T.J. Laverne

Nora is the youngest of the three Charlton sisters at 20. Unlike her sisters, Nora doesn't consider herself to be a beauty, with plain, light brown hair and too many freckles. She often finds herself standing on the sidelines at society balls, her dance card very nearly empty. She is also the most unconventional of the Charlton sisters, abhorring rules of etiquette and the confinements of London society, and frequently getting herself into trouble. Nora's favorite pastime is reading Gothic novels about ghosts and vampires, and secretly writing her own morbid stories in the privacy of her bedroom.

Arianna is the middle sister at 23. She is also the meekest and kindest of the sisters, always saying and doing just exactly as expected of her. With mahogany hair that she usually wears in ringlets, and a pale complexion, she resembles a china doll. And yet, at times, Arianna seems to despise the confinements of London society almost more than Nora. She has received numerous proposals of marriage, every single one of which she rejected, and she has a noted hatred and mistrust of men.

Emma is the eldest of the Charlton sisters at 24. She is regarded as the Queen Bee of the family, always to be obeyed, and most highly regarded by their father, Lord Charlton. A beauty admired by all, she is never without a full dance card and often finds herself the center of attention. The only person she doesn't get along with, it seems, is Nora. Though she has many admirers and suitors, it appears that no one is quite good enough for Emma, as she is as yet unmarried.

Gilbert has been the next-door neighbor of the Charltons for ten years in their London townhouse on Eaton Square. Nora has secretly been in love with him all ten years, though he hardly seems to notice her. With curly brown hair and light brown eyes, Nora considers him the kindest man of her acquaintance. He is also the most unconventional man of her acquaintance, enjoying the morbid as much as she. But he has yet to ask Nora for even one dance, and often appears to be hiding secrets of his own.

Viktor comes unexpectedly into Nora's life with the opening of the Great Exhibition in London. Originally from Prussia, Viktor is well-traveled and well-regarded as a wealthy and successful inventor in America. With his dark, penetrating eyes, Viktor is at once charming and playful, successfully distracting Nora from her other interests. But with his German background and limited knowledge of societal rules and etiquette, he may not be regarded by everyone as the most proper of suitors.

Anthony is a young doctor who has recently set up a medical practice in London. He has a look of gentle innocence about him, with a meek, nervous, and excruciatingly shy demeanor that is often akin to an injured animal. Though Anthony seems to take a liking to Arianna, his overly secretive and mysterious behavior does nothing to recommend him for Nora's approval.

Sidney, a friend of Viktor's, is also introduced to the Charlton sisters with the opening of the Great Exhibition. AS a member of the land gentry, Sidney has arrived in London from his expansive estate in Barbados, with a tanned complexion and a considerable fortune. Charming, handsome, and the picture of a perfect gentleman, he seems the perfect match for Emma, if not for a nagging feeling that Nora has met him before.