Francis Button

> "I will be your cupid."― Francis to Thomas[src]
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**Francis Button** was the cousin of Thomas Thorne. He is portrayed by actor Al Roberts.

## Appearance

Francis was a fairly tall, lean man with dark hair and eyes. He wore glasses and dressed as any wealthy man of the Regency period would. On 10 October 1824, he wore black boots with gold buckles, which Humphrey remembered well.

## Personality

Outwardly, Francis appeared to be a kind-hearted and generous man. He was always quick with a smile and seemed to only wish the best for those around him; especially his cousin, Thomas. When actuality, Francis was a calculating and heartless individual more focused on greed and station than those around him. He had no qualms causing harm and lying if it got him what he wanted. His lies and orchestrated plan ultimately caused his cousin's death.

## Background

Most of Francis' personal history is completely unknown, though he did attend a gathering at Button House - then known as Higham House - with his cousin, Thomas, on 10 October 1824. He was instantly taken with the house and surrounding estate. And when made aware of Thomas' budding love for Isabelle Higham, he hatched a plot to steal the house and inheritance from his cousin.

Intending to marry Isabelle himself, Francis suggested to Thomas that he write her a letter - since he could not speak to her directly - and he would "deliver" it for his cousin, a suggestion Thomas quickly agreed to. Once the letter was written, Francis promptly burnt it and wrote a new letter on the stairs - where Humphrey's head was - and delivered it to Isabelle. She was, of course, shocked and upset falsely beveling that Thomas no longer cared for her. Upon confronting Francis during Thomas' poem, he quickly lied that she would only be one of his cousin's fancies who wouldn't mean anything to him.

After Isabelle stormed off, Francis indicated the second of his fake letters to Thomas as he continued his recital. When Thomas read the letter, Francis' plan crumbled as his cousin was determined to speak to Isabelle himself. Forced to think quickly or have his plan revealed, Francis talked Thomas into challenging an officer at the gathering to a duel. He further deceived Thomas by telling him that in a traditional gun fight, the opponents would take twenty paces rather than ten before fighting. This was the final lie which caused Thomas to be shot in the back by the officer.

Francis rushed to Thomas to play the part of the loving cousin. He said me would bring Isabelle to Thomas so he could say one final goodbye. He never did bring Isabelle, instead he left Thomas to die alone against a tree in the grounds. Which lead him to believe he was a "fool who dies alone and unloved" when in fact Isabelle did love him.

As Thomas laid dying, Francis rushed back inside to insure he was the one to comfort Isabelle - who was distraught - and further insert himself in her life. Later, the two got married and Francis became the joint owner of Higham House as he'd wanted. It continued to pass down the Button line to Francis' great-grandson and Fanny's husband, George Button, then to Heather Button, and finally Alison Cooper.

## References

1. ↑ Fanny's uncle-by-marriage, who appears in He Came!, says that George, who is Francis's great-grandson, is his cousin's son; it is never specified as to whether they are blood related - and thus Fanny's uncle and his cousin are grandsons of Francis - or if Fanny's uncle has a sibling who is George's mother. It is implied to be the latter, as Fanny's uncle asks Fanny's mother if she has "met the Buttons", rather than "met my family". Nonetheless, *a* grandson must exist.