The Duchess

"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously." Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.

"The Duchess is a woman of independent inclinations. Her opinions do not always align with those of the great and the good."

"A lady of style, grace and refinement, whose salons may be the best-attended in Fallen London. Just don't ask about her peculiar diet. Or her name. Or her association with the city's cats. Or her past. Actually, best not to say anything, just nod and drink her lovely tea. It is very lovely tea."

The Duchess is noblewoman of independent inclinations who resides in The Shuttered Palace and the Empress' Court. She really, really loves cats, and treating them well is critical to gaining her favor. She also has a strong rivalry with the Gracious Widow.

Okay, But Who is She Really?

The Duchess was a princess of the Second City (El-Amarna in Egypt), which explains her affinity with all things feline. She arranged the fall of the city to save her lover, who eventually became the Cantigaster after he lost favor with The Masters of the Bazaar.

Why Does She Look British?

Consider the following snippet:

"Lights appear from behind you. You duck behind a firkin of madeira and observe. A woman passes you. She is dressed in a simple white linen shift and about twenty pounds of gold jewellery. She is dark-skinned: African, perhaps. There's something familiar about her, though. Good God! It's the Duchess! Freed from her paints and powders, she is much darker. And younger! She looks barely thirty. It's definitely her, though, cat-earrings and all.

Some More Details

"Are you quite sure you want to know this?" Beyond this point lie major spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include endgame or major Fate-locked spoilers. Proceed at your own risk. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.

The Duchess' real name is Ankhesenamun, and that her lover (and brother) was Tutankhamun (yes, King Tut).

The Duchess's cats form an entire royal hierarchy, both in the Neath and Parabola. The cats can marry, divorce, and distribute property amongst themselves in Parabola.

"Dart, little snake, dart. Bite, little snake, bite. Sink your fangs until your venom wells from welts as red as treachery. Come, little snake, come. I'll stroke your head. Now my betrothed is dead. What, little snake, have I done? What, little snake, have I done?"

There are strong implications that the Duchess actually killed Tut herself. It seems she wanted to be in the Neath, so she faked being in love with a scribe and used her brother as bait, which is what angered the Masters so much. Since death is weird in the Neath, this act or the Masters' displeasure presumably transformed him into the Cantigaster.

Despite her possible treachery, she is interested in lacre as a possible means to soothe her monstrous husband. During Sacksmas, she has used her horde of cats to trap Mr Sacks himself, in order to have the felines lick the lacre off him and learn the stuff's secrets.