Person

Book/Story

Cross Refs.

Family

Description

ANDOVER

SPRIG MUSLIN

Race horse whose failure to win its race was prejudicial to the fortunes of the Hon. Fabian Theale (ch 4, p 45)

BARDFIELD, Mrs.

SPRIG MUSLIN

Stout and unprepossessing midwife and sick-nurse in the village of Little Staughton, summoned to care for the injured Sir Gareth Ludlow; her lack of personal cleanliness, and admission that her other duties include that of laying out the dead for burial, appall Miss Amanda Summercourt, leading her to ask that Lady Hester Theale be summoned instead to care for Sir Gareth (ch. 13, p. 167; ch. 14, p. 169-171)

BRAMBER, Sir Harry

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing, as an old friend of General Summercourt, one of the elderly and amorous beaus who paid compliments to Miss Amanda Summercourt (ch 8, p 89). He also is known to Warren Wetherby and Capt. Kendal (ch 8, p 89; ch 16, p. 214)

BRANCASTER, Earl of (Giles Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Giles, Lord Brancaster, is a member of the Prince Regent‚s set, very fond of gaming and wagers. At the time of the story Giles is a widower ˆ one who had disliked his late wife and was therefore not stricken at her death (ch 2, p 10-11; ch. 5, p.58) The earls are seated at Brancaster Park in Cambridgeshire, "not many miles from Chatteris, in the heart of the fens." Their London residence is in Green St. Another title held by the earl, used as a courtesy title by his eldest son, is that of Lord Widmore. (ch 2, p 10-11; ch. 16, p. 210)

BUDE, Mrs.

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing as keeper of the chandler‚s shop in the village of Bythorne (ch 10, p. 115)

CHANTRY, Dr.

SPRIG MUSLIN

Medical practitioner located nearest the village of Little Staughton, who therefore is summoned to attend to Sir Gareth Ludlow when the latter is accidentally shot. (ch 13 p. 162)

CHICKLADE, Mr. and Mrs.

SPRIG MUSLIN

Landlord and landlady at the Bull, the one inn located in the village of Little Staughton, where Sir Gareth Ludlow is carried after having been shot. The landlady‚s first name is Martha; the landlord‚s Christian name is never given. (ch. 13, pp. 163, 165)

CLEEVE, Lord:

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing as a fellow member of White‚s, knows Warren and Beatrix Wetherby and the Earl of Brancaster (ch 16, p. 210)

CLIFFE:

SPRIG MUSLIN

Butler at Brancaster Park, seat of the Earl of Brancaster (ch. 14, pp. 176, 181)

COOKHAM, Lady (nee either Lady Constance or Lady Gertrude Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing as the married name of one of the younger sisters of Lady Hester Theale. Lady Cookham does not appear directly in any scenes in the book, and it is unclear whether she was originally Constance or Gertrude Theale. (SM ch 2, p 18; ch. 16, p. 208; ch 17, 222)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Racing horse that failed to place during a race at Salisbury meeting, contrary to the expectations of the Hon. Fabian Theale. (ch 4 p 45)

ENNERDALE, Lady: (nee Lady Susan Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

A daughter of Giles, Earl of Brancaster; after Lady Hester Theale, the eldest. She is married to Sir Matthew Ennerdale-Ancaster, who is seated in Ancaster; to whom she has borne five children, three boys and two girls (ch 14, pp. 179-180, 182, 192). She does not appear on-stage in the book, but is described as perfectly willing to ask Lady Hester to visit in order to care full-time for her brats (ch 2, p 18)

ENNERDALE-ANCASTER, Giles

SPRIG MUSLIN

One of the three sons of Sir Matthew Ennerdale-Ancaster by Lady Susan Theale, and hence a grandson of the Earl of Brancaster. (ch. 14, p. 180)

ENNERDALE-ANCASTER, Sir Matthew:

SPRIG MUSLIN

Husband of Lady Susan, one of at least five daughters of Giles, Earl of Brancaster; father of Lady Susan‚s five children (ch. 14, p. 180)

FARNHAM, Mrs.

SPRIG MUSLIN

The Earl of Brancaster‚s housekeeper (SM ch 4, p 47)

FELBRIDGE, Miss

SPRIG MUSLIN

Governess to Mr. Wetherby‚s children (Sir Gareth Ludlow‚s nieces and nephews); sometimes afflicted with rheumatism (ch 1, p. 1)

Hannah

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing as the old nurse to Hildebrand Ross and the other Ross children (ch 12, p. 150)

HITCHIN, Miss:

SPRIG MUSLIN

Imaginary proprietor of an equally imaginary seminary for young ladies, invented on the spot by Sir Gareth Ludlow to explain his interest in the missing Amanda "Smith." (ch 9, p. 114)

James

SPRIG MUSLIN

Coachman to the Hon. Fabian Theale (ch 9, p. 103)

Jerry

SPRIG MUSLIN

Friend or acquaintance of the Hon. Fabian Theale, who persuaded that worthy to back a horse named Ticklepitcher instead of Whizgig, the eventual winner of one of the races at Salisbury meeting. (ch. 4, p. 45)

JOSEPH

SPRIG MUSLIN

Kitten given to Amanda "Smith" by the Ninfields, with whom she briefly stayed after having escaped from the Hon. Fabian Theale. Amanda names the kitten for Joe Ninfield, the young man who aided in her escape from the inn. (ch. 10, p. 125)

JUNO

SPRIG MUSLIN

Pug-dog owned by Lady Hester Theale, who has given birth to a litter of pups not long before the opening of SPRIG MUSLIN (ch 2, p 12; ch. 6, p. 72)

KENDAL, Jack:

SPRIG MUSLIN

Deceased friend of Warren Weatherby, known since their student days at Cambridge; inherited a pretty property in Northamptonshire, married a Scottish lass by whom he had 2 sons and 3 daughters; died about 5 years before the events in SPRIG MUSLIN. (ch. 16, p. 207)

KENDAL, Captain Neil

SPRIG MUSLIN

Second son of Jack Kendal; Neil is a Captain in the Army, a Light Bob, from the 43rd Regiment. He was wounded in action, prior to which he had been serving as Acting Brigade-Major. Captain Kendal is a stocky, soldierly man with sandy hair and brows, piercing blue eyes, and a decided air of command. (ch. 16, pp. 212, 213, 219)

LINCOMBE, Clarissa

SPRIG MUSLIN

Deceased, but formerly engaged to Sir Gareth Ludlow. She is described as a willful Beauty, a regular out-and-outer, the most courted young miss in Town, who tragically broke her neck in a carriage accident when driving her fiancee‚s grays, more than seven years prior to the start of Sprig Muslin. Possibly possessed of a bit too much spirit, in the view of Mr. Warren Wetherby: owned to have been a little wild even by Beatrix Wetherby, but characterized as having been sweet, engaging, and very lovely. (SM ch 1, pp. 3, 5, 7)

LUDLOW, Beatrix

SPRIG MUSLIN

Only sister of Sir Gareth Ludlow: see entry for WETHERBY, Beatrix

LUDLOW, Maj. Arthur

SPRIG MUSLIN

Younger (and only) brother of Sir Gareth: killed at Salamanca prior to the start of SPRIG MUSLIN (SM ch 1, p. 5; ch 2, p 13-14)

LUDLOW, Sir Gareth (familial nickname: Gary)

SPRIG MUSLIN

The gray-eyed hero of SM: a 35-year-old baronet, a noted Corinthian and Society‚s best-liked bachelor, regarded as a matrimonial prize of the first rank (SM Ch 1, p. 1-5, 8) By repute possesses a fortune of 12,000 pounds per year. Has never been able to love again after tragically losing his fiancee, Miss Clarissa Lincombe, more than seven years ago. (ch. 4; p. 45)

LUDLOW, Sir George

SPRIG MUSLIN

Baronet; father of Gareth, Beatrix, and the late Arthur; dead before the events in SPRIG MUSLIN begin (ch. 15, p. 205)

MICKLEHAM, Major

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing; an old friend of General Summercourt, one of the elderly and amorous beaus who paid compliments to Miss Amanda Summercourt, described as such an accomplished flirt that even General Summercourt scolded him for it (ch 8, p 89)

MILFORD, Mrs. or Lady (nee Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing: the married name of a younger sister of Hester Theale, she has an unspecified number of children (ch 14, p. 179)

Neil (the Brigade-Major)

SPRIG MUSLIN

The beloved of Miss Amanda "Smith," to whom she secretly is engaged, and whose surname she carefully does not reveal. She does reveal, in addition to his military rank, his age (24) and the fact that he‚s a younger son and thus has no large expectations (ch. 3, p 25)

NINFIELD, Jane:

SPRIG MUSLIN

Married to Ned Ninfield, the owner of Whitethorn Farm; and the mother of Joe Ninfield, the young man who helps Miss Amanda "Smith" esca[e from the Hon. Fabian Theale (ch 9, p. 117)

NINFIELD, Joe

SPRIG MUSLIN

The smitten young rustic from Whitethorn Farm, godson of Mrs. Sheets; he rescues Amanda "Smith" in the village of Bythorne by spiriting her away from the inn in his cart, thus freeing her from the clutches of the Hon. Fabian Theale. (ch 8, p 96)

NINFIELD, Ned:

SPRIG MUSLIN

A large, slow-speaking, but honest farmer; owner of Whitethorn Farm, near Bythorne (ch 9, p. 117)

NUTLEY, Mrs. (nee either Lady Constance or Lady Gertrude Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing: this is the married name of one of the younger sisters of Lady Hester Theale. Mrs. Nutley doesn‚t appear directly in any scenes in the book, and it is unclear whether before marriage she was Constance or Gertrude Theale. (SM ch 2, p 18; ch. 16, p. 208; ch 17, 222)

POVEY, Miss

SPRIG MUSLIN

A middle-aged woman, devoted abigail to Lady Hester Theale (ch 5, p 52)

PRINCE

SPRIG MUSLIN

Handsome chestnut riding-horse given as a birthday present to Hildebrand Ross by his father (ch. 11, p. 136; ch. 12, p. 150; ch. 13, p. 154)

RIVERHEAD, General

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing; an old friend of General Summercourt, one of the elderly and amorous beaus who paid compliments to Miss Amanda Summercourt (ch 8, p 89)

ROSS, Amabel

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing; a sister of Hildebrand Ross

ROSS, Blanche

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing; a sister of Hildebrand Ross

ROSS, Hildebrand

SPRIG MUSLIN

A young gentleman of Suffolk, son of a village squire, who had been schooled at Winchester and is now up at Cambridge; he is the only son of his parents, though he has several older sisters (including Blanche and Amabel ch 12, p. 150). An aspiring poet/playwright; a romantically minded youth with a strong liking for historical subjects. Miss Amanda "Smith" appeals to him to help her escape from what she assures him is wickedness of Sir Gareth Ludlow: he attempts to do so by dressing up as a highwayman and acting as though he means to rob Sir Gareth‚s coach. The attempted robbery goes awry; Hildebrand accidently shoots Sir Gareth, almost killing him. (ch 11, p. 132-33)

SCHULTZ (historical figure)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Top-drawer tailor, mentioned in the same breath with Weston, Schweitzer and Davidson (ch. 11, p. 131)

SCHWEITZER AND DAVIDSON

SPRIG MUSLIN

Top-drawer tailors, mentioned in the same breath as Weston and Schultz. (ch 9 p. 131)

"SMITH," Miss Amanda

SPRIG MUSLIN

Surname assumed by Amanda, a lovely, spirited, and very imaginative girl of about age 17 who has run away from her grandfather because he will not approve her marriage to her beloved Brigade-Major. Amanda gives the surname "Smith" when first she meets Sir Gareth Ludlow; she maintains the secrecy about her true surname for nearly the entire book. (ch 3, p 23)

SMITH, Miss

SPRIG MUSLIN

The most horrid of Amanda Summercourt‚s prior governesses (ch 5, p 52)

SUMMERCOURT, Adelaide

SPRIG MUSLIN

Spinster daughter of General Summercourt, and aunt of Miss Amanda Summercourt; in Adelaide‚s youth an impetuous suitor had offered for her hand when she was under-aged, and the unfeeling General would not approve the proposed marriage on that basis. The Suitor, within two years, married an odious female with a dowry of 10,000 pounds, by whom he sired seven children before dying of an inflammation of the lungs (SM ch 3, p 27 bot, and 28, 33; ch. 11, p. 129)

SUMMERCOURT, Maria

SPRIG MUSLIN

Another aunt of Miss Amanda Summercourt, reported to be a very unfeeling person. (ch 3, p. 33)

SUMMERCOURT, Miss Amanda

SPRIG MUSLIN

A lovely young dark-haired damsel of very nearly 17 summers, who ran away from home in order to convince her flint-hearted grandpapa to sanction her marriage with her brigade-major, to whom she has been secretly engaged for two years. Both her parents have died prior to the start of SPRIG MUSLIN, though her dear papa, himself a soldier and a Hussar, was a younger son and hence had only a modest fortune. Originally introduced in the story as "Amanda Smith," an identity she retains until the final chapter. (ch 3, p. 21-22, 25 -26)

SUMMERCOURT, General

SPRIG MUSLIN

Grandfather and guardian of Miss Amanda Summercourt, once a cavalry officer in the Hussars (ch 3, p 25); friend of Warren Wetherby‚s father (ch 16, p. 214)

SHEEN

SPRIG MUSLIN

Servant (apparently the Butler) of Sir Gareth Ludlow, at his London home in Berkeley Square (ch 16, p. 211)

SHEET, Mr. & Mrs.

SPRIG MUSLIN

The landlord, and his wife, owners of the Red Lion inn in the village of Bythorne (SM ch 8, p 93, 95). His first name is not given; hers seems to be Mary. (ch. 10, p. 117)

STOCKWELL, Miss Alice

SPRIG MUSLIN

A young and comely woman to whom Sir Gareth Ludlow‚s sister Trixie had hoped to see him married, since she believes Alice is disposed to develop a tendre for him if given any encouragement. Such encouragement is, however, not forthcoming. (ch. 1, p. 3, 6)

SWAFFHAM, Mr.

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing; an old friend of General Summercourt, one of the elderly and amorous beaus who paid compliments to Miss Amanda Summercourt (ch 8, p 89)

THEALE, Almeria

SPRIG MUSLIN

See entry for Widmore, Lord

THEALE, the Hon. Fabian

SPRIG MUSLIN

bachelor younger brother of the Earl of Brancaster: a florid and portly gentleman and a bit of a roue, much given to gambling. Mistaking Miss Amanda "Smith" for a bit of muslin, he spirits her away from his brother‚s estate, thinking she had tired of her former protector, Sir Gareth Ludlow, but Miss Smith evades him easily after she feigns severe stomach upset and implores him to stop at an inn and let her rest awhile, lest she cast up her accounts in his carriage. (ch 4, p 44-5)

THEALE, Giles

SPRIG MUSLIN

See entry for Brancaster, Earl of

THEALE, Lady Constance

SPRIG MUSLIN

One of the younger sisters of Lady Hester Theale, who does not herself appear in any scene in the book. She appears to have been married, but Heyer does not make clear whether her married name was Mrs. Nutley or Lady Cookham. (SM ch 2, p 18; ch. 16, p. 208; ch 17, p. 222)

THEALE, Lady Gertrude

SPRIG MUSLIN

One of the younger sisters of Lady Hester Theale, who does not herself appear in any scene in the book. She appears to have been married, but Heyer does not make clear whether her married name was Mrs. Nutley or Lady Cookham. (SM ch 2, p 18; ch. 16, p. 208; ch 17, p. 222)

THEALE, Lady Hester (familial nickname: Hetty)

SPRIG MUSLIN

The heroine of Sprig Muslin; eldest daughter of the Earl of Brancaster. Hester is a quiet, slightly myopic 29-year-old damsel who failed to take during several London seasons, and who has for years been considered on the shelf, though five years previous she firmly turned down an offer of matrimony, despite her father‚s wrath;. She rejects an offer from Sir Gareth Ludlow near the start of the book because she believes him still to be in love with Clarissa, his long-dead fiancee. (ch 1, p. 4; ch 2, p. 10-11, 13, 17)

THEALE, Lady Susan

SPRIG MUSLIN

A younger sister of Lady Hester Theale, see entry for Ennerdale, Lady, above.

TICKLEPITCHER

SPRIG MUSLIN

Race horse on which the Hon. Fabian Theale unwisely made a wager at the Salisbury meeting (ch 4, p 45)

TROTTON

SPRIG MUSLIN

Devoted groom to Sir Gareth Ludlow (SM ch 3, p. 36; ch. 9. P. 121)

TRUE-BLUE

SPRIG MUSLIN

Racing horse on which the Earl of Brancaster placed a prosperous wager, in the July meeting at Newmarket (ch 4, p 45)

VINEHALL, Barnabas

SPRIG MUSLIN

An old gentleman living near Colmworth, who subscribes to the Morning Post. Now extremely fat and afflicted with dropsy, he formerly was a close friend and crony of Sir George Ludlow, Gareth Ludlow‚s father (ch 15, p. 199)

WALES, Prince of

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned only in passing: does not appear as a character in the book

WESTON (historical figure)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned as having made Sir Gareth Ludlow‚s exquisitely cut coat of blue superfine (SM ch 1, p. 5; ch 9, p. 108) mentioned as top-drawer tailor, with Schultz, Schweitzer and Davidson (ch 9, p. 131)

WETHERBY, Miss Anna

SPRIG MUSLIN

A niece of Sir Gareth Ludlow (daughter of his sister Beatrix); a lively damsel within a year of her making her come-out (ch 1, p. 1)

WETHERBY, Beatrix (nee Beatrix Ludlow) (familial nickname: Trixie)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Wife of Mr. Warren Wetherby; she is the only sister of Sir Gareth Ludlow (ch 1, pp. 1, 4; ch. 15, p. 200, 202)

WETHERBY, Miss Elizabeth

SPRIG MUSLIN

A niece of Sir Gareth Ludlow (daughter of his sister Beatrix) (ch 1, p. 1)

WETHERBY, Jack

SPRIG MUSLIN

A nephew of Sir Gareth Ludlow (2nd [?] son of his sister Beatrix); a student at Eton (ch 1, p. 2)

WETHERBY, Leigh

SPRIG MUSLIN

Apparently the oldest of Sir Gareth Ludlow‚s nephews (son of his sister Beatrix), about to begin his studies at university; frequently appeals to his Corinthian uncle for valuable information such as the proper tying of a cravat (ch 1, p. 1-2; ch. 9, p. 131)

WETHERBY, Philip

SPRIG MUSLIN

Apparently the youngest of Sir Gareth Ludlow‚s nephews (son of his sister Beatrix) (ch 1, p. 1)

WETHERBY, Warren

SPRIG MUSLIN

A gentleman in his early 40s; wife of Beatrix, brother-in-law of Sir Gareth Ludlow, and father to a brood of five young Wetherbys (ch. 1, p 3)

WIDMORE, Lady (Almeria Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

The wife of Cuthbert Theale, the Earl of Brancaster‚s heir, a robust woman of alarmingly brusque and vulgar manners, verging at times on the coarse-tongued and rude (ch 2, pp. 16, 18; ch. 5, p. 51; ch. 6, p. 66; ch. 7, p. 79; ch. 14, p. 174)

WIDMORE, Lord (Cuthbert Theale)

SPRIG MUSLIN

Eldest son and heir of the Earl of Brancaster; a thin fellow afflicted with chronic dyspepsia, and himself the head of a growing family (ch 2, pp 10, 16; ch. 5, pp. 49, 50)

Willingdon

SPRIG MUSLIN

Mentioned in passing; friend of Warren Wetherby, introduced him to Capt. Neil Kendal, son of Warren‚s old friend Jack. (ch 16, p. 210)

WHIZGIG

SPRIG MUSLIN

Winning race horse on which the Hon. Fabian Theale unwisely failed to bet, during the Salisbury meeting (ch 4, p 45)

WHYTELEAFE, the Rev. Augustus

SPRIG MUSLIN

Chaplain to the Earl of Brancaster. A rather stuffy and humorless man; he intends to offer marriage to Lady Hester Theale, the Earl‚s eldest daughter - an intention Lady Hester does her quiet best to evade. (ch 2, pp. 16-17)

YEOVIL Duke of?

SPRIG MUSLIN

Does not appear in any scene in the book; mentioned in passing as the worthy who, on three occasions, unsuccessfully begged for the hand of Miss Clarissa Lincombe before her betrothal to Sir Gareth Ludlow, prior to the opening of the book (ch. 1, p. 7)