Introducing...
This is Hector Redgrave, the son of a wealthy London merchant who works alongside the East India Company, selling on goods once they reach Britain from the subcontinent. Despite having a fantastic education, and all the material goods a man could want, Hector was hardly a satisfied young man, especially after his younger brother Jeremy married Margaret Beeton, the elder sister of Louisa Beeton. The loss of his only ally against their father, albeit by marriage led him to go out into some of the seedier areas of London, and look for women to occupy his time and thoughts with.
That is how he met Vivian Thorpe. He was quite taken with the young prostitute, and visited her several times before beginning to visit her less for physical pleasure but more for companionship. At 35 years old, he realised he was falling for the young woman, and no matter how much he tried to ignore it, he knew that he would never be permitted to marry her.
Unable to stand the idea, he left, travelling to India where he stayed and made his own personal fortune, bestowed the title of Count of Ajmer by the East India Company and her Indian Ally, the Raj of Sutlej-Indus, after a long campaign in the region which Hector funded. The inheritance of this title not only improved Hector's social standing, but also earned him large sums when gold was discovered in the river valley.
However, things were not to continue. After nearly a decade, Hector returned to England on the news of his father's death, only to find Vivian disappeared and his confident, Louisa Beeton managing her family's home by hiring rooms out to Navy Commanders, and, as far as he can see, very interested in a certain Quaker.
Now back, Hector is determined to find Viv, and if at all possible, correct the mistake he made before and marry her. But finding her is turning out to be harder than he expected, especially as it seems Harry Fisher, Viv's oldest friend, has kicked her out of her lodgings, and worse than that, is rumoured to have bumped her off.
So, any friends and contacts, colleges or confidants for Hector?