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Mrs Grose was the day housekeeper at Gabriel Chase.
Biography
Mrs Grose lived in Perivale with her husband, Mr Grose. She worked for Josiah Samuel Smith at Gabriel Chase, (TV: Ghost Light) although she never met him as she stopped work at six o'clock. Like all members of the household, Josiah had put some blocks on her mind. She was paid enough not to question her daily instructions (PROSE: Ghost Light) but did tell her husband that it was about time that the police got involved.
In September 1883, Mrs Grose and the day maids had to stay longer than they would have liked due to the arrival of Reverend Ernest Matthews as they were hurrying to leave. In the morning, she moved the sleeping Ace to a bedroom (TV: Ghost Light) and spoke with the Seventh Doctor, whom she found charming. She told him about how she had never met her employer, about the locked rooms and about the guests who disappeared, sometimes leaving their luggage behind. Knowing her place, she did not ask the Doctor too many questions. (PROSE: Ghost Light)
Mrs Grose had been questioned by Inspector Alfred Mackenzie, who was continuing his investigation into the disappearance of Sir George Pritchard, but he believed that she was not telling him the whole truth. She woke Ace up at five o'clock in the evening with food, telling her that the Doctor and Mackenzie awaited her in the drawing room. (TV: Ghost Light) The Doctor had her lay out a white dress for Ace.
Terrified after seeing Control and believing that she might have appeared to her because she had been wicked, Mrs Grose was given brandy by the Doctor and asked about what she had seen. She left to find new employment, not wanting to stay at the house a moment longer, and was told by the Doctor to say hello to Peter Quint when she did. (PROSE: Ghost Light)
Personality
Mrs Grose was a cheerful lady, but one whom Mrs Pritchard believed to be simple and barely literate. (PROSE: Ghost Light) She was scared to be in Gabriel Chase at night and believed that no sane person would do such a thing. (TV: Ghost Light) She described Ace's usual clothes as "shabby things", believing that the dress that the Doctor had her lay out was more fitting for a young lady. (PROSE: Ghost Light)
Appearance
Mrs Grose was a chubby woman with plump, rosy cheeks and the appearance of a cheerful soul. (PROSE: Ghost Light)
Behind the scenes
Mrs Grose is the name of the housekeeper in The Turn of the Screw, hence why the Doctor tells her to say hello to Peter Quint, a character from the novella.