.. Lady Elizabeth Fontaine (26) -- head of Fontaine until father's passing -- Winona Ryder <33 ..
Relationships: Lady Ophelia Fontaine, Lady Guinevere Fontaine (sisters), Isabella Quincy (cousin/rival), Arthur Arrington (pursuit), Alaric de Montfort (former love)
History/Family Information:Â Since childhood, Elizabeth has always known she's destined for something more. She was born to be rich, born to be a ruler. Born to be royal. As her life stands now, she is as close as she may ever come to the achievement of such dreams. But, alas, she knows it can never last. She was born a woman in a man's world.
Having been born the eldest daughter of a wealthy gentlemen came with both its advantages and its consequences. For starters, Elizabeth was never left to want. She had all the comforts of the lifestyle into which she'd been born. But never having cause to want only made Elizabeth want more. She has a good head on her shoulders and her father had trained her to be a ruler. He'd trained her to take charge and never let anyone tell her no. That is, until he himself told her she could not take over the estate after his death.
It wasn't a surprise, really. She'd always known Fontaine would pass on to the next male heir but, deep down, she'd still hoped somehow the rules could be bent and the estate would be hers. She can't imagine leaving her home but, as her fate has been decided for her, she is determined to create and even better life for herself. One with a man who she may not love but will provide the comforts she's used to and far more.
However, in her quest to be a leader, Elizabeth has found herself on a dangerous path. She has found herself locked into an ever evolving battle with her younger sister, Ophelia. Elizabeth has always been the bell of the ball and always strove to be the best loved, the most adored and even the best of the sisters of Fontaine. She is, after all, the eldest. Therefore, she can't quite understand why Ophelia feels she deserves the role Elizabeth was born to play. Thus the pair find themselves locked into a constant competition, one Elizabeth is sure she will come out the only victor.
Although she loves her sister, she has always viewed her as an undertrained and less than worthy opponent. Elizabeth has never once stopped to consider the consequences of her actions. In her eyes, Ophelia doesn't have feelings. She has chosen to play the game and, therefore, must suffer any consequences that may come of it.
As for her youngest sister, Elizabeth has always faired better with Guinevere. The sweetest and perhaps the most beloved of the three, Elizabeth has always viewed Guin as something of a lost puppy. She sees her younger sister as a cause she can't help but take on. Although the three sisters are now grown, Elizabeth can't help but feel that Guin is still the sweet child from her memories. Thus, she often treats her sister as such. Elizabeth loves Guinevere perhaps more than anyone else on earth.
She just can't understand why Guin feels the need to fix the relationship between herself and Ophelia. Elizabeth knows theirs is a relationship too far gone to mend. And oftentimes, things that are broken cannot be fixed.
Personality:Â Stubborn, proud and opinionated, Elizabeth often voices the most unpopular of opinions with ease. This often makes her seem snarky and even cruel but Elizabeth has never been one to truly and deeply care for the opinions of others. She feels that she is very rarely wrong and, therefore, feels her opinions should be valued highly especially when it comes to arguments with her sisters.
Among other company and at social gatherings, Elizabeth adores being the center of attention. She only feels truly alive when every pair of male eyes in any given room is locked solely upon her. She enjoys having a chorus of men gathered around her only to glance into the corner and see Ophelia off by herself. Only then does Elizabeth feel she's truly done her duty and won another round.
Elizabeth has yet to find anyone with whom she can truly be anyone better. It's possible the only person who truly believes Elizabeth is actually a good person is Guinevere. While others have seen the many cracks and faults that make up Elizabeth Fontaine, Guin is the only person who believes that, deep down, Elizabeth is a good person. And, therefore, she is perhaps who Elizabeth truly strives to please. It's possible that, someday, Elizabeth might meet someone who balances her and brings out her good qualities but, as of yet, she hasn't met any such person.
