# Celia Harland — At the Villa Rose character guide > Celia Harland in At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. Mason. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Celia, Harland, Célie, Mademoiselle Célie, Célie Harland **First appearance:** 0000-i-summer-lightning ## Snapshot A starving Montmartre dancer rescued into luxury by a credulous widow, now the beautiful, mysterious center of a murder investigation at the Villa Rose. ## Who they are Celia Harland rose from dancing for supper in rags at the Abbaye Restaurant to becoming Mme. Dauvray's pampered companion, dressed in silk and lace. Her elegance at a séance, her private words to the chauffeur, and her desperate trust in Hanaud hint at a young woman whose glittering new life conceals dangerous secrets. She matters because every clue in the early investigation circles back to her, and her tenderness toward Harry Wethermill complicates what the police believe. ## Relationships ### [Hélène Vauquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier) _psychological_ Hélène manipulates and controls the impressionable Celia, drawing her into a web of deception and crime. ### [Mme. Dauvray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mme_dauvray) _friendship_ Celia acts as a devoted companion and medium to the wealthy Mme. Dauvray, who trusts her completely. ### [Adèle Rossignol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/adele_rossignol) _psychological_ Adèle, a criminal accomplice, poses as Celia's friend to help Hélène manipulate and control her. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _romantic_ Celia is infatuated with Harry, but he only uses her affection to further his and Hélène's plot. ### [Mr. Ricardo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mr_ricardo) _social_ Ricardo meets Celia socially in Aix and is charmed by her innocent demeanor before the crime. ### [Hélène Vauquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier) _psychological_ Hélène manipulates and controls the impressionable Celia, drawing her into a web of deception and crime. ### [Hélène Vauquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier) _psychological_ Hélène manipulates and controls the impressionable Celia, drawing her into a web of deception and crime. ### [Mme. Dauvray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mme_dauvray) _friendship_ Celia acts as a devoted companion and medium to the wealthy Mme. Dauvray, who trusts her completely. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _romantic_ Celia is infatuated with Harry, but he only uses her affection to further his and Hélène's plot. ### [Adèle Rossignol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/adele_rossignol) _psychological_ Adèle, a criminal accomplice, poses as Celia's friend to help Hélène manipulate and control her. ### [Mme. Dauvray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mme_dauvray) _friendship_ Celia acts as a devoted companion and medium to the wealthy Mme. Dauvray, who trusts her completely. ### [Mr. Ricardo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mr_ricardo) _social_ Ricardo meets Celia socially in Aix and is charmed by her innocent demeanor before the crime. ## In the story ### [I: Summer Lightning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/i-summer-lightning) Introduced as a young, beautiful, and nervous girl in a white satin dress and black hat. She darts from the gaming room in distress, later stakes a five-louis note that causes Wethermill to abandon the bank. ### [II: A Cry for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/ii-a-cry-for-help) The young English companion of Mme. Dauvray, suspected by the police and newspaper of involvement in the murder. ### [IV: At the Villa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/iv-at-the-villa) Implicated by footprints and shoes found in her room; suggested Servettaz ask for the day off. ### [VI: Hélène Vauquier’s Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vi-h-l-ne-vauquier-s-evidence) Described as clever and manipulative in her spiritualist tricks; seen excitedly preparing for the evening, wearing a pale-green hat and carrying white gloves. ### [The Captain of the Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/viii-the-captain-of-the-ship) Discussed in terms of her elegant dress on the night of the crime and her planned marriage to Harry Wethermill. ### [XII: The Aluminium Flask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xii-the-aluminium-flask) Found helpless on a sofa, bound and masked with sacking; dressed as described by Hélène Vauquier. ### [XIII: In the House at Geneva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiii-in-the-house-at-geneva) Rescued from captivity in Geneva; found drugged, tied, and terrified; shows gratitude and trust toward Hanaud; her spirit is broken but she begins to recover. ### [XIV: Mr. Ricardo Is Bewildered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiv-mr-ricardo-is-bewildered) Remembered with tenderness and pity; she is traumatized and afraid to sleep, but eventually begins to tell her story. ### [XV: Celia's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xv-celia-s-story) Tells her life story: daughter of Captain Harland, former medium, nearly starved in Paris, now companion to Mme. Dauvray. Denies greed, claims she tried to stop séances out of concern for Mme. Dauvray's wellbeing. ### [XVI: The First Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xvi-the-first-move) Agrees reluctantly to one last séance to appease Mme. Dauvray, feeling guilty about deceiving her and disloyal to Harry. ### [XVII: The Afternoon of Tuesday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xvii-the-afternoon-of-tuesday) Prepares for the final séance, feeling reluctant and fearful but determined to succeed for Mme. Dauvray and Harry. ### [The Séance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xviii-the-s-ance) Bound, gagged, and helpless during the séance; realizes she is a pawn in a criminal plot. ### [XIX: Hélène Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xix-h-l-ne-explains) Bound to a pillar during the murder, she overhears the killing and is later threatened with vitriol by Hélène. ### [XX: The Geneva Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xx-the-geneva-road) Bound, threatened with vitriol, transported to Geneva, imprisoned, drugged with morphia, and awaiting execution. ### [XXI: Hanaud Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xxi-hanaud-explains) Her innocence is confirmed; her fear of vitriol explains her behavior. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters