# Lady Mary Palliser — The Duke’s Children character guide > Lady Mary Palliser in The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lady Mary, Mary, Mary Palliser **First appearance:** 0001-ii-lady-mary-palliser ## Snapshot The Duke's daughter, quietly steadfast in a love her father has forbidden and she refuses to surrender. ## Who they are Lady Mary Palliser has given her heart to Frank Tregear, a man with no fortune, and told her father so rather than deceive him. Forbidden to see or write her lover, she clings to her vow that nothing but death or falseness will divide them, while trusting that she will ultimately prevail. Her open, unashamed devotion — and her friendship with Isabel Boncassen — makes her the moral counterweight to the marriage-market calculations around her. ## In the story ### [When the Duchess Was Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/i-when-the-duchess-was-dead) The Duke's only daughter, now motherless; her care and need for a companion are a central concern. ### [Lady Mary Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/ii-lady-mary-palliser) Reveals her secret engagement to Frank Tregear to Mrs. Finn, insisting on keeping it from her father. ### [Francis Oliphant Tregear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/iii-francis-oliphant-tregear) The Duke's daughter, secretly engaged to Tregear, though she does not appear directly in this chapter. ### [Park Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/iv-park-lane) Subject of the discussion; her engagement to Tregear is kept from the Duke. ### [It Is Impossible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/v-it-is-impossible) Though not directly present in the main interview, she is the subject of the dispute; later she speaks with her father, who remains unaware of her true feelings. ### [Conservative Convictions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/vii-conservative-convictions) Her secret attachment to Frank Tregear is revealed to the Duke, causing him great distress. ### [He Is a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/viii-he-is-a-gentleman) Defends her love for Tregear against her father's objections, refuses to promise not to write, shows courage and obstinacy. ### [Cruel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xi-cruel) Resolves to obey her father but remains determined to marry Tregear; feels the burden of secrecy lifted; is informed of the plan to stay with Lady Cantrip. ### [At Richmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xii-at-richmond) Stays at The Horns under Lady Cantrip's care; receives Mrs. Finn's visit and decides to write to her father about the misunderstanding. ### [The Duke's Injustice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xiii-the-duke-s-injustice) Attempts to intercede with her father on Mrs. Finn's behalf but fails; writes a painful letter to Mrs. Finn expressing regret and reaffirming her love for Tregear. ### [The Duke Receives a Letter—and Writes One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xv-the-duke-receives-a-letter-and-writes-one) Referenced in Mrs. Finn's letter as the one who confided her engagement to Mrs. Finn. ### [No; My Lord, I Do Not](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xix-no-my-lord-i-do-not) Mentioned as Silverbridge's sister who is firm in her attachment to Tregear. ### [The Duke in His Study](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxii-the-duke-in-his-study) Her engagement to Frank Tregear is the source of the Duke's distress and his conflict with Mrs. Finn. ### [Frank Tregear Wants a Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxiii-frank-tregear-wants-a-friend) The object of Tregear's love; he has not seen or heard from her since the Duke's refusal. ### [She Must Be Made to Obey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxiv-she-must-be-made-to-obey) Defiantly continues correspondence with Tregear, asserting her right to choose her husband and to inherit money from her father. ### [The Lovers Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxix-the-lovers-meet) Visits Lady Mabel, meets her lover Tregear unexpectedly, and boldly embraces him, asserting her love despite social constraints. ### [What Came of the Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxx-what-came-of-the-meeting) Defends her embrace of Tregear to Silverbridge, insists on telling her father everything, and confides in Lady Cantrip. ### [Lord Popplecourt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxiv-lord-popplecourt) The Duke's daughter, object of the marriage scheme; she expresses disinterest in Lord Popplecourt. ### [Don’t You Think—?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xxxv-don-t-you-think) Sits near Lord Popplecourt as part of a planned match; defends Silverbridge's cab-driving story. ### [Ischl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xli-ischl) Ill and unhappy, she is steadfast in her affection for Tregear, causing her father great concern. ### [Lady Mary's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvi-lady-mary-s-dream) Brought to Custins for courtship with Popplecourt, she is disgusted by his advances, turns to Mr. Boncassen for conversation, and defends Tregear when Popplecourt insults him. ### [Miss Boncassen's Idea of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlvii-miss-boncassen-s-idea-of-heaven) Becomes intimate with Isabel and is astonished to learn of Silverbridge's proposal. ### [The Party at Custins Is Broken Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/xlviii-the-party-at-custins-is-broken-up) Summoned by Lady Cantrip to meet Lord Popplecourt as a suitor; vehemently refuses, declaring her love for Tregear and her contempt for Popplecourt. ### [L: The Duke’s Arguments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/l-the-duke-s-arguments) Travels with her father to Matching; feels the complication of the proposed guests (Lady Mabel and the Boncassens) and longs for Tregear. ### [The Duke's Guests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/li-the-duke-s-guests) Manages invitations, worries about the meeting of Silverbridge, Isabel, and Lady Mabel, and tries to deter her brother from coming. ### [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) Pines for Tregear, feeling isolated and considering confronting her father about her love. ### [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) Connects Silverbridge's trip to Cornwall with Frank Tregear but remains silent. ### [The News Is Sent to Matching](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lvi-the-news-is-sent-to-matching) Referenced as the object of Tregear's love; the Duke wishes to keep her from receiving messages from Tregear. ### [LXIII: “I’ve Seen ’Em Like That Before”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxiii-i-ve-seen-em-like-that-before) Silverbridge writes to her about Tregear's accident. ### [I Believe Him to Be a Worthy Young Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxiv-i-believe-him-to-be-a-worthy-young-man) Openly discusses her love for Tregear with Mrs. Finn, becomes distraught upon learning of his accident, sends a telegram, and confronts her father about his stance. ### [Do You Ever Think What Money Is?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxv-do-you-ever-think-what-money-is) Mentioned in the Duke's thoughts regarding her attachment to Tregear. ### [The Three Attacks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxvi-the-three-attacks) Though not directly present, Mary's suffering and devotion to Tregear are the central subjects of the chapter's conflicts. ### [Let Us Drink a Glass of Wine Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxiv-let-us-drink-a-glass-of-wine-together) Quietly happy but reserved, she shows her joy by pressing her lover's arm after the Duke's toast. ### [The First Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxix-the-first-wedding) Reunites with Tregear at Matching, expresses her steadfast love and the difficulties of the past year. ### [The Second Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxxx-the-second-wedding) Marries Frank Tregear in a modest ceremony at Matching, determined to avoid the grandeur of her brother's wedding. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters/lady_mary_palliser - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/characters