James Morris
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Short Stats
- Character Name: James William Morris
- Title: Captain/Lord/Earl of Trefor
- Estate Name: Trefor Hall (Caernarfonshire)
- Nationality: English/Welsh
- Age: 32 (DOB: April 8, 1643)
- Gender: Male
- Eye Colour: Brown
- Hair Colour: Dark brown
Physical Attributes
With an athletic physique and a distinguished, proud bearing. He stands 5’11” tall and has long, curly, dark brown hair, with the rugged, somewhat weathered features common to naval officers. James wears a neatly trimmed moustache, but chooses to forgo the beard. His brown eyes are bright and observant, and his smile can be quite captivating. When properly attired, James cuts an impressive and rather attractive figure of a man.
Preferring a more conservative style than many noblemen, James chooses more sober colours and keeps decoration and jewellery to select, but quality items. His travels and the booty he has acquired have given him a great appreciation for finery, and yet he does not favour ostentation. He prefers quality and substance over quantity and surface.
Initial Impression of Personality
James carries himself with pride and tends to walk with an officer’s swagger. His manners can be somewhat coarse, however, and he swears a great deal, even by English standards.
Background
Early Years
Born the third son of Henry and Anne Morris, the Earl and Countess of Trefor, James had no thought of inheriting either title or estate. His eldest brother, Henry, was 6 years his senior; while his second brother, Frederick, was 3 years older than he. There was also a little girl, Charlotte, born about 4 years after James, who died in infancy. The boys, however, all grew to manhood, leaving little doubt that James was not to inherit and would make his way in the world in another fashion.
Trefor Hall, on the northwest coast of Wales, was an idyllic spot for boys to grow up, especially boys with a passion for sailing. James was caught by just such a passion at a young age. Thus a naval career was natural and expected.
The Earl saw to it that his sons were adequately educated in Latin and French, although James had little interest in languages, while his eldest brother was also required to study Greek and German. In this, as in many things, James considered himself to have the better of the deal. The boys also studies philosophy, mathematics, politics, law and literature. In addition to academics, they were tutored in social necessities, such as demeanour, the appreciation of art and music, dance, riding, and fencing. James detested dancing and, unlike Frederick, had no talent for music. Yet he excelled in fencing. It seemed that dancing with a weapon, rather than a lady, held far more appeal to the boy, as it appealed to his competitive bent.
Upon reaching his majority, the Earl compelled his son to immediately pursue a career. It was obvious to the wise older man that his young son’s temper needed direction, or it would likely lead quickly to his ruin. Thus a commission in his majesty’s Royal Navy was the ideal answer.
Young 5th Lieutenant Morris flourished in the structured and challenging environment, quickly becoming indispensable to his superiors and accumulating a good bit of wealth to the bargain. He found no end of outlets for both his temper and desires, as physical activity was plentiful and partners, both male and female, were easily found. James became skilled with fists, rapier, and pistol, both in the line of duty and out. Discreet with his liaisons and lucky with his extracurricular combat, James avoided trouble that would hamper or end his career, and instead moved steadily up through the ranks.
In his mid-twenties, James formed a liaison with a woman in Portsmouth. Although he had numerous other encounters, this was the only one approximating a relationship. This liaison resulted in the birth of James’ illegitimate son, whom his mother, Marie, named James.
Word reached him from his father of the death of his eldest brother, the heir, shortly after he was granted the title of Captain. It was a necessary step toward an appointment to the Admiralty for a man who would not have the opportunity to otherwise distinguish himself with the king, but that life-long goal was not to be. James was now the heir to Trefor and the earldom, Frederick having succumbed to the Great Plague, along with their mother and Henry’s young bride, and he had to return home with all haste to take up life as a lord, instead of a sailor.
Selling his commission upon his return, James has left behind his dreams of reaching the Admiralty through naval service. His accumulated wealth from the proceeds of his Royal Naval service had habitually been used to support his mistress and child, now 4 years of age, and to put by for the future. Now, along with the proceeds from the sale of his commission, he has used part of his personal wealth to purchase a modest dwelling in London.
First Season
Arriving in London a few days into the season, James took up residence in his newly acquired townhouse and then set about finding a bride, as his father, the Earl of Trefor had bid him do without delay. Preferring to forgo the ballroom, he attended only one ball at the Palace. Instead, he attempted his foray into courtly society through other social events and gatherings.
The new role of heir to the earldom did not sit easily upon his shoulders, but his years of naval service had reinforced his natural inclination to attend to duty. Thus James managed, despite his less than polished social graces, to meet several eligible ladies. One in particular seemed to fit his image of a suitable lady-wife; Mistress Margery Pendarves. There was just one potential problem. The lady was Catholic. Still, James was hopeful of gaining the lady’s hand, and to that end he acquired diamond jewellery at an estate auction, with the unspoken intent to present them to his bride. Twice he intended to speak to the lady on the subject of matrimony, and twice circumstances prevented him. Thus he began to wonder if it was meant to be.
While at Court, the retired ship’s captain overheard conversation between the Dutch Ambassador and one Master de Wit, discussing things disadvantageous to English trade. Here too, he met with disappointment in his attempt gain audience. He sought out the Lord of Trade to report his concerns, but the gentleman was not within.
A stroll in the gardens on day brought about a most unexpected invitation from Queen Catherine herself, to take tea. Aware that he might be allying himself with an unpopular camp, James nevertheless attended. Happily, this did not seem to cement his political position with others at court. It would not have been pleasant to have been forced to declare against the queen, as James’ first loyalty was always to King Charles.
He did not have much time to comprehend this however, as James left London before the season ended to attempt to deal with a recurring complication from his past; a certain young woman from Portsmouth. He had no doubt that she had her sights set upon his future title and fortune, for more reasons than one.
