Clifford Estermont

Married to his cousin Alys Estermont, the current Lady Regnant of House Estermont, Clifford is the Lord Consort of Greenstone. Born the same year as his wife, they were married upon her eighteenth birthday.

## Appearance & Character

Clifford Estermont is a handsome young man, with lightly tanned skin, and wavy brown hair. He is lean, but strong in build, and of average height.

Adventurous in nature, Clifford spends a great amount of his time out on the waters surrounding Estermont. Well educated in both economics, and navel technology, he has found himself a prominent place in the managing of his wife's holding, and naval fleet.

## History

### Childhood

From his youngest years it was clear Clifford had no future in knighthood. Never eager to lift a sword, he spent most of his growing life with his nose in books, or pressed against his chamber window, watching the ships on the sea. Having little to look forward to in his future as the nephew of a Lord, Clifford was allowed to explore in interests to their fullest.

There was little expected of him, and his father was more than happy to encourage his only child to pursue whatever pleased him. The pair lived at Greenstone with the main branch of their family, doing what they could to make themselves useful. Although being raised alongside his cousins, there was not much play between the children, as the girls were often out of sight until they were older.

### Adolescence

At age twelve Clifford lost his father to the sea, and was eagerly taken in by his Uncle Cedric. Heartbroken by the death of his father, he found himself feeling bitter toward all the love that was being showered up him by Lord Estermont. Through ale drenched breath he was praised and welcomed into the family he had been raised alongside, and to all but him his father was forgotten.

This event brought much change into his life, and to the lives of his three cousins. As the girls were finding more freedom, he found himself developing feelings for his eldest cousin. Being of the same age he could not help but admire her as she grew into a young lady, and he soon found himself betraying his Lord Uncle’s wishes to remain close to her.

Although he was too shy to share his true feelings with Alys, he did his all he could to be the best cousin he could. As his secret stayed with him, he found the girls seeing him as a brother, and there was little he was brave enough to do to change their image of him.

### Marriage & Adulthood

When Lord Estermont died, panic filled the walls of Greenstone. It was clear that few upon the island would keep silent as Alys inherited her place as Lady of House Estermont. In the days between his uncle’s death, and his cousin’s declaration, Clifford had been pulled aside by many noble members of their court, and heard endless promises of support. The place would be his for the taking, if only he wanted it.

Harbouring the feelings he did, he could not bring himself to take what he saw to be Alys rightful place above him. Instead of listening to the whispers of the conspiring courtiers, Clifford stood silently at his cousin’s side. After a day or two of uncertainty, the young man was informed he was to marry the girl he had loved for so long.

Finally he found himself able to tell Alys how he felt, and express the desires for her he had kept to himself for so many years. Although her response was not to reciprocate her feelings, but to accept his, Clifford found peace in the honestly they could now share, and so their relationship grew.

As the years passed them by, he did little to pressure her into her wifely duties, choosing instead to wait patiently for her to pursue him on her own terms. Though it wounded him to sleep so close to the woman he loved, and not be permitted to hold her in his arms, he valued every moment he was allowed of her. Through the years they shared few nights together, only the wine on their breaths as reasoning to give in to the desires he worried were one sided. Despite how these nights came to pass, they were eventually gifted a son as a result, and so secured the next generation of their family.