- — Bishop Monroe talking about Rupert[1]
Rupert Foredale, a character in the Desire & Decorum series, is the former Earl of Edgewater and Your Character's late grandfather. Although he is first mentioned in Chapter 1, he is first seen in a premium scene of Book 1, Chapter 12.
Appearance
Rupert has curly short gray hair, blue eyes, and a gray thin beard. He wears a gray suit with golden patterns, a white shirt, and a white cravat.
Personality
Rupert can be described as cruel, single-minded, and evil. He is also seen being very heartless as he is the one who separates your mother and father after their marriage. What is more, he's very ruthless as he threatens everyone who stands in his way, including Bishop Monroe and his parish that many people depend on.
Chapters
Desire & Decorum
Book 1
- Chapter 1: The Journey Ahead (Mentioned)
- Chapter 2: Ties That Bind (Mentioned)
- Chapter 3: Threading the Needle (Mentioned; Determinant)
- Chapter 11: The Clock Runs Out (Mentioned; Determinant)
- Chapter 12: In Sickness and In Health (Mentioned; Physical Appearance Determinant)
- Chapter 13: A Better Place (Mentioned)
- Chapter 16: Season's End (Mentioned; Physical Appearance Determinant)
Book 2
- Chapter 15: Eye of the Storm (Mentioned; Determinant)
Book 3
- Chapter 15: With This Ring (Mentioned)
Relationships
Dominique Foredale
Dominique is Rupert's wife. Despite the fact that it was a political arrangement, she says that they were a perfect match from the start, and that he understood her meaning and intentions when she held her fan to her heart. They were married shortly after. In Book 3, Chapter 15, she mentions that despite not being crazy in love, they found common ground and learned to love each other.
Vincent Foredale
Vincent was Rupert's son, whom he calls the "prodigal son". When Vincent introduces Mary as his wife, Rupert kicks her out and tells him that if he wasn't his heir, he would do something worse. When Vincent tells him that he doesn't want to be his heir and will renounce his claim, Rupert threatens to ship Mary back to her homeland and make her life insufferable if he doesn't cooperate. Rupert insists on marrying Vincent to Henrietta, whom he considers an advantageous match because of her fortune. In the end, Vincent finally agrees to let Rupert annul their marriage, so that Mary can remain safe.
Because of their relationship, Vincent refuses to hang his portrait in the family gallery. Vincent believes that Rupert doesn't have a place among his great ancestors. He also says that he will never forgive his father for what he did and that he would strive to be a much better father than Rupert ever was.
Henrietta Foredale
Henrietta is Rupert's daughter-in-law. He and Henrietta also hid the letters your mother sent to your father.
Tristan Richards
According to Vincent, Tristan was Rupert's protege. Vincent had hoped that Rupert didn't have such an impact on the duke, but when you tell your father about then-Duke Richard's attempted sexual assault and harassment, his fears are proven true.
Mary
Mary was Vincent's wife and Rupert's daughter-in-law for a brief time. Upon meeting her, he orders her to get out, saying that he didn't do anything to deserve such disrespect and that he told Vincent that Mary was not fit to be his wife. He then comes back with two men forcing Mary out, knocking Vincent to the ground when he resists. He also takes your mother's wedding ring because he believes that it belongs to Edgewater.
Five years after their annulment, Rupert wrote to Mary, giving her fifty pounds in an effort to cease her writing. He told her that Vincent was happily married and doesn't want to hear from her. He also threatened her that he would do worse if she kept writing, and told her that he kept her letters from Vincent as he didn't need to be reminded of his past mistakes.
Bishop Monroe
Upon Rupert learning that Bishop Monroe, who was a priest at that time, officiated Vincent and Mary's wedding, Rupert called him to the estate and ordered him to annul the wedding. Bishop Monroe said that Rupert threatened him and he had no choice, and that never in his life he had heard such threats and witnessed such cruelty.
During their meeting, Rupert said that both he and Edgewater had been good to the parish, but Monroe went against his wishes and married Vincent to some actress. Rupert told Monroe that just because the latter was a man of God, that didn't give him the license to act as though he is God. When Monroe tries to reason with Rupert, telling him that Mary would be a good wife and a good addition to the estate, Rupert interrupts him. Rupert tells him that he speaks too boldly for someone who just ruined the future of his bloodline. Rupert then orders Monroe to annul their marriage, and that if he disobeyed, Rupert would take everything from him. Rupert would tear down the church, with no regard for the people who rely upon it. Bishop Monroe sadly agrees to Rupert's demands so that he can protect his parish.
Trivia
- His crimes include blackmail.
- His name is revealed in the letter he sent to Mary if you read your father's letters.
References
- ↑ Desire & Decorum, Book 1, Chapter 16