Name: William Egerton, the Elder

Alias(es): William the Uxorious/ The Uxorious Duke

Title(s): 1st Duke of Suffolk

Allegiance(s): Publically proclaims unswerving loyalty to Queen Anne

Gender: Male

Age: 38

Family:
Robert Egerton (Father, Deceased)
Mary Egerton (Mother, Deceased)
Edward Egerton (Brother, Deceased)
Margaret Brandson-Egerton (Wife, Deceased)
Isabella Egerton (Daughter, 18 years)
William Egerton, the Younger (Son, 16 years)

Appearance:

[img] http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs31/f/2008/203/1/c/The_Duke_by_arventur.jpg [/img]

Bio: William Egerton is a cold, emotionless man. He has been a cold, emotionless man for sixteen years now. He remembers…he remembers very clearly how it happened. Before then…well, it is such a long time ago now. He can hardly remember the happy, energetic youth he once was.

Born to Robert and Mary Egerton, they were amongst the most influential members of the aristocracy, and remain so to a certain degree today. He enjoyed the finest in life and was an intelligent boy to boot - unlike his younger brother, Edward, who was only too good with a sword but was not quite there with wits.

Growing up William was always close with his father and would follow him on the many campaigns and diplomatic missions or visits to the royal court, and his energy and vitality never left him. The many tutors he had over the years always noted his positive outlook on life and none left him but was influenced by his contagious optimism. At eighteen, having been betrothed for a year, William married the love of his life, Margaret Brandson, daughter of the 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Henry Brandson, though his happiness was marred by the sudden deaths of both his parents.

Within two years his first child was born, a girl whom they named Isabella and two years after their second child arrived, a boy who was named William, after his father. Little is known about what occurred on the night of Margaret’s death, not more than a week after William’s birth. The official narrative is that assassins attacked the manor where they were staying, at whose hands Margaret was killed. Those who were present in the manor remember no assassins, though they do say that there was a huge racket in the room his grace, and the screams of the duke and duchess as they struggled with – what is presumed to be – the assassins woke the entire manor. When the door of their room burst open and the duke emerged, blood gushing from an open wound in his side, all were shocked, even the guards stood frozen.

The duke was taken away and cared for. Upon inspection of the room, it became clear what had occurred. The windows were shut tightly, the duchess was on the bed, a bloodied scissor in her hands, and the cause of death was suspected to have been strangling. But those were rumours. The truth, from the duke himself, was that three assassins had broken in. His wife had bravely taken up a pair of scissors and stabbed one of the assassins before the other strangled her to death. The third assassin had struggled with the duke, stabbing him before all three realised there was no hope for success and had escaped.

William was never the same after that. His energy and vitality, his optimism and positivity…were gone like distant whispers on the wind, like the shadows of ghosts in the fog of time and history. His two children were brought up by him, though his relationship with his daughter has always been better than that with his son. If anything, his treatment of William, the Younger borders on cruel at times. None no why, and none dare ask.

During the late King’s campaign in France, William’s brother, Edward, took part. William had long foregone the sword and had become quite the apt political animal, with contacts everywhere at court and influence quite frightening. Edward died in France. When the news reached William he didn’t bat an eye. 
“Ashes may to ashes, and dust may to dust, but oh, I do not see my flame yet quenched.”

Personality: A cold and calculating man. William is able to hide his emotions masterfully and nothing of his thoughts is ever allowed to be reflected in his physicality. He has trained before the mirror for so long that he knows each and every expression he makes, every movement of his is rehearsed and thought-out. While usually calm and collected, William is also quite an adept actor and can, when he so wishes, give the impression that he has flown into anger or his emotions have gotten the better of him. It is all an act, his life is layer upon layer of masks and lies and hypocrisy, but who is there who knows?

To the outside world, William is the staunch support of the crown, guardian of all things English, and unswerving supporter the royal famill.

Skills:
Quick of mind and wit
Well read
Master actor
Good speaker
Can handle a sword (though slightly out of practice)