And, thus, she continues to be stubborn, proud and an all around sarcastic and sometimes haughty individual. But she's always been someone of upper class standing and she's never wavered from her good social status and, thus, doesn't believe she needs to change for anyone. Men like women who will keep a well run house and who will enhance their reputation amongst the elite of society. Elizabeth feels she can provide these things and, therefore, sees herself as someone who anyone would want as a wife. She feels, it's only a matter of time before the eligible bachelors begin breaking down her door and waving their rings in her face.
Goals/Hopes for Future:Â While, deep down, Elizabeth still wishes Fontaine could be hers, she knows that it will pass on to the heir upon her father's death and she will be unceremoniously chucked from the only home she's known. Thus, Elizabeth wishes to be far gone before that comes to pass. While love has never been something Elizabeth has professed to want, marriage has always been in her sights.
Elizabeth knows that she is destined to a partnership. She has found herself settling upon the idea of, not love, but marriage. A man, not with whom to love and adore her, to be her companion and a friend to grow old with. But instead, a man who'll be a strong provider, who will allow her to continue the comfortable lifestyle of which she's grown so fond and whom she will provide heirs. She will marry for convenience, for her own future safety. But not for love, never for love.
After having learned that Ophelia had her eye on a rich gentlemen, Arthur of Arrington, Elizabeth set her sights upon him. She'd never been the picky sort. One rich gentlemen of good breeding is as good as the next. And, thus, Elizabeth has begun to pursue him. She believes she is close to a proposal and, finally, she the life she wants will be in her grasp. But Elizabeth has never been one to count her chickens before they've hatched. She knows all too well that nothing is ever promised and until she has said her 'I dos' and has a ring resting firmly on her finger, she will not breathe easily. After all, a new player has entered the game and might now cause Elizabeth to change her strategy.
Romantic Life:Â While Elizabeth has always been the bell of the ball and the life of the party, she's never really had any suitors she feels she could truly settle down with. At least, none of her suitors have really courted her. She's always been the one on the chase, trying her best to reel them in before her sister wins the hand.
There is only one with whom Elizabeth can claim sole credit. And he's the only one with whom Elizabeth could never remain. Ten years previously, when Elizabeth was out riding, her horse got away from her and, as she fell from his back, almost trampled her. Thankfully, she'd been rescued by Alaric de Montfort. But their relationship didn't end there. The two began seeing each other and, soon after, Elizabeth knew she'd fallen in love. But he was a peasant. He didn't fit in with the neat little life she'd picked out for herself.
Thus she'd broken things off, giving him the cold shoulder until he gave up his pursuit. Locking her feels deep into the depths of her heart, she doesn't allow herself to dwell on what might have been. She's convinced herself that what she felt for Alaric wasn't love. Elizabeth has also managed to convince herself that she doesn't believe in love; it's a silly institution that is left to women whom no one wishes to pursue. It allows them false hope and silly dreams so they won't have to deal with the harsh realities of their impending spinsterhood.
Love is nothing more than a sham. And while Elizabeth occasionally feels a pang for the man she'd once considered her own, she has chosen something far greater for herself. Thus she's resigned herself to a life with Arthur Arrington and that's that. She will marry well and she will live the life of which she's always dreamed. And nothing will stand in her way, not even silly institutions like love.
Given: Since her father's failing health, Elizabeth has been in charge of Fontaine. When her father passes on, Fontaine will go to his heir and the girls will need to find homes of their own. Elizabeth is very close, she feels, to getting a proposal out of the Duke of Aragoth. Still, she won't be settled until she has a ring on her finger. Elizabeth is proud and stubborn and adores being the center of attention during social gatherings. She loves her sisters, but there's often tension and competition between herself and Ophelia. In fact, Elizabeth had overheard a conversation that the Duke was originally interested in pursuing Ophelia, but Elizabeth couldn't resist the challenge to get him, herself. Elizabeth constantly downplays the importance of love, but the truth is, her heart once belonged to Alaric de Montfort when they met ten years ago after he saved her life. Elizabeth never saw a future with him, however, since he was nothing but a peasant.
