Elaine Fortescue

Elaine Fortescue is one of the cast of potential suspects in A Pocket Full of Rye. The youngest child and only daughter of Rex Fortescue - the victim - she fell out with her father over her choice of husband, giving her a motive, but she is also the only member of the family to express any grief at his death. According to her father's will, she inherited fifty thousand pounds after his death.

Elaine's boyfriend, Gerald Wright is poor and ambitious. Elaine had told her brother that after their father died, she intended to use her inheritance to start a school with Gerald. Although Gerald appears to be obviously after her money, Miss Marple believes that she has a good chance at happiness. Her husband-to-be is judged by Miss Marple to be the type of man who'd be so pleased with himself at making a 'good' marriage that he would be kind to his wife.

Elaine is a tall, dark girl, and is not particularly attractive. She is quite athletic, and runs Guides and Brownies.

Portrayals
Elaine Fortescue does not appear in the BBC 1985 adaptation of the novel which formed part of the Miss Marple series.

In the ITV 2008 adaptation of the novel (Episode 1, Season 4 of Agatha Christie's Marple), the part of Elaine Fortescue is played by Hattie Morahan. In this adaptation she is portrayed as being very bookish and intellectual, which is something she and Gerald Wright have in common.