A Fatal Waltz

Cast of Characters

Emily, Lady Ashton (Kallista): daughter of Earl Bromley, widow of the Viscount Ashton (Philip), and a scholar of Greek language and art.

Colin Hargreaves: a gentleman of independent means who is frequently called upon by Buckingham Palace to investigate matters requiring discretion.

Cécile du Lac: a French woman of a certain age, iconoclast, patron of the arts.

Ivy Brandon: Emily's childhood friend, a perfect English rose.

Robert Brandon: Ivy's husband, an up-and-coming politician and very traditional gentleman.

Margaret Seward: daughter of an American railroad tycoon, she is a Bryn Mawr-educated Latinist who has little tolerance for society's rules.

Catherine, Lady Bromley: Emily's mother, wife of Earl Bromley, former lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria.

Jeremy Sheffield, Duke of Bainbridge: childhood friend of Emily's whose twin goals are to avoid marriage and to be the most useless man in England.

Basil, Lord Fortescue: Queen Victoria's most trusted political advisor, widely considered the most powerful man in the empire.

Mrs. Reynold-Plympton: a lady who takes great interest in politics; Lord Fortescue's longtime mistress.

Mary Fortescue: Lord Fortescue's third wife.

MR. Harrison: a political ally of Lord Fortescue.

Mr. Michaels: an Oxford don, Latinist.

Kristiana, Countess von Lange: an extremely elegant Viennese lady.

Gustav Schröder: the leader of a group of Austrian anarchists.

Elisabeth, Empress of Austria: Sissi, Cécile's friend since they were girls. A famous beauty during her youth.

Meg: Emily's maid.

Davis: Emily's incomparable butler.