Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of ableism and mental illness.

Constance is the novel’s protagonist, and she is a dynamic character who initially hopes to be thought of as pretty but becomes much more concerned about being truly competent and purposeful. The novel is largely shaped by her character trajectory, as she is changed by exposure to new people, experiences, and opinions. Her initial desire for social acceptance has long dictated her behavior, especially in regard to the family of Lady Mercer, her mother’s childhood friend. However, when she assumed control of the Mercers’ estate bookkeeping during the war, Constance gained a level of financial independence and personal liberty that proves too alluring to resist in the postwar era. This work made her feel important for reasons other than her physical attractiveness or potential to be a wife and mother, and it gave her a taste of how empowering it could be to earn a living for oneself rather than being beholden to others for support. Throughout the novel’s action, Constance gains increased confidence as she navigates the tricky social landscape of the postwar era. By the novel’s end, when Lady Mercer sees Constance greeting arrivals at the Wirralls’ ball, “[s]he frown[s], but Constance g[ives] her only a bold smile in return, finding herself at last impervious to […] put-downs.