# Tom Tarnley — The Wyvern Mystery character guide

> Tom Tarnley in The Wyvern Mystery by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mrs. Tarnley Tom, Tom, Mrs. Tarnley, honest Tom, Tarnley

**First appearance:** 0000-i-alice-maybell

## Who they are

A servant or local man associated with the Tarnley household.

## Relationships

### [Mildred Tarnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/mildred_tarnley)

_family_

Mildred and Tom are siblings, bound by shared hardship and a fraught family loyalty.

### [Sergeant-Major Archdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/sergeant_major_archdale)

_rivalry_

Archdale and Tom are antagonists, clashing over power, secrets, and their connections to the Tarnley family.

### [Old Squire Harry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/old_squire_harry)

_rivalry_

Old Squire Harry and Tom are locked in a bitter feud, likely over land, inheritance, or past wrongs.

### [Charles Fairfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/charles_fairfield)

_rivalry_

Charles and Tom are antagonists, clashing over their connections to the Tarnley family and Alice's affections.

### [Alice Maybell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/alice_maybell)

_social_

Alice and Tom have a tense acquaintance, with Tom's rough demeanor and family secrets creating unease.

### [Mildred Tarnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/mildred_tarnley)

_family_

Mildred and Tom are siblings, bound by shared hardship and a fraught family loyalty.

### [Old Squire Harry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/old_squire_harry)

_rivalry_

Old Squire Harry and Tom are locked in a bitter feud, likely over land, inheritance, or past wrongs.

### [Sergeant-Major Archdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/sergeant_major_archdale)

_rivalry_

Archdale and Tom are antagonists, clashing over power, secrets, and their connections to the Tarnley family.

### [Old Squire Harry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/old_squire_harry)

_rivalry_

Old Squire Harry and Tom are locked in a bitter feud, likely over land, inheritance, or past wrongs.

### [Sergeant-Major Archdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/sergeant_major_archdale)

_rivalry_

Archdale and Tom are antagonists, clashing over power, secrets, and their connections to the Tarnley family.

### [Alice Maybell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/alice_maybell)

_social_

Alice and Tom have a tense acquaintance, with Tom's rough demeanor and family secrets creating unease.

### [Charles Fairfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/charles_fairfield)

_rivalry_

Charles and Tom are antagonists, clashing over their connections to the Tarnley family and Alice's affections.

## In the story

### [Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xi-home)

Tom is the driver who assists with the journey and is sent ahead to alert the old woman at the Grange of their arrival.

### [XXIV: The Summons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxiv-the-summons)

Tom relates the tragic story of the miller's wife who died from shock, which reinforces Charles's fear of confessing to Alice.

### [Tom Is Ordered Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxix-tom-is-ordered-up)

Tom is roused from sleep and receives Mrs. Tarnley's message about the mysterious woman; he repeats it back and prepares to go out.

### [XXXI: News from Cressley Common](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxi-news-from-cressley-common)

Sent to intercept Charles Fairfield on Cressley Common; returns with news that Charles will not come.

### [XXXIV: Awake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xxxiv-awake)

Sleeps soundly after his excursion to Cressley Common, undisturbed by the night's tensions.

### [XL: Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xl-pursuit)

Returns sulky and hot, reporting that Charles is riding toward Wykeford to confront Squire Rodney, and expresses concern about the odds against Charles.

### [Day—Twilight—Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xli-day-twilight-darkness)

Sent by Mildred to Wykeford to find Charles but returns without success.

### [The Welcome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xliii-the-welcome)

Takes Charles's horse to the stable.

### [XLIX: The Heir of the Fairfields](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/chapters/xlix-the-heir-of-the-fairfields)

Tom is sent to fetch the doctor and later to Hatherton for a second physician.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters/tom_tarnley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wyvern_mystery_se/characters