# Rupert Watson — When Charles the First Was King character guide

> Rupert Watson in When Charles the First Was King by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Rupert Watson of Castle Hill, Watson, Rupert, one Rupert Watson, this Master Rupert Watson, Master Watson

**First appearance:** 0018-xix-of-the-remarkable-conduct-of-dennis-watson

## Snapshot

The wealthy neighbor whose malice the narrator holds responsible for his father's murder, and whose reckoning becomes the ride home's single burning purpose.

## Who they are

Rupert Watson of Castle Hill stands as the narrator's chief rival and the man behind the long-ago shot on a snow-covered highway. The narrator's discovery of Watson's guilt transforms a joyful homecoming into a ride consumed by revenge, blotting out even thoughts of Rose. As the antagonist whose malice shaped the narrator's orphaned past, Watson gives the early and middle chapters their driving grievance and their sharpest edge of dread.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/characters/narrator)

_rivalry_

Rupert Watson is a rival and antagonist, often clashing with the narrator over personal and political matters.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/characters/narrator)

_rivalry_

Rupert Watson is a rival and antagonist, often clashing with the narrator over personal and political matters.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/characters/narrator)

_rivalry_

Rupert Watson is a rival and antagonist, often clashing with the narrator over personal and political matters.

## In the story

### [Of the Dispute in the Marketplace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/vi-of-the-dispute-in-the-marketplace)

The antagonist; he reignites the land dispute by grazing his horses on the contested meadow and later sues Will's father.

### [Of Our Coming from York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/vii-of-our-coming-from-york)

Adversary in the land dispute; loses the case and is ordered to pay costs.

### [Of the Sorrow That Came After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/viii-of-the-sorrow-that-came-after)

Suspect of the murder; later confronts Will's mother about rumors linking him to the crime.

### [Of the Remarkable Conduct of Dennis Watson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/xix-of-the-remarkable-conduct-of-dennis-watson)

Father of Dennis; believed by Will to be the murderer of his father; mentioned in Will's thoughts.

### [Of Our Visit to Castle Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/xxxvii-of-our-visit-to-castle-hill)

Appears at the door, curses his son Dennis for theft, then collapses.

### [Of the Strange Man’s Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/xlv-of-the-strange-man-s-confession)

Revealed as the mastermind behind the murder of Will's father.

### [Of My Last Meeting with Rupert Watson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/chapters/xlvii-of-my-last-meeting-with-rupert-watson)

Now mad and blind, he rides a blind horse at night and gallops toward Smeaton Crag.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/characters/rupert_watson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/when_charles_the_first_was_king_se/characters