Raphael Curtis
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| Portrayed by Placeholder; Former Character | |
| Full Name | Raphael Benedict Curtis |
|---|---|
| Title | Duke of Edencourt |
| Associated Noble House(s) | Dukedom of Edencourt |
| Date of Birth | 22nd May 1785 |
| Father | Maxwell Curtis |
| Father's Rank | Duke of Edencourt |
| Mother | Elaine Curtis |
| Mother's Rank | Duchess of Edencourt |
| Town Residence | |
| Income | |
| School | Eton |
| University | Oxford |
| Year Attained Title | 1803 |
Raphael Curtis is a former character created by Snowy
Family
- Father: ~ Maxwell Curtis, 7th Duke of Edencourt born: 1760; died: 1803 age 43
- Mother: ~ Elaine Curtis (née Minton), Dowager Duchess of Edencourt born: 1762 (49)
- Sisters:
- Tabitha Symon (née Curtis), Countess of Monteith (30) born: August 1781
- Cynthia Wynter (née Curtis), Viscountess Whitleaf (28) born: October 1783
- Brothers-in-law:
- Marcus Symon, Earl of Monteith (37) born: January 1774
- Colin Wynter, Viscount Whitleaf (31) born: March 1780
- Niece and Nephews:
- Thea Symon (10) born: February 1801
- Christopher Symon (6) born: March 1805
- James Wynter (5) born: September 1805
Background
When Raphael was born in the spring of 1785, he was the answer to a prayer. After two daughters and five years of marriage, the duke and duchess of Edencourt had begun to fear for the future of the dukedom. Though they loved their daughters, Raphael was the much longed for heir.
Maxwell was content with his little family and took an unusual interest in them, dedicating a large portion of his time to his children. He personally taught them the basics of riding, though he accepted help from his wife on the fine points of sidesaddle for the girls. As youths the children spent almost everyday together, but as the girls got older, they began to spend more time with their mother, leaving Raphael and his father together. Not that Rafael complained; he loved his father very much. How could he not when the man had shown him nothing but the same? Granted, he did sometimes miss the company of Cynthia, who had that uncanny—and sometimes annoying—ability to know what he was thinking and feeling.
As the heir to a dukedom, Rafael received the best education possible. He was privately tutored on different subjects and when Raphael was of age Maxwell personally took him to Eton, leaving him with words of encouragement. After leaving Eton, Raphael continued on to Oxford in 1803. His life was grand and dazzling as any young heir to a prestigious and wealthy dukedom. He had gained a small circle of close friends and a wide range of acquaintances, the latter quite eager to please him. He learned of the wonders of women and women learned the wonders of him. He had a loving family back home who wrote him letters and welcomed him when he was on his vacation.
Unfortunately, the death of his father during the summer break of his first year, jostled Raphael’s belief that good things happened to people who did good things. So incredulous was he that he had actually asked God what he had done so wrong to lose his beloved father. The day after receiving the horrible news, the solicitor of the family came to tell him of his inevitable inheritance. He was the new Duke of Edencourt. He owned every property that was previously under his father’s name. The short meeting was depressing; it was as if the death of his father was final when he officially became the Duke of Edencourt. It seemed like each new day brought on bad news; the next morning his mother told him that she was to stay with Tabitha since her eldest daughter could use someone to look after little Thea. It was understood, however, that Elaine would need the company of the innocent bubbly Thea to ease the pain of losing her husband. And so Tabitha and Marcus left that same day along with Elaine. Cynthia stayed for two more days before she left with Colin. And Raphael was left alone once again, only this time, he was truly alone without even his father to comfort him.
At present, Raphael is considered to be a catch of the season and is currently being pressured by his mother to find a bride. He is, by Elaine’s opinion, in the wrong half of his twenties. But Raphael has no female acquaintances to which he feels inclined to propose to and he has indeed no intention of marrying while he is in his prime years, much to the frustration of many marriages minded mamas and their daughters and of course, his own mother.
