In the novel The Moving Finger, Partridge is the maid of Miss Emily Barton at "Little Furze" in the village of Lymstock. She also had the responsibilities of a housekeeper and cook. When Jerry Burton and his sister Joanna Burton rented the house from Miss Barton, Partridge stayed on to serve them. Beatrice Baker came in daily to help Partridge. Prior to that, Agnes Woddell had also worked with her but had left to work at the house of Richard Symmington.
Partridge is described as a "gaunt dour female of middle age". She enjoys calamity, and her nose twitches whenever she has to break bad news to someone.
Partridge receives a telephone call from Agnes Woddell, and afterwards explains to Joanna that she is very sorry that this occurred, especially as Jerry was the one who had taken the call. Partridge says that she has never been in the habit of using the telephone or of permitting her friends to call her. She explains that Miss Emily Barton would never had allowed it.
Partridge then asks Joanna for permission for Agnes to come to tea in the kitchen with her. Joanna freely gives permission for Agnes to come to tea, asking why Partridge should not have her friends to tea. Partridge is apparently offended by this, and explains that old Mrs Barton never allowed visitors in the kitchen, and Miss Emily Barton kept to the old ways. However, Agnes had something on her mind, and wanted to consult Partridge about it, as she did not have a mother or other relations to give her advice.
At the end of the novel, when Jerry Burton and Megan Hunter get married, Partridge sends them a teacloth as a wedding present. Although Partridge always appeared dour, she seems to have come around by this point, as she had personally embroidered the teacloth with a design of true lovers' knots.
Portrayals[]
In the BBC 1985 adaptation of the novel which formed part of the Miss Marple series, Partridge is played by Penelope Lee.
In the ITV 2006 adaptation of the novel (Episode 2, Series of Agatha Christie's Marple), Partridge is played by Rosalind Knight.