# Richard Carstares — The Black Moth character guide

> Richard Carstares in The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Richard, Richard, Master Richard, the Hon . Richard, the Hon . Richard Carstares Wyncham, Wyncham, Brother Richard

**First appearance:** 0003-iii-introducing-the-hon-richard-carstares

## Snapshot

The honorable elder brother who wears respectability like a costume, juggling a vain wife, a disgraced sibling, and a secret that could shatter the family name.

## Who they are

Richard Carstares moves through London's fashionable world as a man of rank and duty, husband to the dazzling Lady Lavinia and brother to the absent Jack. His marriage is a battlefield of flirtation and jealousy, and his longing to see Jack again wars with dread of the scorn he fears in his brother's eyes. He matters because his tangled loyalties, to wife, brother, and honor, set the emotional engine of the novel's middle chapters in motion.

## In the story

### [I: At the Chequers Inn, Fallowfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/i-at-the-chequers-inn-fallowfield)

Jack's younger brother, who married Lady Lavinia after Jack's disgrace. He is described as silent and unhappy, and was waylaid by Jack as a highwayman two months ago.

### [III: Introducing the Hon. Richard Carstares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/iii-introducing-the-hon-richard-carstares)

Confesses his guilt in the card-cheating scandal, describing his desperation and the influence of Tracy Belmanoir.

### [IV: Introducing the Lady Lavinia Carstares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/iv-introducing-the-lady-lavinia-carstares)

Struggles with guilt over his past cheating and his wife's demands; tries to manage Lavinia's volatile temper and Andrew's debts.

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

Lavinia's husband; has changed his father's will to leave the estate to John; reluctantly denies Lavinia's request to visit Andover due to mourning.

### [Bath: 29 Queen Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/vi-bath-29-queen-square)

Struggles with Lavinia's extravagance and jealousy of Tracy's influence; reluctantly moves the family to Bath.

### [X: Lady O’Hara Retires](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/x-lady-o-hara-retires)

Discussed as aged and unhappy; married to Lavinia; refuses to touch Jack's money; has a son named John.

### [O'Hara's Mind Is Made Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xv-o-hara-s-mind-is-made-up)

Discussed as a changed man managing Jack's estates, paying the Belmanoirs' debts, and no longer gambling.

### [XVII: Lady O’Hara Wins Her Point](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xvii-lady-o-hara-wins-her-point)

Mentioned as someone O'Hara might speak to about Jack's situation, but is bound to secrecy.

### [XVIII: Enter Captain Harold Lovelace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xviii-enter-captain-harold-lovelace)

Accompanies Lavinia to London, endures the journey with patience, feels uneasy about her attention to Lovelace, but tries to appear agreeable.

### [XIX: The Reappearance of His Grace of Andover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xix-the-reappearance-of-his-grace-of-andover)

Jealous and frustrated by Lovelace's constant presence, he confronts Lavinia and later snubs her at the rout.

### [XXI: Mrs. Fanshawe Lights a Fire and O’Hara Fans the Flame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxi-mrs-fanshawe-lights-a-fire-and-o-hara-fans-the-flame)

Visits Mrs. Fanshawe to learn about his brother Jack; tormented by guilt and indecision between loyalty to John and love for Lavinia; later snubbed by O'Hara at the club.

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

Tormented by the secret of John and Lavinia, unable to rest, and showing signs of mental illness. He seeks news of John from Mrs. Fanshawe, oblivious to Lavinia's attempts to win him back.

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

Sits wretchedly in the box, aware of the impending elopement but refuses to stand in the way of what he believes is Lavinia's happiness.

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

Resolves to keep Lavinia, confesses his love, and learns of Jack's disappearance; prepares to return to Wyncham.

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

Interrupts the duel, disarms Jack, and prevents further bloodshed.

### [XXVIII: In Which What Threatened to Be Tragedy Turns to Comedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_moth_se/chapters/xxviii-in-which-what-threatened-to-be-tragedy-turns-to-comedy)

Helps tend Jack's wound, reveals Jack's identity to Diana, reconciles with Jack.

## Links

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