One Last Winter of War Characters

The central narrator and heroine, Kate Linton comes to Brockmere as a distant Redfern cousin and falls in love with Harry Redfern. She later hides as Mrs Matthews after bearing Harry's son and works as a nurse in London and France. Her story is shaped by forbidden love, parental deception, and her struggle to protect her child.

Arc: She moves from an innocent girl dreaming of marriage to a grieving, independent nurse and mother. After learning the truth about Harry and Selina's secret, she releases Paul and reconciles with Harry.

• Harry Redfern — her lover and the father of her son; believed for much of the story to be her half-brother
• Emma Linton — her mother
• Sir Gerald Redfern — her biological father
• Lady Selina Redfern — took her in and was later called Aunt Selina
• Prue Redfern — her half-sister, estranged at first and later friendly
• Jean Butts — close friend and fellow nurse
• Paul de Bernay — suitor, friend, and benefactor
• Richard (Kate's son) — her son
• Simon Goldhayes — acquaintance and Bella's friend
• Rosie — former maid and friend
• Sandy Jones — fellow nurse and friend
• Dr David Matthews — colleague and suitor whose name she uses as her supposed husband
• Bella — her friend

The Redfern son and heir to Brockmere, Harry is Kate's lover and initially plans to marry her. His life is shattered by Prue's claim that he and Kate share a father, and he joins the army, suffering shell shock and nightmares. He later learns Sir Gerald is not his blood father and reconciles with Kate.

Arc: He goes from a confident heir in love to a bitter, traumatized soldier who rejects Kate, then to a man able to acknowledge Richard as his son and return to Brockmere with Kate.

• Kate Linton — his lover and the mother of his son
• Sir Gerald Redfern — the man who raised him as a son, though not his blood father
• Lady Selina Redfern — his mother
• Prue Redfern — his sister
• Bob — friend and comrade who died saving him
• Simon Goldhayes — acquaintance
• Clare Brackley — the woman he says he will marry when he rejects Kate
• Richard (Kate's son) — his son

Kate's mother, Emma Linton, is a liar and fugitive whose deceptions about illness and paternity drive the novel's secrets. She lives in Paris as Emmeline Dubois, takes Marc Normand as a lover, and is later revealed to be alive in France. Her arc is marked by guilt, alcoholism, and attempts to make amends.

Arc: She moves from abandoning Kate under a false death to caring for the wounded Marc, then to revealing the truth about Harry and finally to an ambiguous freedom on a train in Austria.

• Kate Linton — her daughter
• Sir Gerald Redfern — former lover and Kate's biological father
• Richard Linton — her husband, whom she called Froggie
• Lady Selina Redfern — Gerald's wife, who believed Emma's lie
• Paul de Bernay — former lover
• Marc Normand — her lover and the wounded man she cares for
• Emmeline Dubois — her friend whose identity she took
• Armand — abusive former lover

A Frenchman and former lover of Emma, Paul de Bernay later becomes Kate's friend, benefactor, and suitor. He conceals from Kate that Harry is alive and that Emma is alive, hoping to marry Kate himself. He is generous but possessive and is ultimately released by Kate.

Arc: He shifts from Emma's lover to Kate's protector and would-be husband, then loses Kate when his concealments are exposed and Emma reveals the truth.

• Kate Linton — friend, benefactor, and suitor
• Emma Linton — former lover
• Marianne — his wife
• Marc Normand — speaks of him as a brave hero of France
• Richard (Kate's son) — provides for Kate's son

The Redfern patriarch, husband of Lady Selina, and father of Prue and Kate, Sir Gerald is a cowardly concealer of paternity. He had affairs with Emma Linton and Maggie Grant and waits too long to tell Harry the truth. He later asks Kate's forgiveness and asks Harry to run Brockmere.

Arc: He moves from distant authority to confessed father, but his concealments have already caused devastation; he ends by trying to keep the family together and to provide for Richard.

• Kate Linton — his daughter
• Harry Redfern — raised him as a son, though not his blood father
• Prue Redfern — his daughter
• Lady Selina Redfern — his wife
• Emma Linton — former lover
• Maggie Grant — her lover according to Rosie

Sir Gerald's wife and mother of Harry and Prue, Lady Selina initially has other plans for Harry and had Emma sent away. She later grows fond of Kate, warns her against marrying Harry, and dies before revealing her secret. Her sealed letter reveals Harry is not Gerald's son.

Arc: She moves from disapproving chatelaine to penitent confidante, leaving Kate the choice whether to tell Harry the truth.

• Harry Redfern — her son
• Prue Redfern — her daughter
• Sir Gerald Redfern — her husband
• Kate Linton — took her in and later befriended her
• Emma Linton — had her sent away

Harry's sister and Kate's half-sister, Prue reveals the secret that Kate and Harry share a father after reading Emma's letter. She is jealous of Harry as heir, later apologizes, divorces Michael, and reinvents herself in Bohemian London. She helps bring Kate and Harry back together.

Arc: She moves from jealous truth-teller to estranged wife to independent woman who reads Kate's letter and sends Harry to the cottage.

• Harry Redfern — her brother
• Kate Linton — her half-sister
• Lady Selina Redfern — her mother
• Sir Gerald Redfern — her father
• Michael — her husband, later estranged
• Paul de Bernay — the man she secretly lost her heart to

A fellow volunteer nurse and Kate's close friend, Jean is practical, gossipy, and eager to enjoy life. She marries Tom Rees despite his amputation and supports Kate through pregnancy and single motherhood. She is also referred to as Jean Bates.

