# Lady Howard — Evelina character guide > Lady Howard in Evelina by Fanny Burney. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Lady Howard Berry Hill, Lady Howard Paris **First appearance:** 0004-letter-i-lady-howard-to-the-rev-mr-villars ## Snapshot The aristocratic friend who first draws Evelina out of Berry Hill, weighing propriety against the girl's need to meet the world. ## Who they are Lady Howard is the noblewoman whose household at Howard Grove becomes Evelina's gateway into society, and whose judgment mediates between Mr. Villars's caution and Madame Duval's vehemence. When Madame Duval threatens to drag Evelina abroad, Lady Howard firmly refuses to surrender her until Villars consents, absorbing the older woman's rage with steady authority. Her interventions keep Evelina's fate from being decided by the loudest voice in the room, and her deference to Villars shows the network of care surrounding the heroine. ## Relationships ### [Lord Orville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lord_orville) _friendship_ Lady Howard and Lord Orville are warm, respectful friends and social allies who share mutual esteem and correspondence. ### [Captain Mirvan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/captain_mirvan) _family_ Captain Mirvan is Lady Howard's son-in-law, and their relationship is marked by his boorishness and her patient exasperation. ### [Mr. Lovel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/mr_lovel) _social_ Lady Howard and Mr. Lovel are polite social acquaintances, with Lady Howard maintaining civility despite his foppishness. ### [Mr. Lovel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/mr_lovel) _social_ Lady Howard and Mr. Lovel are polite social acquaintances, with Lady Howard maintaining civility despite his foppishness. ### [Captain Mirvan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/captain_mirvan) _family_ Captain Mirvan is Lady Howard's son-in-law, and their relationship is marked by his boorishness and her patient exasperation. ### [Lord Orville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lord_orville) _friendship_ Lady Howard and Lord Orville are warm, respectful friends and social allies who share mutual esteem and correspondence. ### [Lord Orville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lord_orville) _friendship_ Lady Howard and Lord Orville are warm, respectful friends and social allies who share mutual esteem and correspondence. ### [Captain Mirvan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/captain_mirvan) _family_ Captain Mirvan is Lady Howard's son-in-law, and their relationship is marked by his boorishness and her patient exasperation. ### [Mr. Lovel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/mr_lovel) _social_ Lady Howard and Mr. Lovel are polite social acquaintances, with Lady Howard maintaining civility despite his foppishness. ## In the story ### [Evelina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/evelina) The friend who invites Evelina to London, initiating her entrance into the world. ### [Letter I: Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-i-lady-howard-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Writes the letter, expressing distress over delivering bad news and relaying Madame Duval's correspondence. ### [Letter II: Mr. Villars to Lady Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-ii-mr-villars-to-lady-howard) Recipient of the letter; Mr. Villars requests her to write to Madame Duval on his behalf. ### [Letter III: Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-iii-lady-howard-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Writes to Mr. Villars proposing Evelina's visit to London. ### [Letter IV: Mr. Villars to Lady Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-iv-mr-villars-to-lady-howard) The recipient of the letter; Mr. Villars entrusts Evelina to her protection but questions her proposal to introduce Evelina to London society. ### [Letter V: Mr. Villars to Lady Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-v-mr-villars-to-lady-howard) The recipient of the letter, entrusted with Evelina's care by Mr. Villars. ### [Letter VI: Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-vi-lady-howard-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Writer of the letter; expresses her admiration for Evelina and her hopes for the friendship between Evelina and her granddaughter. ### [Letter VII: Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-vii-lady-howard-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Writes the letter petitioning Mr. Villars to allow Evelina to join the London trip. ### [Letter VIII: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-viii-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Hostess at Howard Grove, busy with preparations and insistent that Evelina write to request the London trip. ### [Letter XXVI: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxvi-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Openly avows her approbation of Madame Duval's intention and plans to write her reasons to Mr. Villars. ### [Letter XXVII: Lady Howard to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxvii-lady-howard-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Writes to Mr. Villars proposing a lawsuit against Sir John Belmont to secure Evelina's fortune and estate. ### [Letter XXVIII: Mr. Villars to Lady Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxviii-mr-villars-to-lady-howard) Recipient of the letter; Mr. Villars addresses her concerns and seeks her support for a more measured approach. ### [Letter XXX: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxx-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Has written to Paris on Evelina's behalf, sending the letter via the ambassador's packet. ### [Letter XXXI: Lady Howard to Sir John Belmont, Bart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxxi-lady-howard-to-sir-john-belmont-bart) Writes a frank and earnest letter to Sir John Belmont, advocating for Evelina's recognition and the vindication of Lady Belmont's memory. ### [Letter XXXIII: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxxiii-evelina-in-continuation) Lady Howard follows Madame Duval to comfort her after the Captain's cruel trick and later helps her slip away unnoticed. ### [Letter XXXV: Sir John Belmont to Lady Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxxv-sir-john-belmont-to-lady-howard) Recipient of the letter; Sir John addresses her Ladyship's letter. ### [Letter XXXVI: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxxvi-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars) Supports Evelina by refusing to let her leave Howard Grove without Mr. Villars's consent. ### [Letter XXXVIII: Mr. Villars to Lady Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxxviii-mr-villars-to-lady-howard) Recipient of the letter; Mr. Villars asks her to release Evelina when Madame Duval claims her. ### [Letter XXXIX: Mr. Villars to Evelina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xxxix-mr-villars-to-evelina) Mentioned as the hospitable and respectable lady whose protection Evelina is leaving. ### [Letter XLI: Evelina to Miss Mirvan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xli-evelina-to-miss-mirvan) Included among the 'dear and generous friends' whose kindness Evelina acknowledges. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lady_howard - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters