Jess Borden was the daughter of magician Alfred Borden and his wife Sarah. Her father liked to show her magic tricks, but always taught her never to reveal the secret to anyone. After her parents' relationship broke down, her mother committed suicide and later her father was jailed. However, it was really her uncle who was jailed and her caretaker, Bernard Fallon, was actually her father in disguise. Although it was arranged that she would live with Lord Caldlow, he was killed and John Cutter reunited Jess with her father.