# Miss Wickham — The Middle of Things character guide > Miss Wickham in The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Wickham, Avice Wickham, Avice, Miss Avice Wickham **First appearance:** 0000-i-faced-with-reality ## Snapshot A young woman raised under Ashton's quiet guardianship, whose ordinary account of his habits hides the extraordinary question of who she really is. ## Who they are Avice Wickham answers questions about her guardian's routines with plain, unguarded candor — his morning absences, his solitary evenings, his kindness and reserve. She seems to have no idea that her own name may be the key to the whole affair, or that the lawyers across the room are quietly calculating whether she is an heiress. Her composure and her ignorance of her own stake make her the emotional center around which the legal maneuvering turns. ## Relationships ### [Richard Viner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/richard_viner) _romantic_ Miss Wickham and Richard Viner share a deep romantic attachment, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship or mutual affection. ### [Armitstead Ashton Armitstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/armitstead_ashton_armitstead) _psychological_ Armitstead Ashton Armitstead exerts a manipulative or obsessive influence over Miss Wickham, creating tension. ### [Mr. Pawle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_pawle) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Pawle share a friendly, supportive relationship, possibly with Mr. Pawle acting as a protector or confidant. ### [Mrs. Killenhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mrs_killenhall) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mrs. Killenhall are close friends or confidantes, sharing personal secrets. ### [Mr. Carless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_carless) _social_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Carless are acquaintances, likely meeting through Richard Viner or legal proceedings. ### [Richard Viner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/richard_viner) _romantic_ Miss Wickham and Richard Viner share a deep romantic attachment, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship or mutual affection. ### [Armitstead Ashton Armitstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/armitstead_ashton_armitstead) _psychological_ Armitstead Ashton Armitstead exerts a manipulative or obsessive influence over Miss Wickham, creating tension. ### [Mr. Pawle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_pawle) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Pawle share a friendly, supportive relationship, possibly with Mr. Pawle acting as a protector or confidant. ### [Richard Viner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/richard_viner) _romantic_ Miss Wickham and Richard Viner share a deep romantic attachment, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship or mutual affection. ### [Mr. Carless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_carless) _social_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Carless are acquaintances, likely meeting through Richard Viner or legal proceedings. ### [Mrs. Killenhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mrs_killenhall) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mrs. Killenhall are close friends or confidantes, sharing personal secrets. ### [Mr. Pawle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_pawle) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Pawle share a friendly, supportive relationship, possibly with Mr. Pawle acting as a protector or confidant. ## In the story ### [II: Number Seven in the Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ii-number-seven-in-the-square) Ashton's ward; receives the news of his murder with composure and admits she knew little about him. ### [III: Who Was Mr. Ashton?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/iii-who-was-mr-ashton) Avice Wickham explains her limited knowledge of Mr. Ashton, stating she was placed in his care after her father's death and had not seen him for twelve years until recently. ### [V: Look for That Man!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/v-look-for-that-man) Viner intends to call on her; she is in conversation with Mrs. Killenhall and Mr. Pawle. ### [VI: Speculations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/vi-speculations) Ashton's ward; reveals she has no papers to prove her identity and that Ashton was secretive about his daily life. ### [XII: The Grey Mare Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xii-the-grey-mare-inn) Summons Viner to hear Barleyfield's information; unaware of Ashton's evening activities. ### [The Japanese Cabinet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiii-the-japanese-cabinet) Present during the search of Ashton's house; her old letters to Ashton are found. ### [XIV: The Ellingham Motto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiv-the-ellingham-motto) Reveals she has twelve thousand pounds from her father and wears a locket given by Ashton with the Cave-Gray motto. ### [XVII: The Claimant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvii-the-claimant) Revealed by Mr. Pawle to be the daughter of the lost Lord Marketstoke and thus the probable rightful Countess of Ellingham. ### [XIX: Under Examination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xix-under-examination) Questioned about her father, her memories of Melbourne, and her mother; shows a family likeness to Lord Ellingham. ### [XXI: The Marseilles Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxi-the-marseilles-meeting) Avice Wickham is identified as the rightful Countess of Ellingham based on the papers Ashton showed Perkwite. ### [XXV: Through the Telephone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxv-through-the-telephone) Present with Mrs. Killenhall in the Whitechapel house, looking anxious. ### [The Back Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxvii-the-back-way) Lured by Mrs. Killenhall, remains calm, and follows Viner's lead. ### [XXVIII: The Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxviii-the-truth) Discovers Mrs. Killenhall's fraud; recalls that Ashton once mentioned knowing Cortelyon in Australia. ### [XXIX: Who Is to Tell Her?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxix-who-is-to-tell-her) The ward of Ashton, revealed as the rightful Countess of Ellingham; she is brought to meet Lord Ellingham and emerges blushing. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/miss_wickham - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters