# Mary Cavendish — The Mysterious Affair at Styles character guide > Mary Cavendish in The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cavendish **First appearance:** 0002-i-i-go-to-styles ## Who they are John's beautiful, self-possessed wife, whose cool composure and unexplained movements on the night of the death keep drawing Hastings's suspicious eye. ## Relationships ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Mary as a suspect and witness, observing her secretive and strained demeanor. ### [John Cavendish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/john_cavendish) _family_ John and Mary are unhappily married, with tension and infidelity straining their relationship. ### [Emily Inglethorp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/emily_inglethorp) _family_ Emily is Mary's mother-in-law, and their relationship is strained by Mary's unhappy marriage to John. ### [Cynthia Murdoch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/cynthia_murdoch) _friendship_ Cynthia and Mary are friendly housemates, though Mary is often distant and preoccupied. ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Mary as a suspect and witness, observing her secretive and strained demeanor. ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Mary as a suspect and witness, observing her secretive and strained demeanor. ### [Emily Inglethorp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/emily_inglethorp) _family_ Emily is Mary's mother-in-law, and their relationship is strained by Mary's unhappy marriage to John. ### [John Cavendish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/john_cavendish) _family_ John and Mary are unhappily married, with tension and infidelity straining their relationship. ### [Cynthia Murdoch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/cynthia_murdoch) _friendship_ Cynthia and Mary are friendly housemates, though Mary is often distant and preoccupied. ### [Emily Inglethorp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/emily_inglethorp) _family_ Emily is Mary's mother-in-law, and their relationship is strained by Mary's unhappy marriage to John. ### [Cynthia Murdoch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/cynthia_murdoch) _friendship_ Cynthia and Mary are friendly housemates, though Mary is often distant and preoccupied. ### [John Cavendish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/john_cavendish) _family_ John and Mary are unhappily married, with tension and infidelity straining their relationship. ## In the story ### [The Mysterious Affair at Styles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/the-mysterious-affair-at-styles) John's wife, described as beautiful and enigmatic. ### [I: I Go to Styles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/i-i-go-to-styles) John's wife, described as enigmatic; seen greeting Dr. Bauerstein warmly. ### [The 16th and 17th of July](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/ii-the-16th-and-17th-of-july) Appears disturbed; has a tense exchange with Mrs. Inglethorp over a document; does not go for her walk with Dr. Bauerstein. ### [III: The Night of the Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/iii-the-night-of-the-tragedy) Present with Cynthia; reacts with horror when Hastings suggests poisoning, then flees upstairs. ### [It Isn't Strychnine, Is It?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/v-it-isn-t-strychnine-is-it) Sits composed and enigmatic at breakfast; her views on the death are unknown. ### [VI: The Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/vi-the-inquest) Testifies about hearing the quarrel and the falling table; appears composed but evasive. ### [IX: Dr. Bauerstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/ix-dr-bauerstein) Answers Poirot's questions about the bolted door; Cynthia believes she hates her and wants her to leave. ### [The Arrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/x-the-arrest) Confides in Hastings about her unhappy marriage and her desire for freedom; reacts coldly to news of Bauerstein's arrest. ### [XI: The Case for the Prosecution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/xi-the-case-for-the-prosecution) Passionately supports her husband during the trial; Poirot notes her jealousy has been laid aside in adversity. ### [The Last Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/xii-the-last-link) Confesses to administering a narcotic and attempting to retrieve a paper from Mrs. Inglethorp's room, driven by jealousy. ### [XIII: Poirot Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/chapters/xiii-poirot-explains) Reunited with John; her happiness is prioritized by Poirot in his decision to delay clearing John. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters/mary_cavendish - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mysterious_affair_at_styles_se/characters