# Lady Cromarty — Simon character guide

> Lady Cromarty in Simon by J. Storer Clouston.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Cromarty

**First appearance:** 0014-xv-two-women

## Snapshot

The Cromarty matriarch in deep mourning, whose hard dark eyes and tight lips conceal motives sharper than grief alone would explain.

## Who they are

Lady Cromarty presides over Keldale with a monumental, tragic stillness that Cicely finds almost unnerving, and her decision to keep the girl on rather than let her leave is framed as company but feels like surveillance. She knows more about Cicely's origins than she will say, and her compressed silence on the subject is itself a kind of pressure. As gossip about Sir Malcolm and Cicely spreads, her composure becomes one of the novel's most unsettling fixed points.

## Relationships

### [Ned Cromarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/ned_cromarty)

_family_

Lady Cromarty is Ned's mother, and they share a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family conflicts.

### [Cicely Farmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/cicely_farmond)

_friendship_

Cicely and Lady Cromarty are close friends, often sharing confidences and supporting each other emotionally.

### [Ned Cromarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/ned_cromarty)

_family_

Lady Cromarty is Ned's mother, and they share a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family conflicts.

### [Cicely Farmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/cicely_farmond)

_friendship_

Cicely and Lady Cromarty are close friends, often sharing confidences and supporting each other emotionally.

### [Ned Cromarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/ned_cromarty)

_family_

Lady Cromarty is Ned's mother, and they share a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family conflicts.

### [Cicely Farmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/cicely_farmond)

_friendship_

Cicely and Lady Cromarty are close friends, often sharing confidences and supporting each other emotionally.

## In the story

### [V: The Third Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/v-the-third-visitor)

Mentioned as being kind but reserved about Cicely's background.

### [VIII: Sir Reginald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/viii-sir-reginald)

Expresses suspicion about Cicely and Malcolm's relationship; warns Sir Reginald about potential impropriety.

### [X: The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/x-the-letter)

Participates in the conversation about George Rattar, advises caution with Simon Rattar, and observes Cicely and Malcolm.

### [XIV: The Question of Motive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xiv-the-question-of-motive)

Life-rented in the mansion and property, but gains no immediate financial benefit from her husband's death.

### [XV: Two Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xv-two-women)

Emerges from seclusion after the funeral; her eyes are hard and she insists Cicely stay, showing a cold, determined demeanor.

### [XVI: Rumour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xvi-rumour)

Believed to have started suspecting Cicely after hearing of the engagement or after Rattar's visit; she keeps Cicely at Keldale to watch her.

### [Mr. Bisset's Assistant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxiv-mr-bisset-s-assistant)

Approached by Carrington outside the house; she confirms that Sir Malcolm is engaged to be married.

### [The Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxviii-the-return)

Cicely worries about her reaction; Ned advises telling her the truth.

### [XXXVII: Bisset's Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxxvii-bisset-s-advice)

Attempted to detain Cicely and believed Rattar's denial.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/lady_cromarty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters