Nora

Nora, known only by her Christian name, is a main character in the Young Miss Holmes / Christie series. She works as one of Christie's personal maids and is very loyal to her.
==Personality==
Nora, who seems to hail from the North (as evidenced by her frequent use of the phrase, "Ay up!"), is possessed of a quick wit and a good dose of street smarts, and never shies away from speaking her mind. She often scandalizes the other maids with her loose tongue, but Christie regards her with admiration for her frankness.
At the same time, Nora wishes to better herself, and will practice good speech and manners in secret whenever she gets the chance. She feels indebted to the Hopes for taking her in and putting her to work, and is very protective of her employers, whom she regards as her family.
She loves and admires Christie, and is one of the few people who never talk down to her.
==Appearance==
Nora is white, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her somewhat pale skin features a large group of freckles over her nose.
As a maid, Nora keeps her wavy hair short, cropped above her ears. It it usually paired with a frilled headpiece, which matches her work attire of a black ankle-length dress with a high collar tied with a large bow. A frilled white apron and nondescript black boots complete the outfit.
When on outings, Nora often wears a brimmed straw hat and a plain cloak.
==History==
Nora, an orphan, was raised by a criminal family who stole from people to make a living. They would constantly beat her when she made the slightest mistake. 
One day, her abusive "family" was killed by an angry mob from whom they had stolen. She came back to ruins of her home after fetching a bucket of water for her "brother," who had been kicked in the head by a horse. 
For years afterward, she scrounged and scavenged to survive, one day finding herself on the grounds of a huge estate, where she bagged a fox for her dinner, and hoping to sell the pelt for a few shillings. The lord of the manor and his wife caught her, and taking pity on her, as well as admiring her strength and gumption, took her in and put her to work. They were none other than Count and Countess Hope. 
==Trivia==
Nora is alarmingly proficient in the use of a whip known as a "snake's tongue," due to its forked tip. By its use, she has saved Christie's life on more than one occasion. She keeps the whip concealed under her clothes at all times, only removing it when she is sleeping or bathing.
Although uneducated and illiterate at the beginning of the series, Nora proves a quick learner when Christie and Miss Dunbar teach her to read and write.
The 1989 manga action series Desert Rose features a character named Irene Sanders to whom Nora bears an uncanny resemblance (though Irene is older and considerably more physically developed). This is hardly surprising, since Young Miss Holmes creator Kaoru Shintani also created Desert Rose. It may be speculated that Nora is Irene's ancestor.
==Images==
Category:Characters