This character list is a work-in-progress. It will be updated after the publication of each new book in the series.

Agnes Dawlish –wife of the solicitor in Carting Corners, near Colsterworth, who Helena meets in the coach with her daughter, Flora (first appears in The Widow’s Wager)

Alexander Armstrong, Duke of Inverfyre – hero of A Duke by Any Other Name

Mrs. Alice Lewis – lover of Gerald Hargood, mother of Francis (first appears in The Hellion’s Heart)

Amelia – daughter of Lady Beckham and sister of Arthur. She is at her lessons, conjugating French verbs in Venice at the end of The Widow’s Wager.

Anthony Wright – Garrett’s youngest brother, b. 1790, single, who is first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Anthony Davidson – a young buck who makes a wager with Ethan Melbourne at White’s in The Widow’s Wager.

Arabella Neilson née Grosvenor– Philomena and Penelope’s younger sister, b. 1790. m. Philip Neilson, first appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness. Arabella and Philip Neilson’s children: Arnold b. 1809, interest in military history, Philomena is his godmother; Anna b. 1811; Albert b. 1813; Audrey b. 1815 – plus Arabella is visibly pregnant February 1817

Ariana (Bettencourt) (Sanderson) – Rhys’ second oldest sister, died in childbirth along with son, first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Arthur Beckham – rakehell son of Lady Beckham, who is first mentioned in The Widow’s Wager and is the hero of The Bluestocking’s Bargain.

Lady Augusta Rutherford – an ambitious hostess who is first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Lady Beatrice Banbury – thinks her affair with Lord Standish is a secret. She is first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Lady Bertrade Beckham – opinionated dowager, accidentally gets Esmeralda’s copy of Childe Harold in The Widow’s Wager, has a rakehell son and sweet younger daughter, Amelia.

Mr. Bertram Blakewell – Garrett’s estate manager, first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Caroline (Finch) Wright – b. 1793, Christopher’s wife, a cheerful woman who first appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Catherine (Carruthers) Bettencourt, Baroness Trevelaine – b. 1791, m. 1814. Heroine of The Christmas Conquest.

Miss Charlotte Havilland – the betrothed of Joshua Hargood who died as a casualty of a duel ten years before The Hellion’s Heart.

Christopher Wright – Garrett’s brother, b. 1785, m. 1810 to Caroline, first appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Christina Wright – b. 1812, Christopher and Caroline’s oldest child, first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Constance DeVries, the dowager Lady Haynesdale – Eliza and Damien’s mother – b. 1761. She is first mentioned in The Widow’s Wager.

Cordelia Wright – b. 1814, Christopher and Caroline’s second child, first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Damien DeVries, Duke of Haynesdale – b. 1779 (leg injured at Badajoz, April 6, 1812). Known as a recluse, he first appears in The Christmas Conquest.

Daphne Armstrong née Gooderham, Duchess of Inverfyre – Eurydice’s older sister whose story is told in A Duke by Any Other Name.

Edward Carruthers – Catherine’s father and partner in Carruthers & Carruthers, Publishers. First mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Eliza North née DeVries – younger sister of Damien DeVries, b. 1790, m. Reverend Frederick North 1807, widowed June 1816. She is the heroine of The Widow’s Wager.

Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor – Philomena and Penelope’s mother, first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Miss Esmeralda Ballantyne – a matchmaking courtesan whose alter ego is Mrs. Delilah Oliver, b. 1784. She first appears in A Most Inconvenient Earl.

Ethan Melbourne – a dandy and a suitor of Helena’s who pursues her for the fortune he believes she will inherit. He lied about his father’s demise to hint that he has a fortune himself. He appears in The Widow’s Wager.

Eurydice Montgomery née Gooderham, Countess Rockmorton — heroine of A Most Inconvenient Earl and supporter of Mrs. Oliver’s book.

Flora Dawlish – daughter of Agnes. Helena borrows her cloak in The Widow’s Wager.

Lady Frances (Fanny) Dalhousie, formerly Viscountess Hexham – Nicholas and Helena’s aunt (the sister of Nicholas’ mother), a widow, b. 1758 and an old rival of Constance. She first appears in The Widow’s Wager.

Francis Lewis – Gerald’s illegitimate son and Joshua Hargood’s nephew. First appears in The Hellion’s Heart.

Reverend Frederick North – Eliza’s husband, b. 1769, d. June 1816. He had two thousand a year. He is mentioned in The Widow’s Wager.

Garrett Wright, Marquis of Arlingview – b. 1781, a spy since 1809  and hero of The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Gerald Hargood – younger son of the sixth Viscount of Addersley, a wastrel who was bought a commission and was believed to have died at Waterloo. Appears in The Hellion’s Heart.

George Galveston – a suitor declined by Eliza, who had five thousand a year, mentioned in The Widow’s Wager.

Georgiana Wright – Garrett and Penelope’s daughter, expected March/April 1818

Gwendolyn (Bettencourt) Bessborough– Rhys’ oldest sister (15 years older) died in childbirth at 34, son survives. She is first mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Helena Emerson – Nicholas’ younger sister, b. 1800. Her debut was the season before The Widow’s Wager and she is the heroine of The Hellion’s Heart.

