# Lady Mabel Grex — The Duke’s Children character guide > Lady Mabel Grex in The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lady Mab, Lady Grex, Mabel, Mab **First appearance:** 0003-iv-park-lane ## Snapshot Clever, beautiful, and poor, she must marry well — and the man who loves her is the one she cannot afford to accept. ## Who they are Lady Mabel Grex is the daughter of a ruined earl, raised to shine in society and now forced to calculate where her beauty can be sold. She loves Frank Tregear, who cannot support her, and is courted by Lord Silverbridge, whose rank could save her — yet she will not be won by a man who assumes his superiority. Proud, self-aware, and painfully honest with herself, she becomes the novel's sharpest study of what a woman without money must do with her heart. ## Relationships ### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge) _romantic_ Lady Mabel is deeply in love with Silverbridge but he does not return her feelings, leading to unrequited romantic tension and heartbreak. ### [The Duke of Omnium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/the_duke_of_omnium) _social_ Lady Mabel is a frequent social visitor and confidante to the Duke, who respects her but remains formal and distant. ### [Frank Tregear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/frank_tregear) _romantic_ Frank Tregear was once engaged to Lady Mabel, but she broke it off due to his lack of fortune, leaving lingering bitterness and regret. ### [Miss Cassewary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/miss_cassewary) _social_ Miss Cassewary serves as Lady Mabel's elderly companion and confidante, sharing her secrets and frustrations. ### [Mrs. Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/mrs_finn) _friendship_ Lady Mabel and Mrs. Finn share a cordial friendship, with Mrs. Finn acting as a sympathetic ear for Mabel's romantic troubles. ### [Mr. Du Boung](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/mr_du_boung) _social_ Mr. Du Boung is a wealthy suitor pursued by Lady Mabel for financial security, though she feels no love for him. ### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge) _romantic_ Lady Mabel is deeply in love with Silverbridge but he does not return her feelings, leading to unrequited romantic tension and heartbreak. ### [The Duke of Omnium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/the_duke_of_omnium) _social_ Lady Mabel is a frequent social visitor and confidante to the Duke, who respects her but remains formal and distant. ### [Lord Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lord_silverbridge) _romantic_ Lady Mabel is deeply in love with Silverbridge but he does not return her feelings, leading to unrequited romantic tension and heartbreak. ### [Frank Tregear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/frank_tregear) _romantic_ Frank Tregear was once engaged to Lady Mabel, but she broke it off due to his lack of fortune, leaving lingering bitterness and regret. ### [The Duke of Omnium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/the_duke_of_omnium) _social_ Lady Mabel is a frequent social visitor and confidante to the Duke, who respects her but remains formal and distant. ### [Frank Tregear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/frank_tregear) _romantic_ Frank Tregear was once engaged to Lady Mabel, but she broke it off due to his lack of fortune, leaving lingering bitterness and regret. ## In the story ### [IX: “In Medias Res”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/ix-in-medias-res) Teases Silverbridge about Tregear and politics; invites him and Tregear to dinner. ### [Why Not Like Romeo if I Feel Like Romeo?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/x-why-not-like-romeo-if-i-feel-like-romeo) Insists on meeting Tregear alone; discusses his love for Lady Mary and her own feelings; reflects on her love for Tregear and her difficult future. ### [Poor Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xvi-poor-boy) Encourages Silverbridge in his political career, gently rebuffs his hand-holding, and privately reflects on her feelings for him, calling him 'poor boy'. ### [No; My Lord, I Do Not](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xix-no-my-lord-i-do-not) Receives Silverbridge, discusses his family troubles, and firmly refuses his offer of marriage, though she teases him. ### [Then He Will Come Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xx-then-he-will-come-again) Returns home with her father after a difficult dinner; learns of Tregear's gambling; confides in Miss Cassewary about Silverbridge's proposal and her decision to spare him. ### [Frank Tregear Wants a Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxiii-frank-tregear-wants-a-friend) Mentioned as a former love of Tregear; he feels he cannot confide in her without causing pain. ### [Mrs. Montacute Jones's Garden-Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxviii-mrs-montacute-jones-s-garden-party) Mentioned as having behaved badly toward Silverbridge; he reflects on her coldness and possible jealousy. ### [The Lovers Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxix-the-lovers-meet) Hosts the visit, defends Lady Mary's actions, and reflects on her own past love for Tregear. ### [What Came of the Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxx-what-came-of-the-meeting) Mentioned as the woman Silverbridge has committed to proposing to, though he is also attracted to Isabel Boncassen. ### [Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 1](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxi-miss-boncassen-s-river-party-no-1) Teases Silverbridge about his interest in Isabel Boncassen, expresses mixed feelings about his potential marriage to an American. ### [Lord Popplecourt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxiv-lord-popplecourt) Invited at the Duke's special request, causing speculation about a possible match with Silverbridge. ### [Don’t You Think—?