# Beatrix Harley — Short Fiction character guide

> Beatrix Harley in Short Fiction by Catherine Louisa Pirkis.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Beatrix

**First appearance:** 0003-iii

## Snapshot

A woman whose small, cramped handwriting and midnight assignations make her the quiet rival Nellie cannot stop hating and cannot stop watching.

## Who they are

Beatrix moves through the same drawing-rooms and skating parties as Nellie, but she is the one who slips Piers a pencilled note reading 'At twelve tonight.' Nellie reads that cramped, sly little hand as the mark of a woman who pretends frankness while playing an underhand game, and her jealousy fixes on Beatrix as the rival to outmanoeuvre. Whether Beatrix is truly scheming or merely convenient to despise, her presence turns an ordinary house party into a contest of pride and surveillance.

## Relationships

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/helen)

_friendship_

A loyal and supportive friendship, with Beatrix often acting as a confidante to Helen.

### [The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/the_professor)

_professional_

A colleague-like relationship, with Beatrix and the Professor working together in an academic setting.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/lavinia)

_friendship_

A close friendship, with Beatrix and Lavinia sharing secrets and supporting each other.

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/helen)

_friendship_

A loyal and supportive friendship, with Beatrix often acting as a confidante to Helen.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/lavinia)

_friendship_

A close friendship, with Beatrix and Lavinia sharing secrets and supporting each other.

### [The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/the_professor)

_professional_

A colleague-like relationship, with Beatrix and the Professor working together in an academic setting.

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/helen)

_friendship_

A loyal and supportive friendship, with Beatrix often acting as a confidante to Helen.

### [The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/the_professor)

_professional_

A colleague-like relationship, with Beatrix and the Professor working together in an academic setting.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/lavinia)

_friendship_

A close friendship, with Beatrix and Lavinia sharing secrets and supporting each other.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/chapters/i)

Beatrix, a cousin from Spain, is described as lively and active, causing the Professor to fear for his books.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/chapters/ii)

Vivacious and charming, she boldly interrupts the Professor's work and persuades him to come down to dinner.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/chapters/iii)

Orchestrates the midnight meeting by sending anonymous notes to relatives, observing the results with amusement.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters/beatrix_harley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_61_se/characters