Chapters
PART 1
1. Preface
2. Infant Sorrow
3. Madness in the Blood
4. Brigid's Corset
5. Family so Odd
6. Lucy
7. Charles
8. Doctor Felix Knottingson
9. Complications
10. Breakdown
11. Treating the Earl
12. Two Things
13. Test Subjects
14. First Drop
15. Maids Seem to Run
16. Izzy
Our Main Cast
My head has always been bedlam...
Lord Orion Hookwell, 3rd Earl of Constance
This nobleman is not quite what meets the eye. Conceived in the tumultuous year of 1816, Orion was born to the infamous mad earl Lord Jared Hookwell and his teenage bride Deanna. Though he has never met his father, Orion bares such an uncanny resemblance to his "lunatic" father that no one can stop themselves from reminding him. "You look so like your father!" But Orion is, in fact, much taller than Jar ever was. He towers over most people in Victorian England, standing at six feet with sandy blond hair and striking green eyes, few disagree that Orion is physically beautiful. Orion has apparently boundless creativity as well; musician, singer, artist, poet, writer. He studied at University both Literature and Archeology. He is an expert in Demonology, a little know fact the family tries to hide. Those who are not intimate friends would go so far as to call the earl "cold" and "frigid." His manner upon first meeting him is reserved and proper, even stoic. But those closely acquainted with the third earl of Constance know him to have much character. Too much character if we are to be perfectly honest. A self-proclaimed Bedlamite, Orion has spent time in and out of mental asylums, seeking a cure for the madness that seems to take him in cycles. Time and again Orion falls into deep bouts of melancholy only to end up absolutely bonkers and in need of doctors' supervision. Much as the Hookwell family tries to hide their talented and creative heir's little secrets, he fights more than his melancholia and mania. Orion is a "sodomite." A lover of men and his need for love cannot always be swept under the rug. With a tendency to fall in love with men who break his heart, more than once Orion has been left shattered mentally. With a combination of self-medication and herbal teas provided by his wife, Orion is usually fighting some kind of torment. He met his wife Bri three years ago and since then the two have been inseparable companions. Any lack of sexual passion is made up for in their deep romance and the admiration he feels for the woman. She has also helped him to get a quirky little habit of his under control. That habit his called "Reanna Tinsely," Orion's nearly flawless disguise as a woman. He knows how to lace a corset and he knows how a lady acts and can vouch for being more traditionally ladylike than his own wife. But the dangerous habit must be kept under control. He still harbors sexually feelings for his past lover Charles Arteberry, a problem he must deal with on a daily basis when the Arteberrys are near. But he finds physical love in his "close friend" Amadeus Frunberg. Manic, depressive, hyper-sensitive, transvestite, homosexual and at times dangerous, will Orion be able to fight his internal struggles in order to pursue those that will erase the dark blot his father has left on their family? Or will he die fighting his own mind?
Lady Brigid Hookwell (nee Salud)
This quirky and often graceless lady is tougher than her diminutive size would suggest. The former wife of Viscount Stephen Arteberry, Bri was divorced on the grounds of "frigidity" and the lie of infidelity. Though innocent, she was glad to be rid of the insufferable Stephen and spent some time as the duchess Desdemona's librarian and assistant. All of that changed when she had an affair with Orion Hookwell. Now the wife of an earl, she has actually climbed on the social scale. Bri appears a small and plain woman, with brown hair, a noticeable overbite and one hell of a nervous laugh-- it has been compared to a frightened bird and it tends to erupt in stuffy social situations. But she is "well-endowed" in the chest area and has a gentle and cute appearance. Though she plays the part of good wife and caretaker, Bri is no graceful socialite. She was born an orphan in war-torn India and this tough-as-nails exterior shows sometimes. She is brazen, hard-headed and does not take the rubbish of others. Fierce when it comes to protecting her loved ones, Bri does have her major flaws. Tact is not something she has ever really possessed and blending into a crowd becomes difficult for her in high stress situations. Despite her lack of feminine graces, Bri is talented at piano, poetry and herbs. Bri mixes her own tea to great results. She also has an affinity for animals and takes in as many as is sane for her to handle. She shares her husbands weakness for having a big heart and taking in more strays--both animal and human-- than she can manage. Now in her forties, Bri is faced with the very real threat of death during childbirth but her desire to give her beloved husband an heir drives her. She feels a deep passion for her new husband, both physically and romantically and she has always known of his homosexual preference. She cares for him and possesses a good understanding of "mad Orion" and "muffin" (her endearment for him). She and Charles Arteberry have a history of fighting and history tends to repeat itself. But she is fond of Orion's lover Amadeus and Charles' wife Lucy. On the darker side of her mind Bri cannot escape the traumatic experiences that have shaped her into a strong woman. Vicious rumors state that Brigid has brain damage, causing the shrill and random laugh and moments when she will stare into space, mute and unable to move. What they do not realize is that Brigid relives those moments in India when they creep up on her. Where and when does the past stop replaying?
