• The Reluctant Widow (General notes)

Name

Book/Story

Nicknames

Family

Description

Bag-wig

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

The Dean at Oxford; sent Nicky down because of the borrowed bear, but with a twinkle in his eye; a great gun in Nicky’s opinion.

Balcomb, Godfrey

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Mentioned in passing as attending Eustace Cheviot’s funeral and bringing to Francis Cheviot the Morning Post with the notice of Louis De Castres’s death.

Barrow

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

wife: Mrs. Barrow

Butler to Eustace Cheviot at Highnoons. Elderly, wearing shabby livery; dour and given to gloomy pronouncements. Has stayed with his wife at Highnoons out of loyalty to Eustace Cheviot’s late mother, a Wincanton.

Barrow, Mrs.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

husband: Barrow

Housekeeper to Eustace Cheviot at Highnoons. More genteel than her husband, Barrow, and noted for her volubility.

Bathurst, Lord*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

In the Home Office in London.

Beccles, Miss

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Becky

Elinor Rochdale’s former governess, who has been living modestly in London, she joins Elinor at Highnoons as companion and chaperone. A little old lady in an old-fashioned bonnet, drab pelisse, and plain round gown with a soft voice and placid temperament. She is gently talkative and likes a masterful man such as Lord Carlyon.

Becky

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

see: Beccles, Miss

Bedlington, Lord

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

son: Francis Cheviot

nephew: Eustace Cheviot

ADC to the Prince Regent, he lives in Brook Street in London. Portly, 50 or so, of medium stature, with a round face, small blue eyes always very wide open, and a little red mouth. He wears high, rigid shirt-points, and stays to confine a swelling paunch. Having received a Peerage but lacking the funds to support it, he is petulant and has a high notion of his own consequence, not to mention a hard head and the digestion of an ostrich.

Bonaparte, Napoleon*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Boney

Bouncer

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Dog belonging to Nicholas Carlyton, who regards him as very intelligent. He is a crossbred, half lurcher and half mastiff, and very free-spirited, with apparently excellent teeth.

Brummell, Beau*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Francis Cheviot is such good ton that he often wonders whether he shouldn’t challenge Brummell as leader of younger dandies.

Carlyon, Augusta

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Gussie

see Family page

The one who always gave away secrets, accorsing to her brother Nicholas Carlyon, and Lord Carlyon says she is always racketing about town, hence is not the most suitable of his sisters for Elinor Cheviot, née Rochdale, to visit.

Carlyon, Elizabeth

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

see: Hartlepool, Lady

Carlyon, Georgiana

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

see: Flint, Lady

Carlyon, Lord Edward

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Ned

Carlyon

see Family page

Owner and occupant of the Hall, 7 miles from Highnoons, as well as a house in Mount Street and a little place in Leicestershire for hunting. He is about 36, the eldest of 7 and largely responsible for them since he lost his father at 18. Not precisely handsome, but with good features, easy carriage, and very broad shoulders, he is the great man of the neighborhood and a good landlord. Gentleman-like and a man of fashion, with a well-favored countenance, an air of breeding, and level gray eyes, he is sensible and authoritative, if not very sympathetic. At age 26 he became guardian to Eustace Cheviot and stands to inherit his property.

Carlyon, the Honorable Captain John

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Mr. Carlyon

Mr. John

see Family page

Next brother to Lord Carlyon, hence in his early 30’s, his is a government official under Lord Bathhurst in the Home Office. He is sensible and deliberate, with conciliating manners, and looks more like Ned than Nicky does but is half a head shorter. Prosy but a right one.

Carlyon, the Honorable Nicholas

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Nicky

Master Nick

Mr. Nicholas

see Family page

At age 19 the youngest of the Carlyon siblings, tall and slender, fair-headed and fresh-faced, with blue eyes and tanned cheeks; possibly an incipient dandy, affecting high shirt-points and complicated cravats and even a cherry-striped waistcoat. He is in his first year at Oxford but has been rusticated for borrowing a bear.

Charles II, King

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Said to have hid at Highnoons after Worcester.

Cheviot, Eustace

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Cousin and erstwhile ward of Lord Carlyon, he is in his mid-20’s and owner of Highnoons, 12 miles from Billingshurst and 7 miles from the Hall; he also has lodgings in Cork Street in London. He has lank dark hair and is dissolute and a drunkard. Having nearly been expelled from Eton for stealing, he was bought a pair of colors but then was asked to leave before seeing any active service. He hates Carlyon.

Cheviot, Mr.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

son: Eustace Cheviot

A “foreigner,” from Kent.

Cheviot, Mrs (Decesaed)

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

son: Eustace Cheviot

sister: Lord Carlyon’s mother

A Wincanton.

Cheviot, the Honourable Francis

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Mr. Francis

father: Lord Bedlington

In his early 30’s, slim, exquisite, and languid, with glossy chestnut curls, blue eyes consistently wear, bored, or cynical, a decidedly round face, a nose inclined to the retroussé, an almost womanishly delicate mouth and chin, and white hands. He is excellent ton and to be met everywhere, and know just what colors most become one and how to furnish every room. He is smooth and urbane, dislikes dogs (preferring cats), and carries an ivory-topped, ebony sword-stick, emphasizing that he shrinks from violence.

Chorley

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Lord Carlyon’s butler at the Hall.

Coates, Mr. Romeo*(?)

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Miss Beccles comments that Francis Cheviot’s story about his was rather too warm.

Crawley

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Valet to Francis Cheviot; always knows what to do in case of illness; occasionally in danger of dismissal if it were not for his artistry in polishing boots.

De Castres

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

son: Louis De Castres

A Marquis who escaped from France during the Revolution and is living with his wife in Hertfordshire.

De Castres, Louis

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Friend to both Eustace Cheviot and Francis Cheviot, he is the son of French emigrés, having arrived in England as a young boy. Of medium height and slim build, with dark eyes and hair, neat side-whiskers, and a French accent, he is a gentlemanly and refined looking young man, with a good air and manners. He is not wealthy.

Edgeworth, Mrs.*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Author of Tales of Fashionable Life, in the bookroom at Highnoons, passed over by Elinor Rochdale, suddenly Mrs. Cheviot, on her first evening there.

Fear-not-Victorious

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Horse in the Turf Remembrancer which Elinor Rochdale is stuck reading when guarded so carefully by Bouncer.

Finsbury

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Lawyer to Lord Carlyon and, with Carlyon, executor of Eustace Cheviot’s will.

Flint, Lady Georgiana, née Carlyon

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Georgy

see Family page

In her early 20’s the youngest sister of the Carlyon family, she is extemely pretty, with golden ringlets and sparkling blue eyes, sweet and lively, with a mischievous voice and bearing a strong resemblance to her brother Nicky. She is expecting her first child.

Flint, Lord John

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

wife: Georgiana Carlyon

Sensible-looking, some years older than his wife and very fond of her.

Frinton, Mr. & Mrs.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Neighbors of Eustace Cheviot at Highnoons, living at the Hurst; gone to London, so can’t be where Louis De Castres says he was visiting.

Greenlaw, Dr.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Physician to the Carlyon family, having attended them since the present Lord Carlyon was a child. He is grizzled and wears a conventional frock coat but no wig and appears to reside in Wisborough Green.

Hartlepool, Lady

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Eliza

see Family page

Has a sweet disposition and young children.

Hill, Sir Rowland*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

In the Peninsula: Harry Carlyon is on his staff.

Hitchin

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Landlord of the Bull in Wisborough Green, where Eustace Cheviot dies; middle-aged, usually cheerful, fiercely loyal to the Carlyons.

Jem

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Servant at the Bull in Wisborough Green, where Eustace Cheviot dies; speaks with a strong Sussex accent.

Keighley

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

A Friend of Nicky’s and with him when he got rusticated from Oxford; drove him to London in his new phaeton.

Kendall, Sir Matthew

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

One of Carlyon’s neighbors, living at the Priory. A grizzled man and good neighbor who does not, however, take kindly to Bouncer hunting on his property.

Lightning

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Horse in the Turf Remembrancer which Elinor Rochdale is stuck reading when guarded so carefully by Bouncer.

Lynton, Miss and Miss Elizabeth

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Neighbors of Eustace Cheviot at Highnoons, living at Elm House; too proper to be the people Louis De Castres says he was visiting.

Macclesfield, Mrs.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

A quelling, redoubtable woman with a massive bosom and rather prominent eyes, she lives at Five Mile Ash, within a short distance of Billingshurst, Sussex, and has interviewed Elinor Rochdale in London and hired her as governess to her son, who is 7 years old, spoiled, sturdy, and high-spirited, but so sensitive as to require special handling.

Manton*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Owner of a shooting gallery (?) frequented by the toffs in London.

Mary

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

A housemaid at Highnoons, hired to help Mrs. Barrow when Elinor Rochdale takes up residence there.

Peyton, Sir Henry

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Bought Rochdale’s grays after his suicide.

Polly

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

A very obliging girl where Miss Beccles lived in London before coming to Highnoons.

Presteign, Mr.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Parson

Vicar of the parish of Wisborough Green and residing between there and Highnoons, he is jolly-looking, with rosy cheeks, and rather innocent blue eyes. He marries Elinor Rochdale to Eustace Cheviot when the latter is on his deathbed.

Prince Regent, the*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Prinny

Ratcliffe, Dr.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Purveyor of Dr. Ratcliffe’s Restorative Pork Jelly, which Crawley hopes will help Francis Cheviot when he is apparently suffering from a putrid sore throat (or is it a cold?).

Reeve, Miss Clara*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Author of The School for Widows and The Old English Baron, in the bookroom at Highnoons, the former being taken up as apt reading by Elinor Rochdale, suddenly Mrs. Cheviot, on her first evening there.

Rochdale, Elinor Mary

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Mrs. Cheviot

Cousin Elinor

father: Tom Rochdale of Feldenhall

Twenty-six years old and handsome, with both countenance and dignity, she is of independent spirit but penniless, hence employed as a governess since her father’s death. She is of a humorous turn of mind and a fair whip, and find herself rather peremptorily married to Eustace Cheviot.

Rochdale, Tom, of Feldenhall

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

daughter: Elinor Rochdale

A nonpareil and nonesuch and member of the FHC, he drove a pair of grays in a perch-phaeton.Having ruined himself gambling, he shot himself, leaving his widow and family destitute.

Rufus

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Nicholas Carlyon’s horse, a proper highbred ‘un.

Rugby, Mrs.

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Housekeeper for Lord Carlyon, at the Hall; comfortable and placid.

Sidmouth, Lord*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

At the Home Office in London; John Carlyon is his secretary.

Smith, Miss*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Author of a novel with a heroine named Monimia, who suffers from an excess of sensibility, unlike Elinor Rochdale, suddenly Mrs. Cheviot, who hears a sound outside the bookroom on her first evening at Highnoons.

Steyning

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Coachman or groom to Lord Carlyon.

Thunderbolt

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Horse in the Turf Remembrancer which Elinor Rochdale is stuck reading when guarded so carefully by Bouncer.

Torrens

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Of the Horse Guards?

Watch-them-and-catch-them

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Horse in the Turf Remembrancer which Elinor Rochdale is stuck reading when guarded so carefully by Bouncer.

Wellington, Duke of (Arthur Wellesley)*

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

Wincanton

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

The family name of Eustace Cheviot’s mother and the Carlyons’ as well.

York, Duke of *

THE RELUCTANT WIDOW

see Family page

Lord Bedlington plays whist with him at Oatlands and loses.