Tom Raikes

**Tom Raikes** (portrayed by **Thomas Coquerel**) is a sensible young lawyer from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He is solitary and career-driven until he meets Marian Brook, the daughter of his late client, and falls smitten with her. Tom relocates to New York in pursuit of Marian.

## Biography

### Season 1

After the death of Tom Raikes's client, General Henry Brook, he advises his daughter Marian Brook about the serious financial difficulty she is in due to the spending habits of her father. Informing her that she has been left with nothing more than thirty dollars, he advises Marian to write to her aunts Agnes and Ada in New York, asking to live with them. When Marian moves from Doylestown to New York, Tom escorts her to the train station.

Tom writes to Marian that he is coming to New York, and wishes to see her. He comes for tea at her aunts' house, and tells Marian that he is considering a job offer in the city. The gathering is made awkward when Marian's cousin, Oscar van Rhijn, returns home with Larry Russell, the latter of whom Agnes is displeased to see due to her strong dislike of her "new money" neighbors. Marian then approaches Tom and arranges for him to meet with her friend Peggy Scott, who wants legal advice on a personal matter. They meet up the following day, and Tom and Peggy seem to be making progress.

Tom writes to Marian to let her know that he received the job he applied for, and that he will therefore be moving to New York. He meets with Peggy again, and arranges to meet with her in the park before telling Peggy that her suspicions are correct, but that he does not know what questions they raise. When he next meets with Marian, he proposes to her, which greatly surprises her as they have only known each other for a while. He departs before she has the chance to give a proper answer to him.

Marian later finds Tom Raikes in a box with the Schermerhorns at the opera, and is extremely surprised. Tom explains that he made friends with them from a university connection, and is astounded that he has made his place so quickly in respectable society. They discuss his proposal again, and asks her to consider what she would do if her aunts did not exist. Marian says that they will have to take it slowly or that their positions in society may be lost, and Tom seems to agree to her plan, though says that he does not care at all about high society if he were to marry her.

Mr. Raikes is invited to lunch with Marian's relative, Aurora Fane, who tells him that Marian shall be there. Mr. Fane and Mrs. Russell are in attendance with Ward McAllister, who seems to approve of Tom quickly establishing himself in high society. He learns of the ladies' trip to Dansville for Clara Barton's speech concerning the Red Cross, and accepts an invitation to accompany them. While in Dansville, Tom joins the rest of the high-society guests and Miss Barton for dinner in their hotel. He sees Marian to her room, and discuss their marriage. He subtly lets Marian know that he came secretly hoping to spend the night with her, and they kiss, though Peggy notices them outside her room. Marian lets him know that she is going to bed, and she retires for the night.

### Episode 1

Reverend Luke Forte mentions to Marian, Agnes, Ada and Oscar that he'll soon hold the wedding cermon of Tom Raikes and Cissie Bingham.

## References

1. ↑ *The Gilded Age*, season 1 episode 1: "Never The New"
2. ↑ *The Gilded Age*, season 1 episode 2: "Money Isn't Everything"
3. ↑ *The Gilded Age*, season 1 episode 3: "Face The Music"
4. ↑ *The Gilded Age*, season 1 episode 4: "A Long Ladder"
5. ↑ *The Gilded Age*, season 1 episode 5: "Charity Has Two Functions"
6. ↑ *The Gilded Age*, season 2 episode 1: "You Don't Even Like Opera"