# Janet Roylance — The Courts of the Morning character guide > Janet Roylance in The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Janet, Lady Roylance, Lady A. Roylance **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot Archie's quick-eyed wife, sketching watercolours in Olifa while quietly reading the men around her, she is no tourist but a watcher with a stake in the coming storm. ## Who they are Janet moves through the Olifa crisis as wife, confidante, and interrogator, the one who asks the awkward question Sandy's second-reading speeches must answer. Her nerve is real but untested in the way Sandy means: she has never met a fear that hollows the blood and still held her face to it. When Janet herself vanishes, her absence becomes the hinge on which the early plot turns, pulling Archie, Barbara, and Sandy toward the Courts of the Morning. ## Relationships ### [Archie Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/archie_roylance) _family_ Husband and wife, deeply devoted and supportive partners in adventure and danger. ### [Sandy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot) _friendship_ Close friends and trusted allies, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared missions. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _rivalry_ Enemies, with Castor viewing Janet as a threat and target in his schemes. ### [Luis de Marzaniga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/luis_de_marzaniga) _friendship_ Allies and friends, with Luis acting as a loyal supporter and fellow conspirator. ### [Barbara Dasent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/barbara_dasent) _friendship_ Friends and confidantes, with Barbara finding support and understanding from Janet. ### [Sandy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot) _friendship_ Close friends and trusted allies, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared missions. ### [Sandy Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot) _friendship_ Close friends and trusted allies, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared missions. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _rivalry_ Enemies, with Castor viewing Janet as a threat and target in his schemes. ### [Archie Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/archie_roylance) _family_ Husband and wife, deeply devoted and supportive partners in adventure and danger. ### [Archie Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/archie_roylance) _family_ Husband and wife, deeply devoted and supportive partners in adventure and danger. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _rivalry_ Enemies, with Castor viewing Janet as a threat and target in his schemes. ### [Barbara Dasent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/barbara_dasent) _friendship_ Friends and confidantes, with Barbara finding support and understanding from Janet. ## In the story ### [The Courts of the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/the-courts-of-the-morning) Archie's wife, accompanies him on the journey to Olifa. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Archie's wife, lively and observant, she tries to keep conversation flowing and mentions meeting Blenkiron's niece, Barbara Dasent. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iii) Janet is mentioned as being unable to provide information about Sandy's niece. She and Archie are about to leave for their honeymoon in South America. ### [Book I: The Gran Seco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/book-i-the-gran-seco) Archie's wife; a resourceful woman who is captured by D'Ingraville and later escapes. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/i) Studying the diners and expressing a desire to go into the mountains. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iii) Dines with the party; dances at the club; suddenly recognizes a tall girl from the Corinna. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Accompanies Archie in Olifa, enjoys the social scene, and is unaware of the dangers Don Luis hints at. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/v) Giggles at the formal dress at the luncheon, sits beside the President, converses with Castor about Ossian and Proust, senses cruelty in him. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vi) Travels with Archie to the Gran Seco, recognizes the tall girl among the Moplahs, and participates in the tour and lunch. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Present during Sandy's explanation; laughs at the audacity of the plan to use Castor. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xi) Accompanies Archie to see the Gobernador and extends the dinner invitation. ### [Book II: The Courts of the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/book-ii-the-courts-of-the-morning) Arrives in Olifa with Archie, is captured by D'Ingraville, and later escapes captivity to join the rebel forces at Charcillo. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Talks with Sandy about Castor's detachment and her own feelings toward him. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Anxious and watchful, she assists Barbara with hospital stores and keeps Castor company. She spots the enemy monoplane first. ### [The Shattered Sanctuary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vi) Falls prey to perpetual apprehension after the secret of the plateau is revealed; practices pistol shooting with Grayne to regain a sense of control. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vii) Janet is restless and anxious, tries to distract herself with Wordsworth, then is captured from her hut by raiders. She is taken by launch and transferred to a seaplane, where she resolves to keep her head and play the game for her side. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Archie's anxiety about her drives his reckless flight into the Poison Country. ### [The Poison Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/x) Her handkerchief is found by Archie, indicating she was recently at the ruined keep. ### [The Thrones of the Kings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xiii) Captive in the Conquistador camp, she learns of her strategic importance and plans her escape with Luis's help. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xiv) Janet's mood shifts from grief to confidence as she observes her captors' restlessness and plans her escape. ### [Book III: Olifa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/book-iii-olifa) Arrives in Olifa with Archie, interacts with local society. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Engages in deep conversation about Olifa's soul and pride; observes Sandy's unease and Castor's transformation. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iii) Janet listens to Sandy's worries and tries to comfort him. She stands with Barbara to watch Sandy's Indian troops parade. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Experiences relief and a shift in mood, feeling lighthearted. She observes Castor's transformation and later witnesses the violent intrusion. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/epilogue) Janet joins Sandy on the plateau and perceptively guesses that his longing for home is tied to his love for Barbara Dasent. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters