Born the heir to viscountcy, raised to be an anarchist, exiled as a revolutionary, and rehabilitated as a great playwright and radical politician, Gabriel de Rougemont had already gone through enough for three lives, before he was accused of planting a bomb inside a building. Forced to flee France for the second time in his lifetime, he begins his second exile to England with fewer prospects, less money and family support. Sharp and impulsive, yet well-read and well-spoken, Gabriel has a talent both for getting into messes and escaping their consequences. Or had, for his luck might have just run out.
Lucien King
Lucien, known as Lux among his peers, embodies a captivating blend of charm and recklessness. His ambition drives him to pursue his desires with fervor, yet he often struggles to maintain his composure, teetering on the edge of impulsivity and emotional outbursts. Despite this volatility, he possesses an undeniable talent for captivating a crowd, his silver tongue effortlessly weaving words that could sway even the coldest individuals to his favor. Lux knows how to command attention and inspire loyalty, even as he navigates the tumultuous waters of his own emotions as a young gentleman. The type to know a man, that knows a man, and so on- his connections vary far and wide, from the dirty slums of the east end, to the grand luxury of the upper-class.
Lucien King, playfully referred to as “Lucy” among his siblings, embodies a complex duality. While he is adored in high society for his charm, he grapples with feelings of inadequacy as he constantly finds himself compared to his accomplished eldest brother. The recent passing of their father has intensified his need to prove himself, fueling a quiet frustration that gnaws at him. At the forefront of his aspirations stands The Silver Bullet, a prestigious bar and club he opened just over a year ago in the vibrant east end, even as his father’s health declined. Lucien is fiercely determined to make this establishment thrive, attracting a diverse and eclectic clientele that reflects his vision. However, the challenges of managing such a venture weigh heavily on him, and he is acutely aware that maintaining its success amidst potential troubles is a precarious balancing act.
Enzo Esposito
Enzo has always felt torn between two versions of himself. French and Italian; serious, dutiful son, and fun-loving artistic soul; normal, and deviant. Brought by his mother to London a few years ago, he does his best to portray himself in the way she expects and is proud of. To that end, he got a job as a telegram messenger, biking around the city to deliver telegrams to a wide variety of individuals. It was through that job that he was introduced to Martin Love, the proprietor of Maggie’s Place, who was quick to offer the handsome young man a place at the brothel. Though it is not the kind of work that Enzo ever imagined himself doing, there is a certain freedom to it that keeps him working there in spite of the danger and the distasteful aspects of it.
Estelle King
Estelle has her brothers completely wrapped around her little finger, delighting in the chaos they create, especially when it comes to her impulsive twin, Lucien. With a confident flair and a clever wit, she navigates her world with the ease of being the one and only to have been spoiled by their father, basking in the knowledge that she can do no wrong in his eyes. This adoration has only fueled her ambitions, as she sets her sights on a grand career in the arts—be it singing, dancing, or playing music. After all, with a name that means “Star,” it’s only fitting that she shines brightly in whatever endeavor she chooses.
An extrovert at heart, Estelle possesses a playful deviousness that adds a touch of mischief to her charm, making her the life of any gathering. Her brother Darius, in particular, finds himself at most ease around her out of his siblings, and the two share a bond that is both teasing and supportive. Estelle has been raised by governesses her whole life, but that’s never stopped her from asking and learning about the woman her mother had been, and perhaps that’s what sparked her passion from an early age.
Sebastián King
Sebastián, affectionately known as Bash to his friends and family, embodies the essence of a young gentleman. An artist at heart, he always carries a notebook and pen tucked beneath his coat, ready for whenever the muse may strike. His kindness is both his greatest virtue and his most significant flaw; it often veers into naiveté. With an upbeat attitude, Bash eagerly pursues new experiences and adventures, though his enthusiasm sometimes leads him to stumble over the very steps he overlooked along the way.
Despite being the youngest of four, he wasn’t given as much pampering as one would expect. Instead, his childhood was spent shuffling from one governess to another, along with his older twins, Lucien and Estelle. From a young age, Bash had carried guilt for a crime he didn’t commit: his mother’s death. And through the years, that nagging feeling only festered against his father’s stoicism, and his eldest brother’s, Darius, apparent avoidance. But all this is about to change with the passing of his father and his brother’s arrival home to claim the title of a baron.
Darius King
Darius stands as a prominent figure in his prestigious family, with a sharp mind, forthright attitude, a shifty mood and a loaded gun, he is not a man to be trifled with. Having served a significant amount of his life in the military to attain his title as a captain, he has some conflicted feelings regarding being the newly appointed title as Baron after his father’s passing. And now that he is back in London for what seems like a good while, he is handling the emotional turmoil with the grace of an elephant- simply one misstep away from imploding.
Antoinette Vigneau
After escaping trafficking, Antoinette Vigneau finds herself in a difficult situation: she is penniless in a strange land, where she has no friends, no connection and no where to go. Going back home would not be an option anyway, for er family won’t accept her anyway. She doesn’t want to go back to the brothel, for that life was never for her, and the madam takes a huge amount of her earnings anyway. All she can do, is try to survive in the East End, where she is hiding in overcrowded rooms, in the hopes that the thugs that are looking for her will not find her and lead her back to her latest prison. Entirely destitute, Antoinette has but one resource at her disposal: her determination not only to survive, but to thrive.
Harold Hastings
When Baron Thomas Hastings married Cicilia Morgan, his two grown sons were caught unaware and in utter disbelief. Their new step-mother, wed not long after the death of their own dear Mama, was a mere few years their senior! Well, from the first instance the trio never quite saw eye to eye despite Cicilia’s efforts to try and save what was left — after all, it was quite obvious that her choice of husband had never been their father, and it was to be insisted upon that Thomas Hastings was not the nice, loving kind of man one would hope for. When his father died, Harold chose to marry quickly in order to abandon the Baroness to the Dowager title, Harold made his plans to push his step-mother into her brother’s arms instead (to Wales, in fact, far away from the Hastings foothold). They have barely seen one another since, but it is said that she has claimed to push for her son’s inheritance, and now that she has pulled the strings of a man’s heart she may call herself a Duchess! Harold will fight tooth and nail to keep her from his family name, but even then, he is just a man. His friends say he is Exciting, Genuine & Punctual. Cicilia claims he is Childish, Crafty & Difficult.
Étienne Louis Beaudroit
A French veteran looking for purpose in the steady routine he has carved out for himself as a recent newcomer to England, Étienne Beaudroit is a quiet, steady sort of presence with the sort of appearance and aura that begs to be questioned. Currently acting as a bookshop clerk and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy at the behest of his parents, Étienne is always searching for something (or someone) to look forward to.
Victor de la Roche
A young would-be scientist with a worryingly intense interest in anatomy. Victor is the son of affluent French merchants, who abandoned his role in the family business in favor of satisfying his curiosity about the natural world.