Born into Alchester’s merchant nobility, Charles Hallard grew up understanding the value of appearances. His father, a successful textile merchant, taught him the importance of proper manners and social connections. At the same time, his mother ensured he learned to navigate upper-class society with grace and charm. Their lessons proved invaluable, though perhaps not in the ways they intended.
Young Charles discovered his natural talent for charming others early on. Teachers overlooked his mediocre academic performance at school, swayed by his perfect manners and engaging personality. His good looks and family name opened doors, while his carefully cultivated charm kept them open. He learned to read people, to tell them exactly what they wanted to hear.
Meeting Genevieve changed everything, albeit only temporarily. The daughter of a wealthy wine merchant captivated Charles with her wit and genuine nature. Their courtship became the talk of Alchester society, with Charles pursuing her with unprecedented sincerity. For once, his charm served genuine emotion rather than manipulation. Their wedding proved a grand affair, uniting two prominent merchant families.
With minutes to spare before the curtains opened, Charles Hallard made his entrance. He arrived with a flourish, commanding attention as he navigated his way down the row. With an easy charm, he greeted each person, shaking hands with a spirited grip, offering hearty pats on shoulders, and exchanging laughter that echoed through the space. He was clearly well-acquainted with his fellow patrons, his presence radiating a warmth and familiarity that drew people in as if he were the centerpiece of the gathering. Little did he know that his life was about to end.
- THE ASSASSIN’S CODE
The first years of marriage brought genuine happiness. Charles threw himself into expanding his business interests while Genevieve managed their household with grace and efficiency. They attended social functions, hosted dinner parties, and seemed to embody the perfect merchant-class marriage. Charles found himself surprisingly content with domestic life.
Things changed gradually. The excitement of new love faded into a routine. Charles began staying later at his offices, making excuses to attend business meetings alone. Genevieve withdrew into her own interests, spending more time with her social circle. The distance between them grew imperceptibly at first, then with increasing speed.
Charles’s first affair began innocently enough, a flirtation with a young widow at a business associate’s dinner party. The thrill of secret meetings and stolen moments reminded him of his younger days. When the relationship ended naturally after a few months, Charles sought similar arrangements, chasing the excitement of a new conquest.
Business success provided perfect cover for his activities. Regular trips to oversee his various enterprises allowed him to maintain relationships in different parts of the city. He became an expert at time management, carefully tracking appointments and excuses. His charm, once used to win Genevieve, now maintained multiple deceptions.
Charles developed a system for his affairs, never letting them progress too far or last too long. He chose women with as much to lose from discovery as himself, ensuring mutual discretion. His current arrangements include a young merchant’s wife, a visiting noblewoman, and an ambitious actress (or so she tells him), each relationship carefully compartmentalized.
At home, Charles maintains appearances with practiced ease. He brings Genevieve gifts from his business trips, attends necessary social functions at her side, and plays the role of a devoted husband in public. Their conversations remain polite but distant, focused on household management and social obligations rather than personal matters. He maintains a love for the theater, which his wife once shared with him, most often attending performances alone.
His social circle knows him as a successful businessman with a talent for negotiation and networking. Few suspect the extent of his deceptions, though rumors occasionally circulate. Charles handles such gossip with practiced dismissal, and his reputation for charm and propriety provides an effective shield against serious scrutiny.
The irony of his situation does not escape Charles. His carefully maintained facade of respectability requires constant attention, much like the multiple relationships he juggles. He sometimes wonders about the possibility of happiness in simple honesty, but the thought never lasts long. The thrill of deception and conquest has become too ingrained in his nature.
Through it all, Charles maintains his position in Alchester society, and his business interests flourish even as his marriage withers. His charm remains his greatest asset, allowing him to move between his various roles: respected merchant, unfaithful husband, and secret lover. He views his life as a complex performance, one requiring constant rehearsal and refinement to maintain.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Charles first appears in The Assassin's Code (Assassin Without a Name Book Three).