Lucinda "Lucy" Arteberry
The beautiful, talented and vivacious Lucy gathers admiration and attention wherever she roams. Wife to Captain Charles Arteberry, people concur that they have never seen a more oddly matched couple. Though both beautiful on the outside, Charles is a snappy, acidic creature with no respect for authority. Lucy is his polar opposite. A cheery, warm and proper lady, the only child of the viscount O'Brian. She was trained from childhood as a singer, musician and in the art of conversation. She has also taught herself German. She is more intelligent than she appears. She has given birth to two children, one of which is still with them; Lucius. Lucy stands tall for a woman of her time, almost 5'7 with scarlet hair and blue eyes. As a former opera singer and something of a marvel in her youth, Lucy debuted as a prima donna at only seventeen. Her romance with Charles dates back to age fifteen. Their love was swept under the rug when she married a rich land owner named Tealburrow. But following Tealburrow's untimely death, she and Charles were reunited. Since coming into society she has always been a busy lady. Now a mother, wife and innkeeper, she still finds time to compose music and write operettas. As a talented soprano and prima donna, Lucy is a natural born diva and sometimes demands all the attention in a room. She tends toward the melodramatic and knows how to make and entrance and an exit. Generally gentle, witty and entertaining, she also has a ferocious streak that could make a grown man cry. She is the head of her household and handles all of the financing and planning. Every so often she finishes writing an operetta that may or may not be rejected. When they are accepted and produced there is a half chance they will be a huge success or a huge flop. Lucy never appears deterred by failure. But behind the lovely diva guise, Lucy suffers severe melancholia during the winter season, sometimes withdrawing to her music room alone. On the best days, she loves her husband Charles and finds his many flaws amusing. They are still passionate. But on her worse days, Lucy is solemn and speechless, preferring to focus on work. She does not let herself remain in bed for she fears wasting away or being considered melancholic. Only Charles is well aware of this side. Lucy has fought these episodes of sadness since after the birth of her first child Adelaide. After her dear daughter went missing, Lucy has struggled with melancholy ever since. When Adelaide disappeared, the winters became longer and colder for Lucy. But she struggles in silence. Beneath her vibrant mask, Lucy fights a war of sorrow which she prefers to fight alone, much to the frustration of her husband. Will she ever tell anyone of this pain?
Captain Charlton "Charles" Arteberry
Infamous sailor and libertine, Charles may be of noble birth but he acts like a "satyr," as his wife Lucy puts it. In fact, in one of her operettas she bases the character of Pan himself off of her sex-craved husband. Charles shows no respect for authority, has a quip for everything and drinks constantly in public. Intelligent and multi-talented, one would never know that Charles was the artistic type by the way he acts, swears and buggers anything that moves. His looks are deceptive, with a handsome face, brown hair at shoulder length and receptive brown eyes, one would take him as the dandy. But Charles is far to careless to be a dandy, though he is always proud to flaunt his talents when given the chance. The second son of the viscount Edwin Arteberry, Charles is not the heir to the title. Instead he was the "talented one" until one day something snapped in the young man and he decided he was going to be a sailor. Yes, a sailor. As opposed to an opera singer, Shakespearean actor, artist or musician, Charles has chosen to be a captain. His romance with Lucy goes far back to the young age of fifteen and though his sexual appetite is insatiable he is quite in love with his wife. He married her shortly after her first husband died in an accident. Captain Arteberry has a sharp wit and a sharper tongue, he shows no shame in the things that he does and openly brags of them, sometimes in public. He and Brigid, his former sister-in-law, are known to fight one another tooth-to-nail. With his ex-lover Orion, he means well but does more damage than good. There are times when the two men cannot stand in the same room without creating tension. Charles' goal at the end of the day is to prove to society that he does not give a bloody damn. This fierce wit and determination often comes in handy for his family and friends and Charles has a way of seeing the whole picture objectively that has proven valuable. His words may hurt sometimes, but they are the truth. He gives tough love to those he holds close. But he is stubborn beyond repair, refuses to see the good in life and works himself into depressive, drunken stupors. His self-destructive drinking has become his ultimate downfall as he pushes away all who care for him. Over time he has been deteriorating into a full-blown alcoholic.
