Isabell is closer with her brother George than Clarissa, the two sharing common interests and personality traits. They will often attend parties on the arms of each other, and drift apart throughout the evening looking for companionship, hopefully in the arms of one of the opposite sex. For those two, life is good. She is in no rush for marriage what so ever, but unfortunately a Mr. Granger wants to change those plans. She thinks he's dull and egotistic, perfect for her sister Clarissa, who DOES have feelings for him. Mr. Granger couldn't care less about Isabella's sister, though. Isabella is fresh and new and cute. Clarissa's old news.
played by Lily Allen


eleanore catherine winters
eighteen
lower-class && maid to the Derby's
Eleanore has led a very simple life, grown up in a lower-class family and sent of to work with the 'big three' at age fourteen. She immediately befriended George, despite their status differences. They were the closest friends to each other as children, played and laughed and just talked together. But as she grew, Ellie began to develop feelings for her boss that she knew were strictly forbidden from servants possession. She told know one, and instead decided to spend every day in silent agony of not being able to tell anyone. She treasures each second she shares with him, completely unaware that the feelings are mutual, but he feels bound by the same number one rule of etiquette and propriety. Will either of them ever crack, and reveal their feelings while expecting a whirlwind of disapproval from the other?
played by Zooey Deschanel


Scarlett Rosalind Van Wyck
Seventeen years old
As upper-class as you can get
Despite not being considered nearly as pretty as the other girls her life and not having enough money to compete with the Schoonmaner family, Scarlett is New York's treasure. Why? Because her father just happens to be mayor of their fair city. She is thus required to be every where at once, attending several different parties and balls in one night, and sought after by many a power-hungry bachelor seeking to further his career in politics. She is a classic good girl, shy and modest, not nearly as outgoing and flirtatious as others her age. Unfortunately, her father and mother are depending on her to marry before he leaves office, as to celebrate the grandest wedding of the decade. That leaves her with a big problem on her little hands, and a great responsibility to live up to. She wants nothing more than to marry for love, which is a very difficult task in her position.
played by Kristen Stewart