Jessica Darke Jessica Darke was born to a family in the lower echelons of the Talavais family, the 2nd of six daughters, the 3rd of 11 siblings. Her family was poor, and when her mother died, she swore that she would leave the lower echelons, better her place in life, and never work herself to death as her mother had. Her every iota of energy became focussed on fulfilling her vow. She was a smart woman, and though she would never be called beautiful, was pretty enough. She took advantage of these tools that she was born with, fighting her way upward socially, struggling to make her way in a male dominated society. But she found that even she had her limits. Though she made her way to an advantageous arrangement, she had no dowry, and her father was... well, he was, what he was. A mistress was all she could ever hope to be. And when her beauty faded, she would lose even that. But where her wits and appearance were not able to win through, luck finally chose her side. For her assignee's wife could not bear children, and she became pregnant. She used the child mercilessly from the womb, prying the man from his wife, and in the end, taking her place from the woman's dead hands- stress it was said was her downfall, but there were certain anamolies... In the end, Jessica had reached the pinnacle of what she could expect. More than nothing, but only almost something. But what she couldn't have, she could vicariously experience through her daughter. She pushed her daughter just as hard as she had pushed herself. Her daughter was beautiful, and graceful, and poised. What she wasn't was ambitious, nor cunning. Not to say that she was anything but intelligent- it was just that her energies were not focussed on forging that intelligence into a weapon. The women butted heads many times over suitors, but Jessica found that her daughter was more than a match for her in her own way. It was frustrating to say the least. When Jessica found out that her daughter having assignations, she was livid with rage. At least until she found out who the assignee was. What a catch! If only she could get her daughter to see so. But no. Her daughter was 'in love' for all that was worth. And wouldn't push. At least until she became pregnant... for her children, her daughter fought admirably. But that damned Morgan Carlysle would never accept them, and even had the audacity to suggest that they might be dangerous to the Carlysle line! In the end, her daughter died during childbirth. And only then did Jessica realize how little she had truly shown her child that she had loved her. With the help if Iago, for her husband had long since died, Jessica was able to make a place for her grandchildren. And she has been determined that she would take this second chance to show Grayson and Geneva the love she had never given to her daughter. |
