With a mother who died in the birthing bed and an indifferent father, Fitzwilliam was raised primarily by nannies and the gentling influence of his older half-sister. Warm, charming and self-confident, he stepped easily into the role of Viscount upon his father’s death, despite being only eighteen at the time, although he relies almost entirely upon others to manage his affairs. He is known to be flirtatious and reckless with the reputations of himself and others, but recommends himself through his fierce loyalty to his family, and particular protectiveness of his sister.

Despite having been prepared to become Baron Seaford his entire life, two years after his father’s death, Elton is still uncertain how he is meant to play the part. Part of him always imagined his father — Sturdy, harsh, and recklessly abusive — would live forever. Faced now with being the head of the family and all that entails, he struggles daily with the plain fact of his responsibilities and spends too much time out on the town drinking and carousing with friends and his uncle.