Lady Emily 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, an iconoclast and 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, a Bryn Mawr-educated Latinist with little tolerance for society's rules
Lady Catherine Bromley — Emily's mother, wife of Earl Bromley, former lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria
Charles Berry — A gentleman newly arrived in London who claims to be a direct descendant of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI
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
David Francis — A gentleman and patron of the arts
Beatrice Francis — David Francis's wife
Lady Frideswide — A terrifying society matron bent on seeing her daughter married to the Duke of Bainbridge
Lettice Frideswide — Lady Frideswide's daughter, who is not in the least interested in marrying the Duke of Bainbridge
Lord Basil Fortescue — Queen Victoria's most trusted political adviser, widely considered the most powerful man in the Empire
Mrs. Reynold-Plympton — A lady who takes great interest in politics
Lady Elinor Routledge — Longtime friend of Emily's family, widow of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Isabelle Routledge — Lady Elinor's extremely romantic daughter
Lord Thomas Pembroke ("Tommy") — the Viscount Langley, eldest son of the Earl of Westbrook
Lady Elliott — A devoted friend of Lady Bromley's and one of London's most fiercely judgmental society ladies
Michael Barber — A sculptor
Jane Stilleman — Beatrice Francis's maid
Molly, Bridget, and Gabby — Maids at the Savoy hotel
Meg — Emily's maid
Davis — Emily's incomparable butler