Character guide

Justin, Duke of Avon

major

Also known as Avon, Alastair, His Grace, Lord Rupert Alastair, Alastair of Avon

Avon moves through Parisian society as a master of irony and manipulation, his motives as opaque to his friends as to his enemies. He acquires the boy Léon with suspicious ease, installs him as a ward, and watches with amusement as the page becomes the toast of Paris — while refusing to explain why he cares. His friends whisper that he has never looked at anyone the way he looks at Léonie, and the mystery of what he knows about her origins drives the plot's central engine.

Léonie de Bonnard

major

Also known as Mademoiselle Léonie de Bonnard, Mistress Léonie, Léonie, Mademoiselle

Léonie enters the story disguised as a boy, quick with a blade and quicker with a retort, and is swept into Avon's household where she blossoms into a beauty with no memory of her true parentage. She adores Avon with a devotion she cannot name, yet bristles at the idea that she is too lowborn to wed him — a tension Lady Fanny gleefully stokes. Her unguarded recollections of Versailles and her striking resemblance to someone the Comte de Saint-Vire fears make her the puzzle everyone is trying to solve.

Hugh Davenant

supporting

Also known as Davenant, Hugh, the good Davenant

Hugh Davenant is the rare man who can tease Avon about his ruling passions and still be trusted with his secrets, moving between London and the Continent as his friend's discreet agent. He is the one who notices Léon's suspiciously short memory and the odd gaps in the boy's story, and who later watches Léonie's transformation with affectionate concern. His dry amusement and unshakeable loyalty anchor the novel's more extravagant characters, and his observations often tell the reader what Avon will not.

Lady Fanny Marling

supporting

Also known as Fanny, Marling, Fan, Lady Fanny

Lady Fanny Marling moves through Parisian society with an eye for a petticoat of gold net and an ear for the latest scandal, and she takes the bewildered Léonie under her wing with genuine warmth. She reads Avon's feelings for his ward long before he admits them, teasing Léonie about jewels and duchesses until the girl bursts into tears — then regrets her runaway tongue. Her blend of frivolity and real kindness gives the novel its social texture and pushes Léonie toward confronting what she feels for Monseigneur.

Comte de Saint-Vire

supporting

Also known as Saint-Vire, Comte, the Comte de Saint-Vire

Saint-Vire arrives at Merivale with a story about a schooner and a friend named Chalmer that no one quite believes, and his composure cracks the moment Léonie's name is mentioned. He probes for news of Avon's whereabouts and the girl's presentation with a hunger that alarms his hosts, and his old scandal with the Alastair family surfaces in Merivale's memory. His quiet menace makes him the shadow pursuing Léonie across the novel's middle chapters, and his fear of what she might remember drives the plot's central conflict.

Léon Bonnard

supporting

Also known as Léon, Bonnard, little Léon

Léon Bonnard is the page who shares Léonie's face and her secret history, left behind when Avon carries her off to Paris and reduced to playing chess with Hugh Davenant while he waits for news. He plays a monstrous reckless game, claims a conveniently short memory, and asks after Monseigneur with a proprietary 'us' that betrays how much he misses his twin. His separation from Léonie gives the novel its quiet ache of loss, and his eventual fate is bound up with the identity she is only beginning to discover.

Lord Rupert Alastair

supporting

Also known as Lord Rupert, Rupert, Alastair

Rupert moves through the Polite World as a lounging man about town, forever betting Merivale a monkey on his brother's schemes and fleeing drawing rooms where anyone reads verse. Yet his real tension is loyalty: he has lived with Justin for years and knows that still waters run deep, that the quarrel with Saint-Vire was never forgotten. His gleeful suspicion that 'there's something afoot' makes him the reader's first hint that Avon is playing a long game.

Armand de Saint-Vire

supporting

Also known as Armand, Saint-Vire, the good Armand

Known in society as 'the good Armand,' he moves through the same glittering salons as Avon and Léonie while carrying a name that others spit upon. His position is quietly impossible: he is heir to a man whose hatred of the Alastairs is legendary, and any friendship he forms with Léonie places him between two houses at war. His presence sharpens the question of whether goodness can survive inside a corrupt inheritance.

Jennifer Merivale

supporting

Also known as Jennifer, Merivale, miladi Jennifer

Jennifer moves through the Marling and Merivale circle as the soft-spoken counterweight to her brother's bluntness and Rupert's noise. Where others are dazzled by Léonie's daring or troubled by her strangeness, Jennifer is simply kind, troubled only that the girl's eyes 'make her shiver' when they fall on Saint-Vire. Her quiet sympathy gives Léonie something the plot rarely offers: uncomplicated affection, and a witness to her vulnerability.

Anthony Merivale

supporting

Also known as Anthony, Merivale

Merivale is the reliable friend in Avon's orbit, the man who watches his host with curious eyes and dares to say, 'I think that you have grown, Alastair.' He trades snuffbox observations with the Duke about Léonie's scars, and he refuses to bet against a certainty when Avon finally moves. His honesty makes him the story's moral barometer, measuring how far the cold Duke has been changed by the girl he rescued.

Madam Field

minor

Also known as Madam, Mr. Manvers, Madam Field

The Duke of Avon's formidable housekeeper at his English estate.

Prince de Condé

minor

Also known as le Prince de Condé, Condé, Young Condé

A powerful French prince and ally to the Duke of Avon at the court of Versailles.

Monseigneur le Duc

minor

Also known as Monseigneur, Duc, Monseigneur le Duc

A high-ranking French nobleman, often referred to with deference at court.

Madame de Saint-Vire

minor

Also known as Madame, Saint-Vire, de Saint-Vire

The Comte de Saint-Vire's wife, a cold and calculating woman.

Edward Marling

minor

Also known as Dear Edward, Edward, the worthy Edward

Lady Fanny's brother, a sensible and kind-hearted country gentleman.

M. le Curé

minor

Also known as The Curé, the Curé

The local priest in the French village where Léonie and Léon grew up.

Madame Dubois

minor

Also known as Madame, Madame Dubois, Madame le Baronne

A gossipy French baroness who provides comic relief and local news.

Gaston

minor

A servant in the Duke of Avon's household.

Walker

minor

Also known as This Walker

A servant at the Duke of Avon's English estate.

Henri

minor

Also known as the noble Henri, the young Henri

A young French nobleman and friend of Armand de Saint-Vire.

Jean Bonnard

minor

Also known as Jean, Bonnard

Léonie and Léon's father, a poor but proud Frenchman.

Rachel

minor

A maid in the Duke of Avon's household who attends to Léonie.

Mère Bonnard

minor

Also known as Bonnard

Léonie and Léon's mother, a gentle and loving woman.

M. de Beaupré

minor

A French nobleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Léon the Page

minor

Also known as Léon

Léonie's alias while disguised as a page boy for the Duke of Avon.

Florimond de Chantourelle

minor

Also known as Florimond, Chantourelle

A young French nobleman and suitor to Léonie.

Maman Marthe

minor

Also known as Maman, Marthe

An elderly woman who cared for Léonie and Léon in their youth.

Milor Merivale

minor

Also known as Milor, Merivale, Milor ’ Merivale

Jennifer and Anthony's father, a titled English gentleman.

Cain

minor

The Duke of Avon's loyal and silent manservant, often acting as a bodyguard.

De Beaupré

minor

Also known as de Beaupré

A French nobleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Léonie de Saint-Vire

minor

Also known as Saint-Vire, Léonie

The Comte de Saint-Vire's daughter, a name that causes confusion with the heroine.

Duc of Avon

minor

Also known as Avon

A French title held by Justin, used in formal contexts at the French court.

Vicomte de Valmé

minor

Also known as the Vicomte, Vicomte, the Vicomte de Valmé

A French nobleman who appears at court and social gatherings.

De Faugenac

minor

A French nobleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Madame du Deffand

minor

Also known as Madame

A historical French salonnière mentioned in passing at court.

Madame de Verchoureux

minor

Also known as Madame

A French noblewoman who hosts a social event crucial to the plot.

Lavoulère

minor

A French nobleman and associate of the Comte de Saint-Vire.

Madame de Vauvallon

minor

Also known as Madame

A French noblewoman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Harriet

minor

Also known as Cousin Harriet, Cousin

A cousin of the Marling family, a gossipy and conventional woman.