Recess I
His suspicions were as well founded as her ambitions were prophetic. James had only just managed to dissuade the woman from her plans, when his factor, Perkins, delivered the terrible news that his father had been stricken with some sort of seizure and was near death. Although the woman spoke only words of condolence and concern, James knew that she could not but welcome the news. Her goal was in sight.
Rushing from Portsmouth to Trefor Hall, in distant Caernarfonshire, with all haste, James arrived in time to say his goodbyes to his beloved father, but little more. In his father’s last moments, James could not bring himself to broach the subject of his eldest brother’s mysterious and untimely death. His father had forbade him speak of it, and James would not defy him now. Thus, whatever the old earl had known of those circumstances, died with him. What did not die however, was James’ determination to learn the truth.
Deep within his grief, the new earl allowed himself to be seduced into a new complication. The young lady was neither beautiful nor plain, but she was blessed with glorious raven hair and large, dark eyes, and her body was curvaceous and welcoming. Such foolishness had gotten him into trouble before, but now the stakes were far higher. For this young lady also saw the prize of a title and wealth as James’ wife, as did her father. The baron was a minor lord of little wealth or status, but one only too happy to seize an opportunity presented.
In the chaos of these days, Margery’s letter finally arrived at Trefor Hall. James was charmed once again by her gentle good nature and her kind heart, even as she asked his forgiveness and spoke of her perceived wickedness. He replied to her heart-moving missive, telling the lady of his father’s death, but omitting mention of either of the females. Yes, Margery was still the lady of his choosing and James was again resolved to propose marriage. He determined to return to court in September, despite still being in mourning, and seek her hand.
Yet his complications were unlikely to be so easily left behind….
Second Season
James had returned to Trefor House with a heavy heart, but high hopes. The latter regarding his resolve to propose marriage to Margery. Jealously and a confrontation with Sir Edward Griffin, at the Hospital Fundraiser, sent that hope crashing, as Margery took great offence at being fought over in public. James and Griffin duelled, but, at Margery’s insistence, only to first blood. Still, his relationship with Margery had been terribly damaged and she had asked that he not contact her for one full week. Although he tried to discover information regarding the lady’s stolen jewels, he was at a loss and failed there as well.
During the course of that time, James enjoyed a card party at the home of Lady Darlene’s brother, the Earl of Chesterford, followed by a much needed few hours at an upscale whorehouse. A couple of days later, he encountered Darlene, who roused his passion, and he decided to forgo his father’s sage advice regarding the unsuitability of beautiful women as wives. He wanted her, and he set out to woo her, even asking her brother’s blessing. Darlene had her brother put him off until December.
Building a small circle of acquaintance, including Lords Langdon, Mountjoy, Blackheath, Brinfield, Chesterford, and the Duke of Albemarle, he began to feel more at home in London. He also attempted to develop some understanding of politics, including visiting Lord Shaftesbury and attending the Lords.
Parliament was prorogued. His first suit had been rejected, and his second… deferred. The coffee houses were closed. It was time to get out of town.
Recess II
Margery had been just the lady his father would have approved; well, with the exception of her faith. But then James held little store in religion. Darlene had appealed to his passion, and was precisely the sort of lady whom his father warmed him against. Yet, despite her initial reception of his attentions, she now put him off; just one of so many other suits for her hand. Finding a wife was not going well, or, more accurately, it was going bloody disastrously!
So, Catholics were out. Beauties were out. Brunettes were ill-advised, as more than these two examples could attest. A beautiful, Catholic brunette was likely to be the death of him.
Such were the musings, now dark, now comic, of the Earl of Trefor on his journey home.
Once safely re-ensconced in Trefor Hall, James turned much of his focus and efforts to estate matters. Harvest. Maintenance. Preparing for winter. And staying out of trouble. Those were the watch-words of Autumn.
He rode about his estates, but also for recreation, with a mind to developing some proficiency. James hunted with his Gameskeeper and neighbouring gentry, as that too was a Courtly skill that would hold him in good stead. Skill in hunting would come over time, but for now it was enough to reacquaint himself with the basics. James held his seat, and with increasing ease and style. He was content with that, for the moment.
On a similar bent, James continued his fencing practices, but also renewed his hand-to-hand work-outs. He was not going to let this land-locked life make him a flabby, stuffy, old grouse, like some of the lords at Court had become.
James corresponded with Charles Langdon, Duncan Melville (in the hope that he’ll return to play), Nigel Harrington, Owen Langland, Charles Blount, the Duke of Ablemarle, the Earl of Chesterford and the Earl of Shaftesbury. He asked Chesterford to remember him to his sister, Darlene, but he did not feel it proper to write himself, now that he knew that his was one of several suits and that she had no particular preference for him.
His exchange with Shaftesbury was one of broadening his understanding of politics. Shaftesbury would find James a rather contrary mixture of Royalist and liberal-mindedness. James learned little of Shaftesbury as a man, grew in his comprehension of the factions within the Lords.
Christmas eventually loomed before him, and James had to admit that he had made no progress on his primary mission. He had to return to Court, to at least compel Darlene into a firm answer one way or the other. He could settle for the selection process that his father would have urged. But choosing a bride by approaching any nobleman with an eligible daughter, and contracting a marriage with a complete stranger did not appeal. It might yet come to that. But not just yet.
He had begun the year as Captain of His Majesty’s ship of the line, the Raven. By mid-year, he was an unmarried, retired, orphaned earl. Surely, the year was not to be an entire ruin? After all, it was not yet over.
Residence
When in London, James resides in Piccadilly Street, in Trefor House.
