# Adèle Pleydell — Perishable Goods character guide

> Adèle Pleydell in Perishable Goods by Dornford Yates.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Miss Adèle

**First appearance:** 0001-perishable-goods

## Snapshot

A Pleydell with steady brown eyes and a taste for other people's secrets, she rides at six and extracts confessions before breakfast.

## Who they are

Adèle moves easily among the Pleydells' guests, but her real pleasure is in the story behind the story, and she will lean down and catch a rein to get it. She reads Mansel's reticence as a romance rather than a danger, and her cheerful certainty that he has nothing to hide is both charming and wrong. Her curiosity draws the reader deeper into the intrigue just as the party prepares to leave for Carinthia.

## Relationships

### [Jonathan Mansel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/jonathan_mansel)

_psychological_

Adèle is both drawn to and manipulative of Jonathan, using her charm and secrets to control his actions while he remains obsessively entangled with her.

### [Rose Noble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/rose_noble)

_rivalry_

Adèle sees Rose as a rival for Jonathan's affection and uses her social wiles to create friction between them.

### [Jonah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/jonah)

_psychological_

Adèle treats Jonah as a pawn, exploiting his devotion and naivety to further her own schemes without genuine regard for his wellbeing.

### [Richard William Chandos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/richard_william_chandos)

_social_

Adèle and Chandos move in the same high-society circles, their interactions polite but superficial, with no deeper connection.

### [Jonathan Mansel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/jonathan_mansel)

_psychological_

Adèle is both drawn to and manipulative of Jonathan, using her charm and secrets to control his actions while he remains obsessively entangled with her.

### [Jonah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/jonah)

_psychological_

Adèle treats Jonah as a pawn, exploiting his devotion and naivety to further her own schemes without genuine regard for his wellbeing.

### [Richard William Chandos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/richard_william_chandos)

_social_

Adèle and Chandos move in the same high-society circles, their interactions polite but superficial, with no deeper connection.

### [Rose Noble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/rose_noble)

_rivalry_

Adèle sees Rose as a rival for Jonathan's affection and uses her social wiles to create friction between them.

### [Jonathan Mansel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/jonathan_mansel)

_psychological_

Adèle is both drawn to and manipulative of Jonathan, using her charm and secrets to control his actions while he remains obsessively entangled with her.

### [Rose Noble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/rose_noble)

_rivalry_

Adèle sees Rose as a rival for Jonathan's affection and uses her social wiles to create friction between them.

## In the story

### [I: First Blood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/chapters/i-first-blood)

The abducted woman, whose plight drives the plot; she is unaware of Mansel's love until the narrator tells her.

### [VI: The Love of a Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/chapters/vi-the-love-of-a-lady)

Confesses her love for Mansel, revealing her emotional vulnerability and the strength of her feelings.

### [VII: We Practise to Deceive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/chapters/vii-we-practise-to-deceive)

Her rooms in the southwest tower are found empty; she has been moved to the opposite tower by Rose Noble.

### [VIII: Out of Sight, Out of Mind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/chapters/viii-out-of-sight-out-of-mind)

Mentioned as being held captive and later freed; her safety is a key concern.

### [IX: Full Measure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/chapters/ix-full-measure)

Stays by Mansel's side, holding his hand, and later comforts William, showing her bravery and love.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters/adele_pleydell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/perishable_goods_se/characters