Cremallera de Montserrat

Name: Miss Hattie Harker Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Blonde, Bust: Buxom, Waist:

Child Bearing Origin: Goldenheart Manners: 3 Charm: 5 Wits: 3 Spite: 1 Performance: 2 Prowess: 4

Good At: Midwifery, Resisting Seduction,

Acts of Charity Legend: 8 Reputation: 2 Wealth: 0 Infl uence: 3 Scandal: 1

Hattie Harker was the daughter of a Methodist minister Rev. Joseph Harker and his wife Mrs Jessica Harker. She was always told as she was growing up that her mother was nurse and being the good natured and pious child she was she was keen to follow in her mother’s footsteps. At 16 she volunteered to serve as a trainee nurse in a charity hospital in India. As something of a hopeless romantic she dreamed of being swept off her feet by some dashing virtuous Prince Charming.

Her dreams came true. Well sort of... It was a princess.

Irene was the daughter of a surgeon and nurse. She had all of Hattie’s good nature but none of her religious or moral convictions. Hattie was deeply troubled by her attraction to Irene retreating into a vigil of prayer that took up almost all of her free time. Though not much older Irene was more experienced with the secretive art of seducing women. Taking great care of her fears and insecurities she gently befriended Hattie and put her at ease before taking her to bed. Irene was practiced in discretion. Hattie was not, especially as she was madly in love. The other nurses started to talk. A report was made and the local watch caught them together. Both were tried for sodomy. The writing was on the wall for the notoriously amoral Irene and

The Jury however refused to believe that a girl whose convictions and morals had been highlighted throughout was guilty. The jury found her not guilty on the grounds that she was coerced.

Hattie was dragged from the court screaming protestations of love and demanding the jury reconsider as Irene was sentenced to hang. She wanted to die with her love. Instead she was sent home in disgrace: With no future in nursing and a doubly soiled reputation. A misunderstanding over the East India Company’s prices had her pay her outstanding fee with her virginity (well virginity with a man anyway) and frequent “payment visits” to the bullying offi cers throughout the duration of the cruise. Her father cut off all contact. Her mother however did not. She wrote an affectionate letter to her daughter that was a real revelation.

She was, as Hattie’s father insisted, a nurse but after a proposition from a grateful patient she adopted prostitution as a sideline. Hattie being disgraced by the scandal couldn’t hope to fi nd a husband conventionally. However if she adopted a life of sin a good man may save her from it just as her father had saved her mother. She gave Hattie some names of people to get her started. These people, fl attered to have the honour of introducing such a scandalous legend to the Town directed her to 69 Frothington Place where she came to meet her new Sisters.

Hattie is still a good Christian girl at heart. Worst still she is wracked with guilt for having escaped the fate of her beloved Irene whose picture she keeps on a bracelet on her wrist. She prays every night for her Prince Charming to save her from this debauchery. A princess won’t do this time.

Relationships

Lilly: “Lilly is not like the rest of us. Well

obviously she’s still a sinner but she only does it out of misfortune that was not her fault. I do not like to speak ill of the dead but her husband was deeply wrong to use her to hide his nature even if, as I know to my shame, his life was at stake. She has had a troubled relationship with God but I got her to come to Chapel with me and Bella the fi rst Sunday I was here and she’s never missed it ever since. She has strong views about sexuality, and that is understandable with the tragedies in her life but she really must learn tolerance. Maybe Chapel wasn’t such a good idea.”

Bella: “A shameless sinner, very much the

opposite of Lilly but she has been very kind to me. I remember telling her my story and showing her the portrait of my poor Irene. Clearly she’d heard the legend but she hadn’t equated it with me like most of the other girls had. Except Lady Jessica of course but she is a little eccentric. She was so sympathetic and kind I almost feared falling in love with a woman again. She assures me she has no feelings for me though I get the impression she’s struggling with some. Her daughter Kirsty is adorable. She is such a brave woman for not giving in to pressure and keeping her close despite the strain it puts on the Household.”

Jessica: “Lady Jessica is a little eccentric.

Then I suppose most Ladies of her station are. I get the distinct impression there is more to her than meets the eye and that the dizziness may be an act concealing a shrewd mind that knows all our innermost secrets. Maybe that’s why she is so sweet to me. She knows my inner demons.”

Lucy: “She maybe a papist but she is a

devoted one if somewhat misguided. She does not struggle with her demons she embraces them. Can’t recall her ever inviting a man into her boudoir. I guess there is a fi rst time for everything though. I may not be the prettiest girl in the House but knowing Lucy as I do it will not be long before she tries her wiles on me. I must be prepared. I can master my lusts even if she is the most adorable beauty and my thoughts of her are often less

Nora: “Nora’s god is power and the exercise

of it. She doesn’t really know what do with her god she just follows it blindly wherever it will lead her. She says she has a plan but we all know different. She just likes playing with men who have infl uence. She spends a lot of time teasing them because, so I’ve heard she lacks the skill to please them in bed. She needs a real God. The Lord Jesus Christ to save her from her wicked, wicked ways. Oh and seeing her impressive physique displayed so brazenly all the time is not doing my struggle with my “liking girls” problem any good. I have not the courage to ask her to desist though. Anyway Lilly does all the time and gets nowhere.”