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxv-don-t-you-think) Attends the party, discusses Frank Tregear's situation with Silverbridge, and jokingly asks for his ring. ### [Grex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxvii-grex) Confronts Frank Tregear about his visit, expresses her lingering love and bitterness, and later reflects alone by the lake on her unhappy fate. ### [Killancodlem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxix-killancodlem) Struggles with jealousy and self-reproach as she observes Silverbridge's interest in Isabel; returns the ring and mentions Tregear's visit, undermining her own plans. ### [XL: “And Then!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xl-and-then) Walks with Silverbridge to the waterfall, returns the ring he gave her, and advises him to give it only to his future wife. ### [Again at Killancodlem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlii-again-at-killancodlem) Writes to Silverbridge inviting him to Killancodlem, torn between her desire for him and her pride; she later engages him in conversation by the stream. ### [There Shall Not Be Another Word About It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlv-there-shall-not-be-another-word-about-it) Referenced as the intended match for Silverbridge; the Duke is eager for the marriage to proceed. ### [L: The Duke’s Arguments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/l-the-duke-s-arguments) Mentioned as a potential guest at Matching; the Duke wonders if Silverbridge is fond of her. ### [The Duke's Guests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/li-the-duke-s-guests) Accepts the invitation to Matching, surprising Mary who thought she might avoid meeting Isabel. ### [Miss Boncassen Tells the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lii-miss-boncassen-tells-the-truth) Converses with Silverbridge at dinner, expressing her misery and hinting at her family's financial troubles. ### [LIII: “Then I Am as Proud as a Queen”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/liii-then-i-am-as-proud-as-a-queen) Observes Silverbridge and Isabel, teases Silverbridge, and feels rivalry with Isabel. ### [I Don't Think She Is a Snake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/liv-i-don-t-think-she-is-a-snake) Remains at Matching after the Boncassens leave; schemes to win Silverbridge despite knowing he loves Isabel; reflects on her past mistakes and her ambition for rank and wealth. ### [The News Is Sent to Matching](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lvi-the-news-is-sent-to-matching) Receives Tregear's letter; struggles with her loyalty to Tregear and her desire to ingratiate herself with the Duke; shows the letter to the Duke. ### [LVIII: The Major Is Deposed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lviii-the-major-is-deposed) Mentioned as still being at Matching; Tregear suggests she is waiting for Silverbridge. ### [No One Can Tell What May Come to Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lix-no-one-can-tell-what-may-come-to-pass) Prolongs her visit at Matching, scheming to win Silverbridge back; takes a walk with him, discussing Tregear and Tifto, while concealing her true intentions. ### [Lord Gerald in Further Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lx-lord-gerald-in-further-trouble) Departs from Matching with a composed demeanor, having previously confronted Silverbridge about his treatment of her. ### [LXI: “Bone of My Bone”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxi-bone-of-my-bone) Mentioned as having just left the Duke's house; Silverbridge reveals that she disapproves of his marriage to an American girl without family. ### [Brook Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxviii-brook-street) Silverbridge compares her unfavorably to Isabel, seeing her as a 'manufactured article' lacking natural bloom. ### [LXXIII: “I Have Never Loved You”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxiii-i-have-never-loved-you) Confronts Silverbridge, confesses she never loved him but had hoped to marry him for status; reveals her enduring love for Frank Tregear. ### [Mabel, Goodbye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxvii-mabel-goodbye) Reveals her unrequited love for Frank, her failed scheme with Silverbridge, and her financial ruin; she is bitter, honest, and heartbroken. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lady_mabel_grex - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters