Content Warning: This section discusses abuse.

Sophie is a protagonist of the novel, one of the romantic leads, and a frequent point-of-view character. She has dark blond, curly hair; moss-green eyes; and pale skin. She is the secret daughter of the Earl of Penwood through an affair that he had with a lady’s maid. Sophie’s mother died giving birth to her, and when Sophie was three years old, her maternal grandmother brought her to Penwood’s doorstep, hoping that he would take her in. The resemblance between them made the household aware that Sophie was likely the earl’s daughter, though he never acknowledged her as such. Instead, he treated her as his ward.

Sophie longed for love and affection from her father, who was distant and reserved. When he remarried and Sophie learned that the new countess had daughters around her age, she hoped that she would have a mother and sisters to love her. She was hurt when her new stepmother rejected her and disappointed that her stepsisters followed suit. Worse was when Rosamund, the older sister, was cruel and pinched Sophie while they were taking lessons with their shared governess. Sophie, who would never be unkind or intentionally hurt another person, bore these pinches without complaining; she was afraid to exacerbate Araminta’s disapproval by seeming to cause trouble.