Edith Lavery

Edith Lavery is the main character in the novel. She is in her late 20s when the novel begins, single, and works as a receptionist in London, England. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Stella Lavery, and still lives with them in their London apartment. She is very attractive and has a charming personality.

Edith's parents are comfortably affluent and belong to the upper-middle class. Edith's mother, who is distantly related to an ancestor with a minor title of nobility, has affected the manners and customs of the upper class and aspires for Edith to some day marry into an upper class family. As a result, Edith is sent to the same private schools attended by upper-class girls and is given a debutante party in the same fashion as her upper-class classmates. Despite affecting all the traditions and manners of the upper class, however, Edith is...