Esme is the only child of Graham and Elspeth Rye. Her father an Unspeakable with the Ministry, and her mother a former member of the MLE until she retired to work with jewelry. Always a bit of a rebel, her relationship with Beau Pendragon caused her family much concern. Their marriage, birth of their only child briefly made Beau more acceptable in their eyes - but the cause of their initial estrangement and then their divorce has again put the man on their 'unacceptable' list.