Jacques Desjardins – the villain and an old acquaintance of Esmeralda Ballantyne (he calls her Esmé), first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

James DeVries – Damien’s oldest brother, b. 1772 d. of pneumonia May, 1812, first mentioned in The Widow’s Wager.

James Wright – Philomena and Garrett’s son b. 1807. He first appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Mr. John Jones – Rhys’ estate manager who had been embezzling funds until Catherine discovered as much. He is first mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Joshua Hargood – seventh Viscount of Addersley, a man said to have ice running in his veins and hero of The Hellion’s Heart.

Lawrence Bessborough – Gwendolyn’s husband, mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Lavinia Emerson — Helena’s mother, Nicholas’ stepmother and an impetuous beauty. She died in a curricle accident with her husband (Nicholas’ father) when Helena was two. She is first mentioned in The Widow’s Wager.

Lucien de Roye – husband of Sophia, proprietor of Brisbane’s Emporium and hero of Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Sir Luke Grosvenor – Philomena and Penelope’s father, a goldsmith who was knighted, deceased, first mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Margaret Georgiana Wright (née Seton) – the duchess and Garrett’s mother, d. 1816, mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Matthew Wright – Philomena and Garrett’s younger son b. 1809. He first appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Mr. Michael Murdoch – Rhys’ solicitor, partner at Murdoch & Fitch, mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Michael Pierpont – Penelope’s husband, who will never wed again, mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Lord Milton Standish – Lady Banbury’s “secret” lover, mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Sir Murphy Purvis – a newly knighted man who bought Lady Dalhousie’s house on Berkley Square to launch his four daughters into society. Mentioned in The Widow’s Wager.

Nathaniel Charles Montgomery – Eurydice and Sebastian’s son, born December 24, 1816. First appears in The Christmas Conquest.

Captain Nicholas Emerson – Damien’s friend, b. 1782, bought commission 1807, injured in war. His inherited holding of Southpoint is adjacent to Haynesdale where he intends to breed horses, using his stallion Sterling as stud. He served with Damien. He is the hero of The Widow’s Wager.

Nicholas Edmond Bettencourt – Catherine and Rhys’ son, born December 24, 1817, first appears in Upon a Midnight Clear.

Ophelia Pearl — the actress who disguises herself as (Ivy) Perkins, Mrs. Oliver’s maid, first appears in The Christmas Conquest.

Patience Carruthers – Catherine’s younger sister, b. 1796, who has a tendency to sound knowing. She is first mentioned in The Christmas Conquest. She put the wrong book in Lady Beckham’s order in The Widow’s Wager, a discover which intrigues Arthur Beckham. Their story is The Bluestocking’s Bargain.

Reverend Paul Potter – the parson of Rockmorton Fell compelled to give Mrs. Oliver a ride in his cart. He first appears in The Christmas Conquest.

Penelope (Bettencourt) Pierpont – Rhys’ third sister (youngest girl but still older than him) died in childbirth, son survives. She is first mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Lady Penelope Wentworth – aunt of Alexander Armstrong and former spy, she is an attractive woman “a baroness, a widow and a fixture upon the most exalted guest lists in town.” Her butler’s son is married to the daughter of Esmeralda’s cook, an indication of her unconventional means of gathering information. She wed late for love and has no children. She is first mentioned in A Duke by Any Other Name.

Penelope (Grosvenor) Wright – Philomena’s twin sister, b. 1786, m. Garrett in 1817 (heroine of The Masquerade of the Marchioness.)

Percival DeVries, former duke of Haynesdale – 1735-1808 Constance’s husband, Damien and Eliza’s father, and a man said to be inflexible in his views.

Philip Neilson – Luke’s apprentice, m. Arabella 1809 (after Penelope refused him.) First appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Mr. Newson – a solicitor and Joshua Hargood’s estate manager, who also served Joshua’s father. First appears in The Hellion’s Heart.

Philomena (Grosvenor) Wright – 1786 – 1814, m. Garrett in 1804. Mentioned in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Prudence Carruthers – Catherine’s youngest sister, b. 1799, first mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Reginald DeVries – Damien’s older brother, b. 1775 d. in a duel July, 1812

Robert Carruthers – Catherine’s uncle, Edward’s brother and partner. First mentioned in The Christmas Conquest.

Earl of Queenston – dresses as Cupid at the ball in The Masquerade of the Marchioness and is a known lecher. After losing a fortune to Nicholas in The Widow’s Wager, he uses his home, the manor of Greenhaven, as his stake.

Rhys Bettencourt, Baron Trevelaine – hero of The Christmas Conquest.

(Rupert) Rutherford, Viscount of Bellingham – Lady Augusta’s husband, who complains about the bills. First appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Sebastian Montgomery, Earl of Rockmorton (hero of A Most Inconvenient Earl.)

Sebastian Wright, Duke of Montford – Garrett’s father who has luxurious moustaches. First appears in The Masquerade of the Marchioness.

Sophia (Brisbane) de Roye – proprietess of Brisbane’s Emporium (heroine of Something Wicked This Way Comes.)

