Geoffrey Valance is not concerned with being charming. After all, he's a nobleman! Why should he bother himself with what others think? He possesses the arrogance and easy contempt that goes along with his station--but he isn't a malicious person. Indeed, while Geoffrey is far from perfect, he is also harmless. Yes, he can be careless with his comments, but he very rarely loses his temper, and almost never goes for the metaphorical kill. In Summer Twilight, Geoffrey illustrates a common conundrum I have seen in relationships. He and Caidy are clearly not soulmates; he doesn't make her heart skip a beat, and she doesn't entrance him. However, it's a smart match, and Geoffrey isn't a bad guy, he's just not Caidy's perfect partner. So where does that leave them? To read more about Geoffrey's personality, check out this article; otherwise, hit "read more" to explore his history. Geoffrey Valance was born with the proverbial golden spoon in his mouth. The Valance family is second only to the Roussels in terms of power and wealth in Rosemoor, and is one of the five major noble houses in the province. They rule swaths of the southern plains in Rosemoor, where the land begins to fade towards Danen. Their lands are ripe with vineyards and flowers (the famous Painted Hills are their domain), and the entire family boasts strong relationships with the Empire.
Geoffrey and his older sister Valarie have always been doted upon by their parents, Annabelle and Arthur. As soon as they were old enough, the family moved their primary residence to Iera City, leaving behind their estate near Juniper Meadows for the occasional vacation and summers, so the children could grow up in court. At court, while Valarie charmed and befriended many of the other children of the noble families, Geoffrey became a bit of a black sheep. Caidy and Alex were fast friends and nearly inseparable, and Geoffrey found himself feeling rather left out. After spending a decent amount of time sulking and complaining, he decided to prove all the others wrong in their quick judgments. And, to the surprise of his peers and even his parents, Geoffrey discovered when he kept his head down and focused on his work, he excelled. He soon had surpassed all the other nobles in horsemanship and archery; fencing and his studies. With a little effort, he received the highest marks from their notoriously difficult etiquette tutor, and discovered a hidden love of history. As often seems to happen, when Geoffrey began to excel, suddenly his social status changed. While Valarie would always be the more charming of the two siblings, the other noble children welcomed him into their social circle, inviting him on trips into Iera and to Torren. The final coup de grace happened when his father, Arthur, invited Geoffrey on a trip with him to Mezrani City, the capital of the Empire. Since visits to Tanunt, the seat of Imperial power, were so rare, he immediately became something of a celebrity in the Rosemoorian Court. His stories of the trip, of the wonders he had seen in the capital, became the talk of the noble circles across the Province. And, just as Geoffrey was finding his footing at court, his sister decided to return home to Juniper Meadows, to run the family vineyards. Though some of the nobles were surprised, Geoffrey was not; he knew his sister hated the political games of court, and would always be much happier with dirt under her nails. Less than a year later, in another stroke of luck for Geoffrey, Alex left to join the Blades. Caidy and Alex had been inseparable for nearly a decade; with him gone, she needed a friend. Geoffrey, who had nursed a small crush on the beautiful princess for years, became a shoulder to cry on, her confidant and advisor--and, eventually, began to formally court her. After all, a marriage between their houses can only mean good things for the stability and longevity of Rosemoor... Comments are closed.
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AuthorBridget is the author of Summer Twilight, available for purchase now! Categories
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