Daphne Harridge

From The Dark Shadows Wiki

This page refers to Daphne Harridge of "real time" including her spirit. For her Parallel Time equivalent, see Daphne Harridge Collins.

Daphne Harridge was hired to be the new governess at Collinwood in 1840. Her spirit temporarily haunted Collinwood from 1970 to at least 1995. Her grave in 1970 indicates she died in 1841.

When Julia leaves Collinwood in 1970 and enters the world of Collinwood in 1840 -- later to be joined by Barnabas and Professor Stokes she encounters the living Daphne Harridge for the first time, having seen her spirit in 1995.

Daphne originally came to Collinwood with the clandestine purpose of killing Quentin, whom she believed to have murdered her sister, Joanna Mills. Daphne is an educated young woman who has spent part of her upbringing in France. She initially works for the Collinsports newspaper, whereupon she was invited by Quentin to serve as Collinwood's governess to his son Tad Collins. She eventually comes to realize that Quentin did not kill her sister and grows romantically involved with him. This sets-up a love triangle of sorts, with the character of Gerard Stiles also being interested in Daphne. Gerard is possessed by the spirit of the colonial-era warlock Judah Zachary and uses his powers (and personal charm) to draw Daphne to him. The rivalry between Quentin and Gerard develops over many twists and turns, which includes not only the hand of Daphne, but control of the Collins financial empire. By going back to 1840, Barnabas and Julia are able to change the future by saving Daphne from Gerard and preserving Quentin's control of Collinwood. Quentin's wife, Samatha is killed off and the 1840 timeline concludes with the apparent marriage and honeymoon of Quentin and Daphne.