Charles Edward Stuart

minor

Also known as Edward

The Young Pretender, a historical figure mentioned in the context of Jacobite plots.

M. de la Douaye

minor

A French nobleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Lord Merivale

minor

Also known as Merivale

Jennifer and Anthony's father, a titled English gentleman.

M. de Richelieu

minor

Also known as Richelieu, old Richelieu, de Richelieu

The famous French cardinal and statesman, a historical figure at court.

Mr. Fletcher

minor

Also known as Fletcher

A lawyer or man of business for the Duke of Avon.

Marie de Lespinasse

minor

Also known as Marie, this Marie de Lespinasse

A historical French salonnière mentioned in passing.

Old Farmer Mauvoisin

minor

A local farmer in the French countryside who aids the plot.

Comte de Stainville

minor

Also known as de Stainville

A French nobleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Tony

minor

A nickname for Anthony Merivale, used by family and friends.

Faith

minor

A maid in the Duke of Avon's household.

Abel

minor

A servant in the Duke of Avon's household.

Jenny

minor

A nickname for Jennifer Merivale, used by family.

Charlotte

minor

A minor female character mentioned in society gossip.

Vassaud

minor

A French servant or agent of the Comte de Saint-Vire.

Madame Bonnard

minor

Also known as Bonnard, Madame

A neighbor or relative of the Bonnard family in France.

Johnson

minor

Also known as the tedious Johnson

A minor character, possibly a servant or tradesman, described as tedious.

Lady Fountain

minor

A society lady mentioned in passing at social events.

Colehatch

minor

Also known as The great Lord Colehatch

A nobleman mentioned in society gossip.

Julia Falkner

minor

Also known as Mistress Julia Falkner, Julia, Mistress Falkner, Julie

A young woman mentioned in the context of a past scandal.

Sir John Cotton

minor

Also known as John, Sir John Cotton

A gentleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Coggin

minor

A servant in the Duke of Avon's household.

Victor

minor

A servant in the Duke of Avon's household.

Hector

minor

A servant in the Duke of Avon's household.

De Châtelet

minor

Also known as de Châtelet

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

De Salmy

minor

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Marchérand

minor

Also known as Madame, de Marchérand, Madame de Marchérand

A French noblewoman mentioned in society.

De Brionne

minor

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Young de Chantourelle

minor

A young French nobleman mentioned in passing.

Mr. Marling

minor

Also known as XI Mr. Marling, Marling

Lady Fanny and Edward's father, a country gentleman.

Duc de Penthièvre

minor

Also known as Penthièvre, de Penthièvre

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Madame de Pompadour

minor

Also known as Madame

The famous mistress of Louis XV, a historical figure at court.

Madame de la Roque

minor

A French noblewoman mentioned in society.

Madame de Marguéry

minor

Also known as Madame

A French noblewoman mentioned in society.

Madame Tournoise

minor

Also known as Madame

A French noblewoman mentioned in society.

De Foquemalle

minor

Also known as de Foquemalle

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Mademoiselle de Sonnebrune

minor

Also known as Mademoiselle

A young French noblewoman mentioned in society.

Marquis de Chourvanne

minor

A French nobleman mentioned in passing.

D'Anvau

minor

Also known as d'Anvau

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Mr. Selwyn

minor

A gentleman and acquaintance of the Duke of Avon.

Nash

minor

A servant or minor character in the Duke of Avon's circle.

Duc de Noailles

minor

Also known as de Noailles

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Rudolph Alastair

minor

A relative of the Duke of Avon, mentioned in passing.

M. Marling

minor

Also known as Even M. Marling

A Frenchified version of Mr. Marling, used in jest.

De Sally

minor

Also known as de Sally

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

La Douaye

minor

A French nobleman mentioned at court.

Mr. Davenant

minor

A formal address for Hugh Davenant.

Julie de Cornalle

minor

Also known as Cornalle, Julie de Cornalle

A young French woman mentioned in a past scandal.

Comtesse de Marguéry

minor

Also known as Comtesse

A French noblewoman mentioned in society.

Duchesse de la Roque

minor

Also known as Duchesse de la Roque

A French noblewoman mentioned in society.

Comte de Brionne

minor

A French nobleman mentioned at court.