Stephen Black

Born on a slave ship to a mother who died before she could tell him his name, Stephen Black was adopted by the slaver's family, christened, schooled, and set to work as a servant and a free man. As he grew older, so he rose in the service of his adopted family, ending up as butler to Sir Walter Pole (the son of the slaver) and becoming known as one of the very best servants in London. He is happy as the king of his own little land below stairs at Harley Street, until he meets a mysterious Gentleman with thistledown hair, who strikes a bargain with him, and carries Stephen Black into a terrifying new world of which he knows nothing. He finds himself the servant of two masters - one human, one magical - and compelled to obey the terrible commands of the latter, who has heard a prophecy about Stephen Black, and is most concerned that Stephen should become, as soon as possible, the King of England.