Luke Harper, a character from the Desire & Decorum series, was a horse master at Edgewater and one of your love interests. He is first seen in Book 1, Chapter 1.
Appearance
Luke has short black hair, green eyes, and dark skin. He wears a black jacket with a white shirt and silver tie underneath.
Personality
Luke is warm, kind-hearted, and polite as governed by society's standards. He is honorable and would despise himself if he were to risk your future by pursuing you openly if you show inclination to liking him as well.
Chapters
Desire & Decorum
Book 1
- Chapter 1: The Journey Ahead
- Chapter 2: Ties That Bind
- Chapter 3: Threading the Needle
- Chapter 5: The Road to London
- Chapter 7: Opera St. James
- Chapter 8: Ill Repute
- Chapter 10: On Your Marks
- Chapter 11: The Clock Runs Out
- Chapter 12: In Sickness and In Health
- Chapter 13: A Better Place
- Chapter 14: Fight or Flight
- Chapter 16: Season's End
Book 2
- Chapter 1: Betrothal & Betrayal (Determinant)
- Chapter 2: A Royal Introduction
- Chapter 3: Homeward Bound
- Chapter 4: Back to the Beginning
- Chapter 5: Celebration
- Chapter 6: A New Set of Rules
- Chapter 7: Moonlit Deception
- Chapter 8: Hunt Or Be Hunted
- Chapter 9: Until Dawn
- Chapter 10: In the Balance
- Chapter 11: A New Horizon
- Chapter 12: The Deep End
- Chapter 13: Changing Tides
- Chapter 15: Eye of the Storm
- Chapter 16: The Final Vow
Book 3
- Chapter 1: Family Matters
- Chapter 2: Ashes to Ashes
- Chapter 3: A Mother's Touch
- Chapter 4: Sugar & Spice
- Chapter 5: Double Trouble
- Chapter 7: London Calling
- Chapter 8: The Price of the Past (Mentioned)
- Chapter 9: Fifth Time's the Charm
- Chapter 11: The Game is Afoot
- Chapter 12: Tower of Terror
- Chapter 13: Love and War
- Chapter 14: Anticipation
- Chapter 15: With This Ring
- Chapter 16: A Joyous Union
- Chapter 17: Wife or Death
- Chapter 18: 1817
Desire & Decorum: First Winter
- Chapter 1: Deck the Halls
- Chapter 2: All I Want for Christmas
- Chapter 3: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
- Chapter 4: Sleigh Ride
Relationships
Vincent Foredale
Mr. Harper says that your father has always been good to him. However, he has no illusions of what the Earl might think of his suitability to becoming your husband. If you pursue Luke as a love interest (or flirt with him and gain romance points), he does not want you to risk your father's blessing by openly writing about your interest in him in Book 1, Chapter 7.
Your Character
He is one of your character's love interests. He is the first love interest to approach you when you arrive at Edgewater. He immediately takes a liking to you, but keeps his words polite and minds his manners. You can vent or joke with him about your dealings with the Countess. He finds you humorous and notes that you are unlike anyone he's ever met. You are given multiple opportunities to flirt with him throughout the story and while he reciprocates your feelings, he is wary to act on them given your differing stations and his fears of ruining your reputation. Regardless of whether you romance him or not, he acts as your confidante and protector throughout the series. If you choose him as your love interest at the end of Book 1, you plan to accept Mr. Chambers' offer of a marriage of convenience so you and Luke can be together in private.
Your plans are thwarted when Duke Richards traps you in an engagement, and you and Luke are forced to carry on your romance in secret. Duke Richards demands the termination of Luke's employment at Edgewater in Book 2, Chapter 6, separating the two of you regardless of your relationship. If Luke is your primary love interest, he challenges Duke Richards to a duel in order to free you from your engagement. At the end of Book 2, he is granted the title of Sir Luke, making him eligible for you to wed and if you choose him as your primary love interest he will propose to you.
In Book 3 you can customize your wedding invitations together along with your wedding bands. If you married him and have a high enough Manners score by the end of Book 3, you can see a future where the two of you have a child together.
Annabelle Parsons
In Book 2, Chapter 6, when your grandmother is forced to release Mr. Harper from employment, Miss Parsons convinces her family to hire him as a manservant.
Ernest Sinclaire
In Book 2, Chapter 8, if he is your love interest, he challenges the Duke to a duel and asks Mr. Sinclaire to be his second. If Mr. Sinclaire is your love interest, he asks Mr. Harper to be his second.
Briar Daly
In Book 2, Chapter 4, when Briar's mother looks at him as a possible suitor for her daughter, both he and Briar stutter at the suggestion. He says that he thinks of Briar more like a sister.
Family
In Book 3, Chapter 9, you get to hear his side of the story about his mother and brother. It is stated that he has a loving relationship with his mother. When he went to war, she prayed for him every day and on the day he left, she made sure he had everything. His relationship with Ezra Harper, however, is estranged. After Luke left for the war, he received a letter from his mother notifying him that Ezra had gambled away the money and had a hard time paying for their livelihood. Luke tried to convince his brother to stop gambling and get a job to support their mother, but Ezra couldn't stop his addiction. As a result, Luke kicked Ezra out of their home and tried to support their mother on his own. However, Ezra always found a way to get a hold of her money and gamble it away.
Cordelia Parsons
If he is not Your Character's fiance, you have the option to encourage them. If you do, they will be married in Book 3, Chapter 18. If you also have enough manners to see their future, it is revealed that they are having a child.
Gallery
Other Looks
Miscellaneous
Trivia
- The name Luke is Latin in origin, which means "light" or "illumination" or "from Lucania" (region of Italy, now Basilicata).
- He reveals in Book 1, Chapter 2, that he was a lieutenant in the navy under Admiral Cochrane and fought in America at Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. However, the time frame makes it impossible for it to be Francis.
- His father was born (likely as a slave) on a plantation in South Carolina. When America fought the war for its independence, he escaped and fought for England. His father always let Luke know how lucky Luke was to have his freedom.
- He wanted to attend the Royal Veterinary College in London but they wouldn't accept him.
- He is shown on the cover of Desire & Decorum, Book 2.
- In Book 2, Chapter 16, when he saves Queen Charlotte from Mr. Richards' attack, she dubs him Sir Luke Harper and tells him he will be granted lands. His title card changes to Sir Luke to reflect this.
- His newfound status in this chapter will also give him merit to become a viable marriage option, meaning that you will not have to enter a marriage of convenience with Bartholomew Chambers to secure Edgewater.
- In a premium scene of Book 3, you can help him choose a name for his estate. If you don't, he will call it "Harperland".
- He is a playable character in a premium scene of Book 3, Chapter 16, if he is not married to Your Character.
- He is the only love interest in the series to have an alternate love interest if your character doesn't pursue him.
- On February 9, 2020, PB released a character appreciation post featuring Luke for Black History Month.[1]
- He shares the same name as Luke Watanabe from the Crimes of Passion series.
- His brother and he share the same surname as Calloway Harper from Unbridled: An Untameable Story and the default surname of Guard from Guarded.