# Hélène Vauquier — At the Villa Rose character guide > Hélène Vauquier in At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. Mason. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Vauquier, Mademoiselle Vauquier, H **First appearance:** 0001-ii-a-cry-for-help ## Snapshot Mme. Dauvray's hard-featured, peasant-strong maid, whose bitter resentment of Celia simmers beneath a facade of respectable grief. ## Who they are For years Hélène Vauquier was more friend than servant to Mme. Dauvray, consulted on everything and taken everywhere, until a ragged dancer from Montmartre displaced her in a single week. Her testimony about the séance and her eagerness to leave the villa are laced with a hatred she barely conceals, and Hanaud catches her visiting Celia's room alone. Her jealousy and her access to the household make her the investigation's most dangerous witness. ## Relationships ### [Celia Harland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland) _psychological_ Hélène manipulates and controls the impressionable Celia, drawing her into a web of deception and crime. ### [Mr. Ricardo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mr_ricardo) _professional_ Ricardo observes and questions Hélène as part of the investigation, with growing suspicion. ### [Mme. Dauvray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mme_dauvray) _professional_ Hélène serves as Mme. Dauvray's maid, but secretly plots to rob and murder her employer. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _psychological_ Harry is romantically entangled with Hélène, who manipulates his affections to aid her criminal schemes. ### [Adèle Rossignol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/adele_rossignol) _rivalry_ Adèle and Hélène are former criminal partners who become rivals, each trying to escape blame for the murder. ### [Henri Servettaz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/henri_servettaz) _professional_ Hélène interacts with Henri, a local servant, as part of her cover while staying at the Villa des Fleurs. ### [Mr. Ricardo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mr_ricardo) _professional_ Ricardo observes and questions Hélène as part of the investigation, with growing suspicion. ### [Mme. Dauvray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mme_dauvray) _professional_ Hélène serves as Mme. Dauvray's maid, but secretly plots to rob and murder her employer. ### [Celia Harland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland) _psychological_ Hélène manipulates and controls the impressionable Celia, drawing her into a web of deception and crime. ### [Celia Harland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland) _psychological_ Hélène manipulates and controls the impressionable Celia, drawing her into a web of deception and crime. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _psychological_ Harry is romantically entangled with Hélène, who manipulates his affections to aid her criminal schemes. ### [Adèle Rossignol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/adele_rossignol) _rivalry_ Adèle and Hélène are former criminal partners who become rivals, each trying to escape blame for the murder. ## In the story ### [II: A Cry for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/ii-a-cry-for-help) Mme. Dauvray's maid, found chloroformed and tied up, expected to provide information when she recovers. ### [III: Perrichet's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/iii-perrichet-s-story) Found by Perrichet snoring heavily in her attic room. ### [V: In the Salon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/v-in-the-salon) Brought to Celia's room to identify missing clothing, but her presence raises suspicion. ### [VI: Hélène Vauquier’s Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vi-h-l-ne-vauquier-s-evidence) Provides detailed testimony about the household, her jealousy of Célie, and the events of the night of the murder. ### [VII: A Startling Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vii-a-startling-discovery) Is allowed to leave under discreet surveillance; her testimony about the jewels is noted. ### [The Captain of the Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/viii-the-captain-of-the-ship) Her description of the woman as having black hair is contradicted by Hanaud's discovery of a red hair. ### [XIII: In the House at Geneva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiii-in-the-house-at-geneva) Not directly present in this chapter; no actions or mentions. ### [XIV: Mr. Ricardo Is Bewildered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiv-mr-ricardo-is-bewildered) Mentioned as the maid who remained defiant and silent during interrogations, refusing to confess. ### [XV: Celia's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xv-celia-s-story) Secretly despises Celia for displacing her in Mme. Dauvray's confidence. Greedy and avaricious, she manipulates Harry Wethermill, proposing a bargain to exploit Mme. Dauvray's fortune. ### [XVI: The First Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xvi-the-first-move) Submissively agrees to be present at the séance and suggests Servettaz take his holiday on Tuesday, ensuring his absence. ### [XVII: The Afternoon of Tuesday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xvii-the-afternoon-of-tuesday) Dresses Celia with deliberate slowness and ironic pleasure, knowing it is the last time; she orchestrates the tests with Adèle. ### [The Séance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xviii-the-s-ance) Holds Celia, gags her, and shows hidden rancor; complicit in the plot. ### [XIX: Hélène Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xix-h-l-ne-explains) The cold and calculating maid who orchestrates the crime, threatens Celia with vitriol, and removes her earrings. ### [XX: The Geneva Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xx-the-geneva-road) Referenced as the leader whose wish prevails to keep Celia alive until she arrives in Geneva. ### [XXI: Hanaud Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xxi-hanaud-explains) Her slip in using the name Adèle and her role in the plot are analyzed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters