Laurence Lake
| {{{image}}} | |
| Portrayed by Matthew McNulty | |
| Full Name | Laurence Henry Lake |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 14th 1784 |
| Father | James Lake |
| Father's Rank/Occupation | Tailor |
| Mother | Corinne Lake |
| Mother's Rank/Occupation | ??? |
| Town Residence | Bond Street |
| Occupation | Tailor |
Laurence Lake is a tailor at James Lake and Co.
Laurence is played by Nikki
Family
- Father: James Lake (b.1763)
- Laurence's father has made a great name for himself as a reputable tailor. Ten years ago he proudly opened his own shop called James Lake & Company on Bond street and it has been doing quite well ever since. He is a good man and tries hard to keep a level head when it comes to his two children and running a business.
- Mother: Corinne Lake (b. 1769)
- Born and raised in France, Corinne was a little wary of moving to England for love, but the choice has treated her well. She supports all the choices her children make, even if they are a little too far fetched and odd.
- Sister: Felicity Noella Lake (b.1789)
- Though she is the youngest and a girl, she has more a mind for business than either her father or brother. Put in charge of the books and ordering, she sees it as her god given right to be Laurence's boss.
History
Laurence was born a hot summer day in July to James and Corinne Lake and was officially deemed difficult two seconds after he opened his mouth. His mother loves to tell him that for the first four years of his life she was not in her right mind because of him.
Laurence grew up as a happy and well-loved child, his mother constantly spoiling him with small gifts and candy while his father, though more strict, never failed to show his love for the boy. Laurence hated school, insisting that they only taught dull meaningless things, and would often skip to go doodle on his slate or paper.
When it came time for his father to make him his apprentice, Laurence had already sewn his first jacket (crudely) and made his mother a gown (too short). He took to the craft beautifully and soon had surpassed any of his family’s expectations with sheer talent. Things seemed to be looking great for James Lake’s dream of passing down his business to Laurence until suddenly Laurence grew bored. Laurence could stitch together a perfect suit by just glancing at a man in front of him, but that meant nothing when he felt like his creativity and real meaning in life was being suffocated by men's fashion and their dull colours. Many nights he and his father fought over Laurence wanting to branch out and try something new. A new bright colour, a different fabric, feathers, women's clothing.
Finally, tired of his father holding him back and against the man’s wishes, Laurence travelled to France during the Peace of Amiens to live with family and start learning all about the female side of clothing. In order not to cause too much fuss, Laurence took to perfecting his French and after nine years not a hint of his accent remained. At the age of twenty he met Madame Salmoé Duval and immediately started training under her. In the five years of training, Laurence had learned how to stitch together some of the finest gowns he had ever seen and was even encouraged to try his hand at a few of his own ideas.
Though his family lived in England, when the two countries went back to war, Laurence decided he would stay in France and continue to train and cultivate his art instead of go back to where he felt it would only be strangled. This choice put a huge strain on his father and his relationship.
He had started to make a name for himself in France when he received a letter from his Aunt, informing him that she had received word from Felicity that his father had been suffering from slight tremors and was having issues with keeping up on orders and demands. They could lose the shop.
Laurence’s uncle told him that he would be able to talk to someone of influence, to get him home to be with his family and help, but it would come at the price of never being able to return to France again. He refused at first, not wanting to give up everything he had worked so hard to accomplish, but duty to family called higher and within a week his uncle’s influence had him on a boat back home.
Now back in England, Laurence is miserable. Filing orders of boring men’s suits yet again and trying to remember how to function there, but he has hope yet that he can turn his father’s dull old shop into something wonderful.
