# Leonard Frankland — The Dead Secret character guide > Leonard Frankland in The Dead Secret by Wilkie Collins. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lenny, young Frankland, Poor young Frankland **First appearance:** 0005-i-fifteen-years-after ## Snapshot Rosamond's blind husband, gentle and trusting, who hears the Myrtle Room warning and chooses to take his wife's fears seriously. ## Who they are Leonard Frankland cannot see Porthgenna Tower, but he can hear the urgency in Rosamond's voice when she repeats the nurse's whispered words, and he does not dismiss them as a dream. His blindness makes him dependent on others' descriptions of the house, which sharpens the mystery rather than softening it. He is the steady, affectionate counterweight to Rosamond's restless need to know. ## Relationships ### [Rosamond Frankland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/rosamond_frankland) _family_ Husband and wife, deeply devoted to each other despite the secrets surrounding Rosamond's birth. ### [Mrs. Jazeph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/mrs_jazeph) _social_ Leonard interacts with Mrs. Jazeph as a household visitor, unaware of her true identity as his wife's mother. ### [Rosamond Frankland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/rosamond_frankland) _family_ Husband and wife, deeply devoted to each other despite the secrets surrounding Rosamond's birth. ### [Rosamond Frankland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/rosamond_frankland) _family_ Husband and wife, deeply devoted to each other despite the secrets surrounding Rosamond's birth. ### [Mrs. Jazeph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/mrs_jazeph) _social_ Leonard interacts with Mrs. Jazeph as a household visitor, unaware of her true identity as his wife's mother. ### [Mrs. Jazeph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/mrs_jazeph) _social_ Leonard interacts with Mrs. Jazeph as a household visitor, unaware of her true identity as his wife's mother. ## In the story ### [I: Fifteen Years After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/i-fifteen-years-after) Now blind due to overwork at watch-making and subsequent illness; described as quiet, sedate, and amiable. ### [III: The Bride and Bridegroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iii-the-bride-and-bridegroom) The blind bridegroom, who discusses the family secret with Rosamond and recalls her appearance from memory. ### [Book III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/book-iii) Rosamond's husband, who is concerned about Mrs. Jazeph's influence and behavior. ### [II: Will They Come?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/ii-will-they-come) Mr. Frankland, who suggests returning to Long Beckley but defers to his wife's wishes. ### [III: Mrs. Jazeph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iii-mrs-jazeph) Rosamond's blind husband; present at the Tiger's Head and involved in decisions about the nurse. ### [IV: The New Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iv-the-new-nurse) Rosamond's husband; supports her after the fright and arranges for Mrs. Jazeph to be sent away. ### [V: A Council of Three](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/v-a-council-of-three) Supports his wife, questions the nurse's identity, and agrees to journey to Porthgenna to discover the truth about the Myrtle Room. ### [VI: Another Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/vi-another-surprise) Mentioned as having sent Mrs. Jazeph away from his wife. ### [Book IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/book-iv) Accompanies Rosamond to Porthgenna, involved in the discovery of secrets. ### [Book V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/book-v) Accompanies Rosamond to Porthgenna Tower, participates in uncovering the hidden letter. ### [I: An Old Friend and a New Scheme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/i-an-old-friend-and-a-new-scheme) Amazed and perplexed by the letter; suggests sending a trusted servant to Porthgenna to investigate. ### [III: Approaching the Precipice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iii-approaching-the-precipice) Agrees to Rosamond's domestic plans, suggests patience, and guesses that Mrs. Jazeph is the vanished servant. ### [IV: Standing on the Brink](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iv-standing-on-the-brink) Reluctantly agrees to purchase the plan under the condition that it be returned to Treverton with a full acknowledgment. ### [V: The Myrtle Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/v-the-myrtle-room) Blind and dependent on Rosamond's descriptions; expresses unease and anxiety about the room, and receives the folded letter from his wife. ### [VI: The Telling of the Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/vi-the-telling-of-the-secret) Leonard is the recipient of the secret. He is initially perplexed and surprised, but eventually offers a hopeful response to Rosamond's plea for acceptance. ### [Book VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/book-vi) Accompanies Rosamond to Porthgenna, showing concern about the past and the mysteries surrounding the tower. ### [I: Uncle Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/i-uncle-joseph) Listens to Rosamond's reading of the letter and confirms that Mrs. Jazeph, Sarah Leeson, and the servant who fled are the same person. He interjects to prevent Rosamond from revealing too much to Uncle Joseph. ### [Waiting and Hoping](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/ii-waiting-and-hoping) Cautious and thoughtful, advising careful disclosure to avoid shocking Sarah; supports Rosamond's plans. ### [III: The Story of the Past](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iii-the-story-of-the-past) Present during the narration, comments on the nature of strong attachments between unlike people. ### [IV: The Close of Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/iv-the-close-of-day) Arranges for Mr. Nixon to visit and settle the restoration of the purchase-money of Porthgenna Tower. ### [V: Forty Thousand Pounds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/v-forty-thousand-pounds) Supports Rosamond and discusses future plans after the inheritance. ### [VI: The Dawn of a New Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/chapters/vi-the-dawn-of-a-new-life) Supports Rosamond's decision about the inscription, reflects on the lesson of Love and Truth, and enjoys the calm summer day. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters/leonard_frankland - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_secret_se/characters