William Lancaster was a successful man, who married Isabella Marshall, a talented artist. He accepted that Isabella had an illegitimate child, and treated her as his own. He built Lancaster Building, which became known as "Mural House" to the locals. Though he was successful, his wife's artistic talents outshone him. This made him feel threatened, and he began to exhibit a controlling nature. When this went out of proportion, Isabella turned to her only friend, Miranda Nance, who studied Egyptian magic.