Deannah Trollope

Deannah Trollope was born in 1336, a daughter to the De Mytton family’s cook. The two families had a working relationship that spanned several generations. Almost from the day she was born Deannah showed a liking for fun and a nose for trouble.

When Lady Anne de Mytton gave birth to her daughter Eleanor, Deannah managed to sneak in to look at the baby. She became a constant visitor to the baby, despite her mother’s pleas to stay away as befitting her status.

Lady Anne was quite tolerant of her daughter’s small visitor, maybe because she had been an only female in her own family and found it very lonely.

As time passed the two girls became inseparable. Many was the time Deannah was punished for skiving from her duties. She also managed to lead Eleanor into trouble unintentionally and earned the two of them a withering glance and punishment from Lady Eleanor’s companion and Lady in Waiting, Isabeth. It seems Deannah may have been the one who ignited the spark of wilfulness in the young Eleanor.

Eventually Deannah was forced to spend more time in the kitchen attending to her duties, learning the family trade and recipes.

Deannah’s skills in the kitchen exceeded anything her mother could have hoped for. She showed a real talent for cooking and experimenting with new recipes. She still had an adventurous spirit and on occasion still sneaked off to spend some time with her friend. Understanding what might occur if separation was enforced on the two very strong willed girls, Eleanor’s companion and Lady in Waiting persuaded Richard de Mytton it would be wisest to accept their friendship, and allow a certain amount of time together under her watchful eye.

Deannah was betrothed twice. The first betrothal was broken when her ‘Fiancé’s’ family suddenly announced his marriage to another girl of slightly higher status. The

second was dissolved when rumours of her independent and rebellious nature became an issue that could not be over come. Deannah liked her fun and found flirting to be a great game, one she played very well. She gained many admirers and was never short of male company and was often in trouble with Lady Isabeth for talking to Lady Eleanor of things she should not know off.

When Lady Eleanor became betrothed to Sir John of Lancaster she volunteered to accompany her mistress as her cook. Her loyalty to Eleanor was unquestionable and her offer was gladly accepted. She often received proposals from the Knights that attended the tournaments held by Sir John, none of which were for marriage and some of which were turned down.

Since the marriage of Lady Eleanor to Sir John, and of the knowledge of Lady Eleanor’s friendship, Deannah has become a trusted confidant of Sir John, with the ability to gain additional information from knights that have taken a liking to Deannah. With this seed planted in Sir Johns mind, Deannah has been sent away to learn etiquette and how to become a lady of the court, paid for by Sir John to enable Deannah to spend more time with Lady Eleanor and using her wilily ways to entrance and eventually spy on the not so trusted Scottish knight, Sir Alexander De Gordon.