 She was born to poor parents from "up the Mountain" who gave her up to the town's learned person, Lawyer Royall, but she still dreams of an even better and more exciting life outside of the town.She secures a job at North Dormer's library in an attempt to save up money so she can eventually leave the town and Mr. Royall's care.The widowed Mr. Royall makes an inappropriate advance toward Charity one night that she rebuffs but it irrevocably sours their relationship

When she is 17, that exciting life finds her in the form of a visiting architect named Lucius Harney.