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Villy was brought up to do what is expected of her – to marry, have children and look after them. She gladly relinquished her career with the Royal Ballet in order to marry Edward, but she has come to regret this decision more and more and that her life could have been so much more. She feels hugely betrayed by Edward divorcing her and marrying Diana. After the failure of a dance school she ran with Villy her life feels empty with her youngest son Roland away at school. She has given a home to Miss Milliment her old Governess, but this act of kindness proves to be heart breaking for Villy. Increasingly she comes to realise that her own bitterness towards Edward has damaged both hers and Roland’s life.

Roland is Villy’s youngest son by Edward. He has been away at public school which he hated. He loves his mother but he has often lacked the companionship of children his own age. As Villy stayed away from Home Place after her divorce from Edward he doesn’t really know his cousins and has spent many holidays alone. He despises his father for leaving his mother.