Sylvie Ballantyne – Esmeralda’s hidden younger sister (actually her daughter) whom Jacques has found. (First appears in The Hellion’s Heart.)

William Jones – brother of Alice Lewis in The Hellion’s Heart.

Servants:

Mrs. Baird – cook at Addersley Manor

Becky – maid at Bramble Cottage

Mr. Darney – innkeeper in Haynesdale Hollow

Fairfax – butler at Addersley Manor

Mrs. Farley – housekeeper at Haynesdale Manor

Farrell – butler at Haynesdale Manor

Fielding – coachman/driver for Trevelaine

Simon Forbes – Rhys’ valet

Lucy Foster – Catherine’s lady’s maid

Gaines – butler at Rockmorton Manor in Cornwall

Mrs. Grieves – the knowing busybody housekeeper at Trevelaine Manor

Hawkins – a stablehand at Haynesdale House

(Flora) Hastings – Constance’s lady’s maid of Constance

Henderson – butler at Trevelaine House

Higgins – the butler at Haynesdale House

Hoskins – ostler at Addersley Manor

Irene – a shopgirl at Brisbane’s Emporium.

Mrs. Jameson – dressmaker in Haynesdale Hollow

Jenkins – Nicholas’ valet

Jenny Percival – upper housemaid at Addersley Manor and source of gossip to Becky

Mrs. Jones – the cook at Haynesdale House

Mr. Kemp – formerly the tutor for James and Matthew, dismissed by Penelope

Kitty – a kitchen maid in Lady Dalhousie’s household, who takes messages to Ethan for Helena

Bert Latimer – butler for Esmeralda Ballantyne

Mr. Marchand – head gardener at Haynesdale

Maines – the butler at Arlingview Manor in Shropshire

Miller – the elderly butler at Montford House

Doris Nelson – cook/housekeeper for Esmeralda Ballantyne

Mr. and Mrs. Nixon – housekeeper and man-of-work at Bramble Cottage

Pettigrew – Lady Dalhousie’s butler

Phipps – a maid at Haynesdale House

Mrs. Purcell – cook at Rockmorton Manor

Reed – Joshua Hargood’s valet

Lucy Royce – Caroline’s lady’s maid, missed her calling on the stage

Bessie Sheldon – head housemaid at Rockmorton Manor

Teresa Smith – head housemaid at Arlingview House

Thomson – the Duke of Haynesdale’s driver

Topkins – a stablehand at Haynesdale House

Tupper – Haynesdale’s stablemaster

Watkins – Garrett’s driver (Arlingview House) Wentworth – butler at Carruthers House, reads to staff on Saturday nights

Mrs. Mary West – cook at Arlingview House

Wharton – Garrett’s valet

Jenny Williams – Penelope’s lady’s maid

Wrigley – butler at Arlingview House in Mayfair

Mrs. Whittemore – Eliza’s childhood governess who made dire warnings

Sara Underwood – Philomena’s lady’s maid (retired)

Horses & Dogs

Mischief – the puppy given to Helena by Joshua Hargood in The Hellion’s Heart

Rex and Riley – forebears of the current dogs in Addersley’s stables

Rowena – mother of the litter of pups at Addersley Manor

Rufus – father of the litter of pups at Addersley Manor

Specter – Joshua Hargood’s stallion

Sterling – Nicholas Emerson’s stallion and stud

Zephyr – Gerald Hargood’s stallion

Two cats at the apartment in Venice rented by the Beckhams: “a long-haired silver beast, with knowing eyes of green” and “the short-haired black one with yellow eyes and one white paw”.

Unnamed Characters

The Christmas Conquest:

Unnamed wife of apothecary in village of Rockmorton Fell who makes charms

Unnamed midwife from Rockmorton Fell who delivers Eurydice’s son

Unnamed jeweller on Regent Street who makes a sapphire parure for Catherine

Unnamed midwife in London who delivers Catherine’s son

? Bessborough – Unnamed son of Gwendolyn and Lawrence, who is Rhys’ nephew

? Pierpont – Unnamed son of Penelope and Michael, who is Rhys’ nephew

? Sanderson – Unnamed husband of Ariana, a widower

The Masquerade of the Marchioness

Several unnamed footmen

An unnamed shopgirl at Carruthers & Carruthers

An unnamed legal clerk

The Widow’s Wager

? Emerson—Nicholas’ and Helena’s father, a country squire who died in a curricle accident with his second wife

A nameless footman who Helena smiled at, earning Aunt Fanny’s disapproval.

A nameless clerk at a haberdashery who Helena smiled at, earning Aunt Fanny’s disapproval.

A nameless young buck who reined in his horse hard when Helena waved to him, earning Aunt Fanny’s disapproval.

An unnamed jailor at Fleet Debtor’s Prison

Viscount of Hexham– Hexham was entailed to Frances Dalhousie’s husband’s nephew, the child of his younger brother, both title and property passing to him when Frances’ husband died. He and his wife have two young sons.

Two grooms in the Haynesdale stables

The footman in the service of Haynesdale who replaces the one Helena smiled at.

An unnamed nun at the convent in Brittany where Sylvie has been hidden.