# Lord Ravenspur — The Midnight Guest character guide

> Lord Ravenspur in The Midnight Guest by Fred M. White.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Ravenspur

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-no-1-fitzjohn-square

## Snapshot

Master of a Park Lane showplace and host of thirty at dinner, Lord Ravenspur smiles through the evening while counting the minutes until his guests leave.

## Who they are

Ravenspur's fountains, palms, and marble pillars are the envy of wealthier men, but he would trade them for a cottage and a quiet conscience. After a night attack in his own studio, he begs Walter to tell the household he merely had a nightmare, then watches the clock at his own party as if an assassin might step from behind the ferns. His refusal to explain himself, even to those closest to him, plants the suspicion that his secrets are older and darker than the crime itself.

## Relationships

### [Walter Lance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/walter_lance)

_rivalry_

Lord Ravenspur and Walter Lance are locked in a bitter personal and professional conflict, with high tension and frequent confrontations.

### [Vera Rayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/vera_rayne)

_family_

Lord Ravenspur is Vera Rayne's father or guardian, with a complex and protective but strained relationship.

### [The Countess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/the_countess)

_social_

Lord Ravenspur and The Countess move in the same social circles, with a relationship of mutual convenience and suspicion.

### [Luigi Silva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/luigi_silva)

_rivalry_

Lord Ravenspur and Luigi Silva are antagonists, clashing over power and Vera's future.

### [Mrs. Delahay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/mrs_delahay)

_social_

Lord Ravenspur and Mrs. Delahay have a polite but wary acquaintance, often at odds over household matters.

### [Maria Delahay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/maria_delahay)

_professional_

Lord Ravenspur employs or supervises Maria Delahay, with a formal but not unfriendly dynamic.

### [Walter Lance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/walter_lance)

_rivalry_

Lord Ravenspur and Walter Lance are locked in a bitter personal and professional conflict, with high tension and frequent confrontations.

### [Vera Rayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/vera_rayne)

_family_

Lord Ravenspur is Vera Rayne's father or guardian, with a complex and protective but strained relationship.

### [Walter Lance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/walter_lance)

_rivalry_

Lord Ravenspur and Walter Lance are locked in a bitter personal and professional conflict, with high tension and frequent confrontations.

### [The Countess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/the_countess)

_social_

Lord Ravenspur and The Countess move in the same social circles, with a relationship of mutual convenience and suspicion.

### [Vera Rayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/vera_rayne)

_family_

Lord Ravenspur is Vera Rayne's father or guardian, with a complex and protective but strained relationship.

### [Mrs. Delahay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/mrs_delahay)

_social_

Lord Ravenspur and Mrs. Delahay have a polite but wary acquaintance, often at odds over household matters.

## In the story

### [I: At Whose Hand?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/i-at-whose-hand)

A wealthy, talented artist and friend of the Delahays; he is shocked by the murder and reveals he was using Delahay's studio the night before.

### [No. 1 Fitzjohn Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/ii-no-1-fitzjohn-square)

Accompanies Mrs. Delahay to the hotel, then visits the crime scene and discusses evidence with Inspector Dallas.

### [III: The Mark of the Beast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/iii-the-mark-of-the-beast)

Shocked by the glass stiletto revelation; struggles with fear and guilt; hosts a dinner party despite his distress.

### [IV: A Woman’s Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/iv-a-woman-s-face)

Hosts a dinner party and shows guests his studio; becomes visibly agitated when a photograph of a mysterious woman is found; later tries to regain composure.

### [V: Vera Rayne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/v-vera-rayne)

Ravenspur observes Walter and Vera's intimate moment with stern disapproval and interrupts them.

### [A Voice in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/vi-a-voice-in-the-dark)

Confronts Walter about his love for Vera, hints at a dark secret, and is later attacked in his studio.

### [The Yellow Handbill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/vii-the-yellow-handbill)

Found collapsed after a mysterious attack; insists on secrecy and refuses to explain.

### [VIII: The Mystery Deepens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/viii-the-mystery-deepens)

Keeps to his room for the day, feeling unwell; his absence allows Walter to act without suspicion.

### [IX: The Confidential Agent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/ix-the-confidential-agent)

Testifies at the inquest, describing his visit to Fitzjohn Square and the lights going out; appears emotional but provides little new information.

### [The Express Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xi-the-express-letter)

Despondent after being refused by Mrs. Delahay; later confronted by Walter with new evidence.

### [XII: A Speaking Likeness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xii-a-speaking-likeness)

Struggles to process Walter's revelation about Mrs. Delahay's lies and agrees to confront her again.

