# Duke of Andover — The Black Moth character guide

> Duke of Andover in The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Grace, Andover, His Grace of Andover, the Duke

**First appearance:** 0005-v-his-grace-of-andover

## Snapshot

A coldly calculating duke whose quiet disapproval can chill a room, he plays a long game with his sister's marriage and his own hidden grievances.

## Who they are

Tracy, Duke of Andover, moves through Grosvenor Square with the ease of a man who expects obedience and rarely has to ask for it. His sister Lavinia fears him more than she fears her own husband, sensing that his pleasant remarks carry sinister warnings, and she is right to: he watches her old flame Captain Lovelace with the patience of a man arranging pieces on a board. His presence in the early chapters turns private flirtation into dangerous stakes, making him the quiet engine of the novel's romantic conflicts.

## Relationships

### [Lady Lavinia Carstares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/lady_lavinia_carstares)

_social_

The Duke of Andover is a high-society acquaintance of Lady Lavinia, interacting in social circles.

### [Tracy Belmanoir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/tracy_belmanoir)

_social_

The Duke and Tracy move in the same aristocratic circles, with a veneer of polite acquaintance.

### [Tracy Belmanoir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/tracy_belmanoir)

_social_

The Duke and Tracy move in the same aristocratic circles, with a veneer of polite acquaintance.

### [Lady Lavinia Carstares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/lady_lavinia_carstares)

_social_

The Duke of Andover is a high-society acquaintance of Lady Lavinia, interacting in social circles.

### [Tracy Belmanoir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/tracy_belmanoir)

_social_

The Duke and Tracy move in the same aristocratic circles, with a veneer of polite acquaintance.

### [Lady Lavinia Carstares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/lady_lavinia_carstares)

_social_

The Duke of Andover is a high-society acquaintance of Lady Lavinia, interacting in social circles.

## In the story

### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/prologue)

Writes a sardonic letter to Frank Fortescue, recounting an affair and warning him against further duels.

### [V: His Grace of Andover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/v-his-grace-of-andover)

Visits Lavinia to request money; discusses the changed will and his own financial troubles; invites Lavinia to Andover.

### [VII: Introducing Sundry New Characters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/vii-introducing-sundry-new-characters)

Enters the Pump Room as a black moth among butterflies, drawing Diana's attention.

### [XI: My Lord Turns Rescuer and Comes Nigh Ending His Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xi-my-lord-turns-rescuer-and-comes-nigh-ending-his-life)

Masterminds the abduction, duels Jack, and is disarmed and forced to retreat.

### [My Lord Dictates a Letter and Receives a Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xii-my-lord-dictates-a-letter-and-receives-a-visitor)

Referred to as Belmanoir; identified as the man Jack fought during the abduction attempt on Diana.

### [His Grace of Andover Takes a Hand in the Game](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xx-his-grace-of-andover-takes-a-hand-in-the-game)

Confronts Lavinia about her relationship with Lovelace and later hires Harper to spy on the Beauleigh family.

### [XXII: Developments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxii-developments)

Meets Lavinia at Ranelagh Gardens and notices her unhappy expression, but dismisses it as a trivial matter.

### [Lady Lavinia Goes to the Play](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxiii-lady-lavinia-goes-to-the-play)

Confronts Richard about the elopement and resolves to act, criticizing Richard's passivity.

### [Richard Plays the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxiv-richard-plays-the-man)

Visits Richard to inform him of Lovelace's arranged departure and expresses relief at the reconciliation.

### [His Grace of Andover Captures the Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxv-his-grace-of-andover-captures-the-queen)

Abducts Diana, revealing himself as Mr. Everard; admires her spirit but intends to force a marriage.

### [My Lord Enters by the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxvii-my-lord-enters-by-the-window)

Pressures Diana to marry him and fights a duel with Jack Carstares.

### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/epilogue)

Sits in Venice reading his sister's letter, reflects on his past actions toward Diana, and resolves to return to England to bow to her as Countess of Wyncham.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters/duke_of_andover
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/characters