# Lord Ellingham — The Middle of Things character guide

> Lord Ellingham in The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lord Marketstoke, Earl of Ellingham, the old Earl

**First appearance:** 0000-i-faced-with-reality

## Snapshot

The harsh seventh Earl of Ellingham, whose tyrannical temper drove his elder son Lord Marketstoke to vanish without a trace thirty-five years ago.

## Who they are

The old Earl ruled his Marketstoke tenants with an overbearing hand and quarreled bitterly with his heir, Lord Marketstoke, until the younger man walked out one night and was never heard from again. He died without a will, leaving the family title and estates in legal limbo and the disappearance an open wound. His cruelty and the silence he maintained about his lost son are the buried foundation on which the mystery of John Ashton's identity quietly rests.

## In the story

### [IX: Looking Backward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ix-looking-backward)

The seventh Earl of Ellingham, described as overbearing and harsh; his elder son Lord Marketstoke disappeared after a quarrel.

### [The Present Holder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xv-the-present-holder)

Receives Viner and Pawle, reveals he has just had surprising news from two visitors, and arranges a meeting at his solicitors' office.

### [XVII: The Claimant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvii-the-claimant)

Present at the meeting, having already heard the claimant's story from Methley and Woodlesford.

### [XVIII: Let Him Appear!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xviii-let-him-appear)

Present as an observer during the solicitor meeting; his interests are at stake in the inheritance dispute.

### [XIX: Under Examination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xix-under-examination)

Accepts the possibility of Avice being his cousin and escorts her out after the interview.

### [XXIII: Is This Man Right?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiii-is-this-man-right)

Present in court, shown the letter from the witness.

### [XXIV: The Broken Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiv-the-broken-letter)

Present at the conference, though his role is largely observational.

### [XXVI: The Dismal Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxvi-the-dismal-street)

Accompanies Mr. Carless to the dismal street with plainclothes men.

### [XXIX: Who Is to Tell Her?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxix-who-is-to-tell-her)

Accepts that the title may belong to Avice, claims the right to inform her, and emerges from the meeting holding her hand.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/lord_ellingham
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters