The de Witt Family and their Circle

Rudolf de Witt – meat dealer, father of the de Witt family and owner of Stoneythorpe

Verena de Witt – Rudolf’s wife, the daughter of Lady Deerhurst

Arthur de Witt – their oldest child, living in Paris

Michael de Witt – student at Cambridge University

Emmeline de Witt – due to be married to Sir Hugh Bradshaw

Celia de Witt – their youngest daughter

Tom Cotton – assistant groom to the de Witts

Mrs Cotton – his mother, a former servant of the family

Mary and Missy Cotton – Tom’s sisters

Jonathan Corrigan – Michael’s university friend, from New York

Stanley Smithson – footman

John Thompson – footman

Jennie Christmas – parlourmaid

Miss Wilton – lady’s maid

Christopher Marks – groom

Samuel Janus – Celia’s summer tutor, a former schoolmaster

Sir Hugh Bradshaw – local aristocrat, fiancé of Emmeline and owner of Callerton Hall

Rufus Sparks – university friend of Mr Janus

Jemima Webb – university friend of Mr Janus and political campaigner

Lance Corporal Bilks – former Derby factory foreman, successful soldier

Lance Corporal Orchard – lance corporal fighting in the Western Front

Lady Deerhurst – Verena’s mother

Matthew – Verena’s nephew and Celia’s cousin

Louisa – Verena’s niece and Celia’s cousin

Heinrich de Witt – Rudolf’s cousin

Lotte de Witt – Heinrich’s wife

Johann and Hilde de Witt – children of Heinrich and Lotte de Witt

Elizabeth Shepherd – novice ambulance driver

Professor Punter – Michael’s tutor at Magdalene