The Line of Love · Character
Cynthia Allonby
Cynthia Allonby keeps the famous Earl of Pevensey dancing attendance for a fortnight, weighing his gilded cups against the price of being a costly luxury.
supporting
Also known as Allonby, Cynthia
First appearance: i the episode called the wedding jest
As a supporting figure in The Line of Love, Cynthia Allonby is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Cynthia is courted by Pevensey but feels undervalued; she tests Marlowe's love by burning his poem.
Daughter to the Marquis of Falmouth and kinswoman to Pevensey, she watches her suitor defy Elizabeth Tudor's orders to linger in plague-ridden London, flattered and a little frightened by such gay self-confidence. She sees clearly that he would keep her as he keeps his lovely cups, for hours of leisure, and she says so aloud. Her refusal to give an honest yes or no stalls a Queen's business and a great man's career, making her cool appraisal the quiet engine of the episode's suspense.
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Character Web
14 connectionsA slice of how Cynthia Allonby sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Romantic
- Other
Character groups
- Comic and Minor Characters
- Romantic and Courtly Figures
- Protagonist
- Broad Ensemble and References
+9 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The climax occurs in the revelation of the Arnaye family’s hidden history—Noël’s illegitimate children and Ray…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Earl of Pevensey
romantic · ambivalent
A flirtatious and calculating courtship, with Cynthia toying with the Earl's affections… How this plays out →
- Earl of Pevensey
romantic · ambivalent
A flirtatious and calculating courtship, with Cynthia toying with the Earl's affections… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Cynthia Allonby in i the episode called the wedding jestIn the story
Cynthia Allonby appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Cynthia Allonby unlock in the free preview.
See Cynthia Allonby in i the episode called the wedding jest