### [A Striking Likeness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xiii-a-striking-likness)

The painter of the portrait; his past in Corsica and relationship to Vera Rayne are speculated upon.

### [XIV: Retrospection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xiv-retrospection)

Found locked in his studio, visibly nervous; reveals the full backstory of Luigi Silva, Count Flavio, and how Vera Rayne came into his care.

### [XV: Dallas Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xv-dallas-makes-a-discovery)

Expresses fear of Silva's vengeance and the danger to Vera, delegates police contact to Walter, and links Delahay's death to the larger conspiracy.

### [XVI: Strong Measures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xvi-strong-measures)

Mentioned as Lance's uncle and a friend of Count Flavio; had an interview with the Count before his death.

### [Valdo in a New Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xx-valdo-in-a-new-light)

Mentioned in Silva's whispered conversation with Stevens; Silva's vengeance appears to involve him.

### [XXI: To Be in Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxi-to-be-in-time)

Implied to be in the studio; target of Silva's vengeance.

### [The Worth of a Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxi-the-worth-of-a-name)

Hosts a grand dinner but is inwardly anxious and haunted by omens; he tries to dissuade Vera from leaving and refuses to disclose her origins, citing a forgotten tragedy.

### [The Next Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxiii-the-next-move)

Discusses the Flavio connection with Walter, suggests Carlotta may have been the witness, and goes to find a photograph of the Countess.

### [XXIV: A Blood Relation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxiv-a-blood-relation)

Confronts Mrs. Delahay, explains the vendetta, and refuses police involvement.

### [Bred in the Bone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxv-bred-in-the-bone)

Target of Silva's murder attempt; his life was saved by Walter's intervention.

### [XXVI: A Faithful Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxvi-a-faithful-servant)

Listens to Walter's account, expresses understanding of Silva's cultural perspective, but refuses to compromise Vera's safety.

### [Flight!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxvii-flight)

Plans a secret flight to Jersey via Weymouth to protect Vera and himself from assassins; orders bloodhounds for protection.

### [XXVIII: Vera’s Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxviii-vera-s-warning)

Mentioned as the intended target of the attack; his sudden yachting trip is revealed to be motivated by fear.

### [XXIX: The Message](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxix-the-message)

Mentioned as Vera's guardian; the letter accuses him of past wrongdoing.

### [XXX: Lost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxx-lost)

Anxiously waiting for Vera, suspects she has been kidnapped by Silva's gang.

### [A Missing Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxi-a-missing-link)

Hides on the common in evening dress while Walter goes to London; later disguises himself with whiskers and spectacles.

### [XXXI: What Does It Mean?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxi-what-does-it-mean)

Recognizes the disc he gave to Delahay among Perks' stolen items, hinting at a new lead in the murder.

### [The Midnight Message](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxii-the-midnight-message)

Participates in the surveillance but is too large to enter through the larder window; waits outside during the break-in.

### [A Strange Homecoming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxiv-a-strange-homecoming)

Mentioned as Vera's guardian whose plans were betrayed; Vera hopes he will rescue her.

### [Mother and Child](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxv-mother-and-child)

Referenced by the Countess as a scoundrel responsible for her torture; Vera defends him.

### [An Unexpected Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxvii-an-unexpected-friend)

Anxiously waits for Walter, handles his dog Bruno, and privately questions Perks about his dealings with Stevens.

### [The Hound Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxix-the-hound-again)

Ravenspur leads the search, rescues Vera, and deduces Silva's actions.

### [Broken Wings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xl-broken-wings)

Takes charge of the situation, retrieves Perks's lantern, explains the dog's attack, and arranges for Silva's care.

### [A Ray of Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xli-a-ray-of-light)

Referred to as Walter's uncle; his past actions in kidnapping Vera are explained.

### [Run to Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xlii-run-to-earth)

Uncomfortable during the confrontation, begins to doubt Flavio's portrayal of the Countess.

### [Count Flavio's Diary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xlv-count-flavio-s-diary)

Initially skeptical, but after hearing extracts from the diary, acknowledges his mistake and seeks forgiveness from the Countess.

### [A Woman's Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xlvi-a-woman-s-heart)

Listens to the Countess's full confession and expresses regret for his past actions; acknowledges the Countess's innocence and the complexity of the situation.

### [XLVII: The Passing of the Vengeance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xlvii-the-passing-of-the-vengeance)

Relieved that Silva's death ends the vengeance; plans a quiet continental holiday; approves Vera and Walter's engagement; explains the photograph's origin.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/lord_ravenspur
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters