The Old Wives’ Tale · Character

Amy Bates

A servant in the Baines household; loyal and hardworking.

minor

Also known as Amy

First appearance: i the square

Amy Bates's tie to Constance Baines is one of the pressures that moves The Old Wives’ Tale—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Mentioned as bringing tea and bacon up the stairs.

In the storyCrimeOpen this moment free

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With Constance Baines (professional): Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity. With Sophia Baines (professional): Former servant who maintains a respectful, distant connection with Sophia after her return from France. With Constance Baines (professional): Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Amy Bates sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Amy Bates in i the square

Character Web

17 connections

A slice of how Amy Bates sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Next generation and friends
Bursley shop and family
Minor and background characters
Bursley family and servants
Minor Bursley acquaintances

+12 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, Sophia reaches an emotional and psychological low point of apathy and entrapment, loathing he…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Constance Baines
professional · positive
Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust… How this plays out →
Sophia Baines
professional · ambivalent
Constance Baines
professional · positive
Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust… How this plays out →
Constance Baines
professional · positive
Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust… How this plays out →
Sophia Baines
professional · ambivalent
Sophia Baines
professional · ambivalent

Constance Baines
Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity.
Sophia Baines
Former servant who maintains a respectful, distant connection with Sophia after her return from France.
Constance Baines
Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity.
Constance Baines
Loyal servant and housekeeper to Constance, with a relationship of long-standing trust and familiarity.
Sophia Baines
Former servant who maintains a respectful, distant connection with Sophia after her return from France.
Sophia Baines
Former servant who maintains a respectful, distant connection with Sophia after her return from France.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Amy Bates in i the square

In the story

Amy Bates appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Crime
Mentioned as bringing tea and bacon up the stairs.
VIII: The Proudest Mother
The servant who helps with Cyril's luggage and weeps at his departure, earning a sharp rebuke from Constance.
The Meeting
Amy assists Constance with preparations and helps her dress, offering advice on the train schedule and managing the household.
Towards Hotel Life
The maid who fails to latch the door, causing Constance's sciatica, and is rough with Fossette.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Amy Bates unlock in the free preview.

See Amy Bates in i the square

See Amy Bates in Crime