Emmeline Summers
The ironically named Emmeline Summers is rather detached and alienated from other people. In other words, her name is hot, but she is an icy blonde. Not cold and humorless, necessarily, but really more of an idiosyncratic personality that can easily tap into what others are feeling without returning the gift in kind. (This proves to be a valuable asset at the travel agency she runs.)The author puts it best early on: when bored, she takes on the air of mild distress and when she has nothing to say, she cocks her head so as to appear deep in thought. Her nickname is steeped in irony as well: some call her Angel.
Cecilia Summers
Emmeline has a widowed sister-in-law, slightly older than herself. The two share a house near Abbey Road (way before the Beatles arrived) and plan to stay that way until at least she finally decides whether or not to marry again. It is Cecilia who is the conduit which connects Emmeline to Mark Linkwater.
Julian Tower
Julian is the man whom Cecelia may marry. He is about a decade older and a businessman with the looks of a handsome actor. The attraction is mutual and after a long and winding road the home near Abbey Road looks like it will be splitting up for good.
Lady Georgina Waters
Domestic tales of this type generally rely upon a female character who can handle the narrative weight of transmitting information that needs to transmitting, but which is not so easily done in a realistic manner. In other words: Lady Waters is a gossip and, like most gossips, insinuates herself into the lives of others convince that she has all the answers to their problems. Although a gossipy meddler more of the well-meaning type than the kind found on many sitcoms of the 60’s, she can still be a handful for the sisters-in-law because of her great talent “to detect situations that did not exist.” The discrepancy here suggests a carnivorous need to find something to gossip about when there is none which can be created through her meddling. A vicious cycle, indeed, but her part is absolutely a necessity in stories such as these.
Daisy
Mark Linkwater casually mentions Daisy—not by name until pressed—to Emmeline as a girl he knew once who ran a shop selling paraphernalia but ultimately came to no good. In fact, he concludes, she went all to pieces. He neglects to tell Emmeline that she was the once and will be the future mistress of one Mr. Mark Linkwater.
Mark Linkwater
Aka “Markie.” Emmeline’s initial impression of Mark Linkwater offers a brilliant insight into the minds of both characters: “she took him to be a young man of importance, in his own eyes if not in the world’s.” He is not exactly the most beloved barrister in London with his reputation for being brilliant, but manipulative. Never a potentially good combination. His affair with Emmeline makes up the heart of the storyline.
