Henry Layton
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| Portrayed by Matthew MacFadyen | |
| Full Name | Henry John Layton |
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| Title | Earl Parry, Baron Loseley |
| Associated Noble House(s) | Earldom Parry, Barony of Loseley, Marquessate of Crantock |
| Date of Birth | 20th June, 1783 |
| Father | Henry Layton (deceased) |
| Father's Rank | Earl |
| Mother | Louisa Layton |
| Mother's Rank | Dowager Countess |
| Town Residence | {{{residence}}} |
| Income | £18,000 p.a. |
| School | King's College School then Winchester |
| University | Cambridge (King's College) |
| Year Attained Title | 1805 |
Henry Layton is the 2cd Earl Parry and the nth Baron of Loseley. He is twenty-seven years old and divides his time between Loseley Park and London. Henry is outwardly frivolous and doesn't care about what people say about him or indeed what he says about them. He is also an intelligent man who would never actively hurt anyone who did not deserve it. He is an excellent singer.
Family
Henry Layton, Earl Parry (deceased) - father
Louisa, Dowager Countess Parry - mother
Catherine, Lady Kirkfries - sister
Lady Phoebe Layton - sister
Archibald Layton, Marquess of Crantock - great-uncle
Background
Early Years: 1783-1801
As the only son of an Earl who also had a Marquessdom to look forward to from a reclusive and childless great-uncle, Henry had a pampered childhood at Loseley Park in Berkshire. He grew up in a warm but rather odd family who delighted in thinking outside the box. His father encouraged him to be bright and interested in the world, and his mother was a forthright and strong female role model.
Having enjoyed singing from a very young age, he was packed off to King’s College Cambridge at the age of eight as a chorister, to irritate senior members of the clergy instead of his sisters. From King’s, he proceeded to Winchester where he was also a chorister until his voice broke. Being by then fed up with sacred music, he continued to develop his voice in a secular context later on at school and again at King’s, where he read philosophy.
Cambridge: 1801-1804
Henry read moral philosophy at King's College, Cambridge. He was a good student and actually interested in his subject but, like many men in his situation, concealed his work under a frivolous demeanor. He sang in the world famous choir which took up a large amount of his time and spent the rest of it in idleness, and sport (developing a talent for rowing). He graduated with Honours.
London Years
The death of his father in 1805 necessitated a change of lifestyle at least briefly. As the new Lord Parry, he had responsibilities for his mother, unmarried youngest sister and two country estates. Fortunately the Dowager was perfectly capable of running Loseley Park, from which Henry had no desire to force her to leave, and after necessary business was concluded Henry created a bachelor lifestyle for himself in London, spending the months out of season at friends' houses in the country, with his sister Lady Kirkfries in Scotland and, after Lady Phoebe's conversion, visiting her in Black Forest. He spends at least a couple of weeks every summer at Crantock Abbey in Cornwall, visiting his great-uncle Archibald Layton, whose heir he is.
In London, Henry enjoys the social scene. He has many friends, including Lord Emerson and Miss Prichard, Lord Louth and Lady Viola Fitzgerald. He has cultivated the persona of an outspoken eccentric for his own amusement and in order to deal with lovesick young women who are attracted to his good looks, title and large fortune. He enjoys all cultural activities - musical events (which he likes to turn into recital opportunities for himself), theatre, and even politics, now that he has a seat in the Upper House. His social consequence and overall charm means that he gets away with a lot more than other men.
When it comes to women, Henry has only had one long term mistress, the courtesan Cynthia St. James whom he saw (and was seen with) regularly between 1805 and 1809. Since then he has not formed any relationship. He has never actively looked for a wife but he has no objection to marriage if he felt there was a woman he should like to marry.
Current Season
So far the 1810 season has not appeared very different to any previous ones. Additional amusement has come from Charity Pritchard being out in society and the return of Lady Viola, but other than that, Henry continues to live his life much as he has done for the past few years.
Relationships
Friends
Blake Pritchard, Lord Emerson: One of Henry's best friends. Many evenings have been spent with this gentleman happily avoiding debutantes.
Charity Pritchard: Henry's closest female friend and someone he's known since she was much younger. Henry spoils her rotten but is also one of the few people to whom she listens.
Clarence Haworth, Lord Louth: A friend Henry made in parliament. Henry respects him for his political acumen but sometimes takes his teasing a little far.
Georgiana Haworth, Lady Louth: Henry really admired Miss Templeton in 1810 and might have considered courting her had not Lord Louth got there sooner. Nowadays he flirts with her shamelessly.
Lady Viola Fitzgerald: Sharing a similar sense of humour and a desire not to be courted, they became good friends and remain so. Had Henry been looking for a wife when she first debuted, he might have been tempted to ask her and might well have been accepted. She's now firmly in the "friend zone".
Lilias Aldridge, The Duchess of Brixton: Henry used to be good friends with the Duchess before the scandal with Lady Newburry. Henry said a few unwise things and they haven't been too close since. An olive branch was extended however with an invitation to the Brixton House Party.
Romantic interest
Cynthia St. James: Mistress, 1805-1809. Parted with no hard feelings.
Enemies
Lord William Gosling: Henry does not care for this man, finding him overly reckless and hasty.
Anne Bromley, Lady Newburry: Henry thinks her a complete wet fish and avoids her whenever possible.
Lord Sylvester Leveson: Henry thinks he's an immature ass.
Henry is played by Rose.