Beatrice Lacy

The daughter of the Squire of Wideacre. Beatrice can hear the "heartbeat" of Wideacre and knows the land as no young lady ought. While Harry is away at school, her Papa takes her with him as he cares diligently for their land and Beatrice learns all the things necessary for caring for the estate and its people. She is still young when her father reminds her that she is going away someday. Until that point, she knows that young ladies of the family marry and move into their husband's lives, but had not really thought it would apply to her. With that knowledge, her childhood ends.

She connects with Ralph, son of a gypsy who works as gamekeeper on Wideacre and the two become lovers. When Harry returns from school, Beatrice finds that he is now Papa's constant companion as he is groomed to be Squire of...