# Lord Lindores — The Ladies Lindores character guide > Lord Lindores in The Ladies Lindores by Margaret Oliphant. **Role:** major **Also known as:** The Lindores, old Lindores **First appearance:** 0001-the-ladies-lindores ## Snapshot The Earl of Lindores, a father who treats his daughters' marriages as instruments of family ambition and expects obedience without explanation. ## Who they are Lord Lindores manages his household the way he manages the county — with authority, calculation, and an unshakeable conviction that his judgment is correct. His insistence on the Tinto marriage and his pressure on Edith to accept Millefleurs reveal a man for whom family importance outweighs personal happiness. He matters because his ambitions are the engine driving the sacrifices his wife and daughters must either submit to or resist. ## In the story ### [The Ladies Lindores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/the-ladies-lindores) Shown as a figure of authority and ambition, influencing the lives of the women in his family. ### [The New Estate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/iv) The new Earl, he quickly assumes control, dismissing old servants, arranging new ones, and showing a changed, more authoritative demeanor, especially toward Caroline. ### [Mr. Torrance of Tinto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/v) The Earl, ambitious and politically minded, cultivates Mr. Torrance's acquaintance, possibly for electoral influence, causing unease in his family. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/vi) Determined to force the marriage for family advancement, he becomes increasingly authoritarian and dismissive of his wife and daughter's feelings. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/vii) Visits John to flatter him and secure his support for Rintoul's candidacy; reveals his political pragmatism and willingness to use John. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/viii) Criticized by Miss Barbara as a maneuvering father who would sacrifice his child for gain. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/x) Lord Lindores is present at the dinner, participating in the conversation and later putting aside contradictions. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as the father who insisted on Caroline's marriage, though not a tyrant; his ambition is implied as a cause. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xii) Reveals his ambition to transform the Scotch earldom into a British peerage, driving his political plans and insistence on Carry's marriage. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xiii) Mentioned as having undergone a transformation from dilettante to ambitious earl, serving as a parallel to Rintoul's own change. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xiv) At the dinner table, throwing a threatening look across the table, complicit in inviting Beaufort for strategic reasons. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xv) Lord Lindores sees Millefleurs as a desirable match for Edith, valuing his political connections and family status. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xix) Present in the carriage during the reunion, though he does not participate much in the family talk; his ambition and vindictiveness toward Caroline are implied. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xx) Enlists John Erskine's help for the county meeting at Dunearn, hoping to use his speaking abilities to support Rintoul. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxii) Attends the ball to support his political plans, unaware of the romantic tension under his eye. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxiv) Proudly informs his wife of Millefleurs's proposal, dismissing her distress as unnecessary fluster. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxvii) Debates the wisdom of speaking to Edith first; feels frustrated by his children's resistance but remains outwardly urbane; privately envisions an English peerage through the match. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxviii) Lord Lindores manages the situation with a mix of concern and political calculation, questioning Millefleurs and dismissing Rintoul's behavior. ### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxix) Mentioned as having ambition awakened; not directly present but referenced in the context of family history. ### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxxiv) Hesitates to intervene on Erskine's behalf, arguing for caution and common sense, which frustrates the women. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxxvi) Attempts to control Caroline after the funeral, praising Torrance's will and expecting gratitude, but is confronted by Caroline's rebellion and the united front of his family. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xxxvii) Pressures Rintoul to marry Lady Reseda, dismisses Rintoul's distress as melodrama, and coldly calculates John Erskine's political uselessness. ### [Chapter XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xl) Anxious for the match, but Millefleurs resents his interference. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xli) Caroline's father; his house is the former home she drives away from. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xlii) Angry and humiliated by Millefleurs's failed proposal; attends the examination with sullen friendliness toward John. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xliv) Irritated by Millefleurs's departure and pressures Rintoul to pursue Lady Reseda for political advantage. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xlvi) Exploits Tinto's influence for political gain, alarmed by Beaufort's presence, and blames his wife for Caroline's behavior. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xlvii) Receives Miss Barbara's proposal with politeness but internal anger; later confronts Rintoul over his marriage plans and is subdued by his son's calm defiance. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xlviii) Struggles to maintain authority over his daughters; is forced to yield to Edith's will and is shocked by Caroline's fierce resistance. ### [Chapter XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/chapters/xlix) Shows public sympathy to Rolls, unlike his son Rintoul. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/characters/lord_lindores - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ladies_lindores_se/characters