# Lord Dawlish — Uneasy Money character guide > Lord Dawlish in Uneasy Money by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Bill, Bill Chalmers, William FitzWilliam Delamere Chalmers, William Chalmers, plain Bill Chalmers, old Bill, Dawlish, Bill Dawlish **First appearance:** 0001-uneasy-money ## Snapshot A moneyless young English lord with a soft heart and a four-hundred-pound salary, whose sudden inheritance upends his engagement and his life. ## Who they are Bill Chalmers is the poorest man of his rank in Britain, happily installed as secretary of Brown's until his fiancée Claire refuses to marry him on four hundred a year. He is generous to a fault—handing shillings to strangers while Claire scolds—and cheerfully unambitious, content with golf and friends. When fortune abruptly reverses, his easygoing decency collides with Claire's calculations, setting the novel's romantic and moral machinery in motion. ## Relationships ### [Claire Fenwick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/claire_fenwick) _romantic_ Claire and Lord Dawlish are former lovers with unresolved tension, as Claire broke off their engagement. ### [Elizabeth Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/elizabeth_boyd) _romantic_ Elizabeth and Lord Dawlish develop a deep romantic connection, eventually leading to marriage. ### [Nutty Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/nutty_boyd) _friendship_ Lord Dawlish tolerates Nutty's schemes and treats him with amused goodwill, almost like a brother. ### [Dudley Pickering](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/dudley_pickering) _rivalry_ Dudley Pickering is jealous of Lord Dawlish and competes with him for Claire's attention. ### [Gerald Nichols](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/gerald_nichols) _friendship_ Gerald Nichols is a loyal friend to Lord Dawlish, offering support and comic relief. ### [Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/brown) _professional_ Brown is Lord Dawlish's valet, providing loyal and efficient service. ### [Gates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/gates) _professional_ Gates is a servant at the country house, assisting Lord Dawlish with various tasks. ### [Elizabeth Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/elizabeth_boyd) _romantic_ Elizabeth and Lord Dawlish develop a deep romantic connection, eventually leading to marriage. ### [Elizabeth Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/elizabeth_boyd) _romantic_ Elizabeth and Lord Dawlish develop a deep romantic connection, eventually leading to marriage. ### [Claire Fenwick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/claire_fenwick) _romantic_ Claire and Lord Dawlish are former lovers with unresolved tension, as Claire broke off their engagement. ### [Claire Fenwick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/claire_fenwick) _romantic_ Claire and Lord Dawlish are former lovers with unresolved tension, as Claire broke off their engagement. ### [Dudley Pickering](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/dudley_pickering) _rivalry_ Dudley Pickering is jealous of Lord Dawlish and competes with him for Claire's attention. ## In the story ### [Uneasy Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/uneasy-money) The protagonist, struggling with the moral and social implications of his sudden wealth. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/i) Bill is criticized by Claire for giving money to a beggar and for his reluctance to pursue money-making schemes. He considers going to America. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/ii) Decides to go to America to make money after feeling remorseful about his argument with Claire. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as having patronizingly said 'Noblesse oblige' to Claire, infuriating her. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/iv) Bill is stunned to learn he has inherited a fortune from Ira Nutcombe, but immediately feels compelled to share it with Elizabeth Boyd, the original heir. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the beneficiary of Ira Nutcombe's will; Elizabeth imagines him as a sinister fortune hunter. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/vi) Sitting in his New York apartment, smoking pensively after receiving Elizabeth's refusal of his offer to share the legacy. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/vii) Bill is present at Riegelheimer's, dancing with a large blonde woman. He looks disreputable and is unaware of Claire's presence due to a pillar blocking his view. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/viii) Accompanies Nutty on a night out, is identified as Lord Dawlish by Daisy Leonard, and accepts an invitation to the farm. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/ix) Reveals his passion for beekeeping and farming to Elizabeth, feels guilt over the inheritance, and decides not to reveal his identity. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xi) Struggles with guilt over his growing feelings for Elizabeth, attempts to reaffirm his love for Claire by gazing at her photograph, and encounters Claire during a moonlit walk. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xii) Confronted by Claire about his behavior at Riegelheimer's; unable to explain himself, he watches her leave and later is caught lurking near the house by Dudley Pickering. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xiv) Helps Elizabeth hide the monkey, sees an opportunity to visit Lady Wetherby as a step toward meeting Claire again. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xv) Visits Lady Wetherby's home under the pretext of reporting the monkey Eustace, but is actually seeking Claire. He learns of Claire's engagement to Dudley Pickering. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xvi) Takes a long walk to clear his mind after learning of Claire's engagement; realizes his feelings for Claire were infatuation and begins to recognize his love for Elizabeth. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xvii) Referred to as 'The Man' by Pickering; seen approaching with Elizabeth and speaking with her near the outhouse. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xviii) Discovers Eustace's body, tries to comfort Elizabeth, and feels a growing protective love for her. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xix) Bill struggles with his distrust of Claire and remains firm in his engagement to Elizabeth. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xxi) Bill is left reeling by Claire's words, his modesty and self-doubt making him vulnerable to her insinuations. He overhears Nutty's incriminating remark and confronts Elizabeth in the dark. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xxii) Wakes feeling ashamed for sleeping soundly; breakfasts reluctantly; listens to Elizabeth's explanation; believes her but agrees to part; leaves the farm. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xxiv) Mentioned as the previous heir under the earlier will, now disinherited by the new will. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/chapters/xxv) Bill is heartbroken after leaving Elizabeth, but is overjoyed to find her on the train. He resolves to marry her despite their financial differences. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters/lord_dawlish - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uneasy_money_se/characters