Amadeus Frunberg - Taller even than Orion, Amadeus strikes an imposing figure with his sharp blue eyes and chiseled features. He is a man of few words and most fear his mystery. The German doll-maker was the godfather of Lucy and Charles' first child and is now the lover of Orion Hookwell. As a close family friend of the Arteberry's and Orion's lover he often serves as the mediator between the two eccentric families. He was the son of a reckless German woman who put her children, Amadeus and his sister Dietlinde, through rigorous training in their craft before disappearing. Amadeus' sister Dietlinde went mad upon reaching England and needed to be locked in Constance Asylum. He is grieving her recent death at the hand of careless mad-doctors. Through his grief, he found and connected with Orion, a bedlamite like his sister. Amadeus is the anchor to those who know him. He has little to say but his words hold great weight and his judgement is frighteningly sound. There is a hidden angry streak beneath his calm and stoic appearance, but also a passionate side that few people see. He has become the "gentleman friend" of Reanna Tinsely, Orion's female disguise. Lately Amadeus has developed a set of daily rituals that he cannot break without becoming physically and mentally uncomfortable. He worries over this but has yet to tell anyone his concern. But the rituals are beginning to slow him down and cause problems. Amadeus does not know what is happening, but he has a feeling it has to do with losing his sister, his last remaining family. She may have been mad, but she was his.
Other Characters
Some company are like mold. Cut it off, it means the rest of the cheese is aged well.
Lucius Arteberry- The teenage son of Charles and Lucy Arteberry who plans on being a doctor. He is not so keen on how eccentric is parents are and wishes they could blend in a bit more. He bares a striking resemblance to his mother Lucy.
Alice Wyndham- This nurse at Constance Asylum may be Bri's long lost daughter.
Julia Frost- The Hookwell maid and nanny.
"Reanna Tinsley"- Orion's disguise as a woman. She is soft-spoken and appears quite timid at first. But there is a dangerous streak to her and Orion seems to lose himself in the illusion sometimes.
Deanna Hookwell, Lady- Orion's mother, suffering from early dementia.
Lord Stephen Arteberry, Viscount- Charles' older brother, the viscount and first husband of Bri. The one thing Charles and Bri can agree on: this man is an ass.
Gwen Arteberry - Charles and Stephen's mother.
Drusilla Hookwell- coming soon...
Horace Hookwell- coming soon...
Lady Desdemona Parade- Orion's former fiance, a duchess. Former employer of Brigid. Brigid had an affair with Desdemona's fiance Orion. Brigid's employment was terminated there after.
Beryl Pure- Orion's half sister, opera singer and wife of Bentley. Seems to suffer with a similar madness as her half-brother.
Bentley Shields- Beryl's husband and opera singer. A long-time rival of Charles'.
May Bell Shields- daughter of Beryl and Bentley shields. A young writer. Orion's half niece. She seems to have a girlish crush on Charles.
Absent but Accounted For
Why do we disappear...?
Lord Jared Hookwell II, 2nd Earl of Constance- The infamous "mad earl" who stained the family name with his depravity and cruelty. He was officially declared dead when Orion was sixteen, after having been missing for a year. He is long gone but he seems to haunt every place he has ever been.
Fonso Gambor- Late beloved butler/valet of the Arteberrys. The actual father of their first child Adelaide. He died recently of tuberculosis, leaving Lucy and Charles to grieve.
Theodore Tealburrow- Lucy's first husband. A wealthy landowner in his life. He insisted Lucy quit the stage and be a wife and mother. He was killed a strange accident involving a wild dog. Needless to say, he has no more say on Lucy's career.
Milla Waifly (nee McBrook) - a mysterious ward of the Hookwell's who was possessed by spirits. Now missing.
Adelaide "Lady" Arteberry- Lucy and Charles' first daughter, actually fathered by Fonso. Now missing.
Bailey "Buck" Gambor- an enigmatic magician/inventor who causes trouble and mayhem wherever he goes. Now assumed to be deceased.
Dietlinde "Dolly" Frunberg- Amadeus' late and insane sister, a ballerina and madwoman.
Doctor Bernard Truman- Orion's doctor when he was an adolescent. Has a history with the earl that nobody discusses.
