# Roger Gretorex — The Story of Ivy character guide > Roger Gretorex in The Story of Ivy by Marie Belloc Lowndes. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dr. Gretorex, Roger, Dr. Roger Gretorex, Roger Kingston Gretorex **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot A hardworking doctor who loves Ivy without return, keeps her supplied with petty cash, and cannot bear to meet her husband on friendly terms. ## Who they are Roger Gretorex grinds through his poorer patients in a shabby mid-Victorian house off the Embankment, where Ivy slips in through the surgery to avoid being seen. He loathes playing hail-fellow with Jervis Lexton yet longs for every spare moment with Ivy, who is already tiring of him and eyeing Rushworth. His helpless devotion and his inconvenient knowledge of her household make him both her most useful ally and her most dangerous loose end. ## Relationships ### [Ivy Lexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/ivy_lexton) _romantic_ Ivy and Roger are deeply entangled in a passionate but tumultuous romantic relationship, marked by intense attraction and conflict. ### [Enid Dent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/enid_dent) _social_ Enid and Roger are acquaintances who interact frequently due to their mutual connection with Ivy. ### [Dr. Berwick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/dr_berwick) _professional_ Dr. Berwick and Roger interact as doctor and patient or colleague, with a clinical and respectful tone. ### [Inspector Orpington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/inspector_orpington) _rivalry_ Inspector Orpington suspects Roger of wrongdoing, leading to tense interrogations and mutual distrust. ### [Nurse Bradfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/nurse_bradfield) _professional_ Nurse Bradfield and Roger interact in a medical context, with her providing care and him being a concerned visitor. ### [Sir Joseph Molloy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/sir_joseph_molloy) _social_ Roger and Sir Joseph Molloy are acquaintances in the same social sphere, with possible financial or business ties. ### [Alfred Finch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/alfred_finch) _rivalry_ Alfred and Roger are bitter rivals, competing for Ivy's attention and harboring deep animosity. ### [Ivy Lexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/ivy_lexton) _romantic_ Ivy and Roger are deeply entangled in a passionate but tumultuous romantic relationship, marked by intense attraction and conflict. ### [Ivy Lexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/ivy_lexton) _romantic_ Ivy and Roger are deeply entangled in a passionate but tumultuous romantic relationship, marked by intense attraction and conflict. ### [Enid Dent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/enid_dent) _social_ Enid and Roger are acquaintances who interact frequently due to their mutual connection with Ivy. ### [Alfred Finch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/alfred_finch) _rivalry_ Alfred and Roger are bitter rivals, competing for Ivy's attention and harboring deep animosity. ### [Nurse Bradfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/nurse_bradfield) _professional_ Nurse Bradfield and Roger interact in a medical context, with her providing care and him being a concerned visitor. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/i) Ivy's secret lover; a poor doctor with a slum practice in Westminster; devoted to Ivy but she has grown weary of him; she plans to ask him for money. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/ii) The gloomy, jealous host who is secretly in love with Ivy. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/v) Hosts Ivy for dinner, expresses his love and dreams of marriage, but is unaware of her true feelings. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/vi) Ivy's lover; supplies her with cash; visits Jervis despite Ivy's attempts to keep him away; writes a passionate love letter to Ivy that is accidentally sent to Dr. Berwick. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/vii) Roger is mentioned as Ivy's lover, whose love letter was mistakenly sent to Dr. Berwick. Ivy wishes he were in London for support. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/viii) Dr. Gretorex is mentioned as a potential source of help, but Ivy is evasive about his whereabouts. Dr. Berwick suspects a connection between Gretorex and Jervis's death. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/ix) Gretorex is excited and conflicted after learning of Jervis's death, torn between love for Ivy and shame. He prepares a story and asks Mrs. Huntley to lie for him. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/x) Lies to Orpington about his knowledge of Lexton's death; admits past attraction to Ivy Lexton but denies giving arsenic. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xi) Returns to Sussex to tell his mother about the poisoning scandal; feels fear for the first time and suspects he may be accused. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xii) Ivy warns him of the investigation; his truthful nature makes her fear his upcoming interrogation. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xiii) Mentioned as being in love with Ivy and under suspicion for Jervis's murder; his mother insists on his innocence. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xiv) Arrested and awaiting trial for poisoning Jervis Lexton, with his mother pleading for Ivy's help. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xv) The prisoner in the dock, on trial for murder; he avoids looking at Ivy during her testimony. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xvi) The prisoner, convicted of murder, maintains his innocence with a cool, firm tone. He had earlier begged his counsel to be gentle with Ivy. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as the accused; Enid believes he suspects the real murderer and refused to testify for that reason. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned frequently; his trial concluded, and his innocence is doubted by Nurse Bradfield and passionately defended by Enid Dent. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xix) Awaiting execution in prison; his mother and Enid prepare for his death. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xx) Condemned man whose execution is postponed due to new evidence suggesting his innocence. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xxi) Condemned to hang; appears in Ivy's nightmare, turning to look at her with mute reproach. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xxii) Mentioned as having been reprieved from hanging; his letters to Ivy are discussed, and he is believed to still love her. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/roger_gretorex - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters