in Berkshire, as well as a home in London. Louisa, Lady Trevor – Richard's sister and George's wife she is a handsome woman of thirty-one, with a great deal of decision in her face, and a leavening gleam of humour. She has one son in leading strings. She rules her husband with a rod of iron, and together with her mother is making every effort to ensure her brother Richard marries & settles down. Aurelia, Lady Wyndham – Richard and Louisa's mother, A wealthy widow of ten years standing living in a charming house in Clarges St. Lady Wyndham is a determined woman who uses her apparent delicate state of health to get her own way. A beauty in her youth her looks have faded but, like her daughter, she has excellent taste in dress. Her main aim in life is to see her son Richard respectably married, preferably to Melissa Brandon. Melissa Brandon – The eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Saar. A handsome young woman, though proud and cold-hearted. She is willing to become betrothed to Sir Richard Wyndham to save her family from financial ruin. She doesn't believe in love for people of her kind, and is described as an iceberg. Beverley Brandon – Melissa's brother, he is a wastrel & gambler, with a bad reputation. Despite having his debts paid by Sir Richard Wyndham he is again deeply in debt. He is not above theft & blackmail to save himself from financial ruin. Unfortunately his partners in crime discover he is trying to doublecross them, with terrible consequences. Cedric Brandon – Melissa's other brother, the elder son of Lord & Lady Saar. A rakish young gentleman of lamentable habits, and a disastrous charm of manner. He advises Richard not to marry his sister Melissa, and would gladly allow Richard to buy him a commission in the army, when sober. However he is only sober six hours out of the twenty-four. He calls in the Bow Street Runners when the family diamonds are stolen. (The name Cedric is one of Miss Heyer's many historical errors, having first been used by Sir Walter Scott in the novel Ivanhoe, published in 1820 — well after the period of this book — in mistake for the actual Saxon name Cerdic.) Lord Saar – Disreputable head of the Brandon family, living in Brook St. Deeply in debt, he is relying on