Arc: She moves from Kate's training companion to a married woman and mother, remaining Kate's loyal friend.

• Kate Linton — close friend and fellow nurse
• Tom Rees — suitor and later husband
• Sandy Jones — fellow nurse and tentmate

A haunted acquaintance of Kate and the man who loved Bella, Simon Goldhayes confesses his part in Bella's death and is consumed by guilt. He is wounded in France, dies of his wounds, and leaves Kate ten thousand pounds. Kate comforts and forgives him.

Arc: He moves from guilty confessor to mortally wounded soldier; his bequest is refused by Kate and redirected to widows.

• Bella — the woman he loved
• Kate Linton — acquaintance
• Harry Redfern — acquaintance

Kate and Harry's son, Richard is born after Harry is believed dead and becomes the focus of Kate's protective deception. He is cared for by Kate, Mrs Johnson, and later Paul's household. Harry finally acknowledges him as his son.

Arc: He is an infant throughout, but his existence forces Kate's choices about secrecy, marriage, and reconciliation.

• Kate Linton — his mother
• Harry Redfern — his father
• Emma Linton — his grandmother
• Paul de Bernay — provides for him
• Sir Gerald Redfern — would leave Brockmere in trust for him

Emma's deceased husband, whom she called Froggie, Richard Linton was made to believe Kate was his child. It is later revealed that he could not have children, which confirms Sir Gerald as Kate's father. Emma resented the responsibility thrust on her after his death.

Arc: He exists only in memory and as a disputed father, but his infertility is central to the paternity revelation.

• Emma Linton — his wife
• Kate Linton — believed to be his daughter
• Sir Gerald Redfern — betrayed him with Emma

A young French officer, Marc Normand becomes Emma's lover and later a badly wounded, disfigured man she cares for. He fears abandonment, discovers his sight returning, and kills himself after Antoinette recoils from his face. Paul calls him a hero of France.

Arc: He moves from Emma's hopeful lover to dependent patient to suicide after seeing his scarred face.

• Emma Linton — his lover and caregiver
• Jacques — friend whose life he saved
• Antoinette — former fiancée who left him for money

A Brockmere maid who looks after Kate, Rosie is fond of her and later becomes a friend. She tells Kate about seeing Sir Gerald and Maggie Grant leave the Folly, and she warns Kate about Harry's moods. She also reports Simon Goldhayes's departure.

Arc: She remains a loyal servant and confidante, moving from maid to friend.

• Kate Linton — maid and later friend
• Harry Redfern — servant who observes his moods
• Sir Gerald Redfern — witnessed him leaving the Folly
• Maggie Grant — witnessed her leaving the Folly

A field hospital nurse who shares a tent with Kate and Jean, Sandy Jones is experienced and blunt. She confronts Kate about overwork, guesses her pregnancy, and helps her through it while keeping the secret.

Arc: She becomes Kate's protective confidante in France.

• Kate Linton — friend and confidante
• Jean Butts — fellow nurse and tentmate

Jean's suitor and later husband, Tom Rees is wounded at the Front and has his right leg amputated. He remains cheerful and marries Jean, planning to work in the stores.

Arc: He moves from soldier to wounded veteran to husband.

• Jean Butts — his wife
• Kate Linton — friend through Jean

Dr David Matthews is a field hospital doctor who takes Kate to Ypres because she speaks French. He behaves as a gentleman after Kate's drunken proposition and is later killed in No Man's Land. Kate uses his name as her supposed husband.

Arc: He moves from colleague and suitor to casualty of war; his death shocks Kate.

• Kate Linton — colleague and suitor
• Matron — his superior

Prue's governess and Kate's piano teacher, Maggie Grant was withdrawn and secretive. She cast herself down from the Folly, and the postmortem revealed she was with child. Rosie identifies Sir Gerald as her lover.

Arc: She is dead before the story, but her fate exposes Sir Gerald's betrayals.

• Prue Redfern — her governess
• Kate Linton — taught her piano
• Sir Gerald Redfern — her lover according to Rosie
• Rosie — witnessed her leaving the Folly

Kate's friend and the woman Simon Goldhayes loved, Bella chose the river after fearing a forced marriage to a man she hated. Simon's advances terrified her, and she drowned despite his rescue attempt.

Arc: She exists in memory and guilt, shaping Simon's ruin and Kate's grief.

• Kate Linton — her friend
• Simon Goldhayes — the man who loved her and whose advances terrified her

A young officer and friend of Marc, Jacques finds Emma at the café and takes her to Marc's hospital bed. He explains Marc saved his life and tells Emma about Antoinette.

Arc: He serves as the link that brings Emma back to Marc.

• Marc Normand — friend whose life Marc saved
• Emma Linton — escorts her to Marc

Marc's former fiancée, Antoinette left him for a man with money while he was in the army. She visits the cottage, recoils in horror from his scarred face, and triggers his suicide.

Arc: She appears briefly as the cause of Marc's final despair.

• Marc Normand — his former fiancée
• Emma Linton — confronted by Emma as she flees

Paul's wife from an unsuitable marriage, Marianne is in a nursing home and is described as turning against him. By 1919 Paul says he is free to propose to Kate, and notes call Marianne deceased.

Arc: She remains offstage but explains Paul's unhappiness and eventual freedom.

• Paul de Bernay — his wife
• Emma Linton — Emma compares herself to her

Prue's husband, Michael marries her at Brockmere but later the marriage ends in separation and divorce. He is mentioned as part of Prue's dissatisfaction with her old life.

Arc: He moves from husband to estranged husband as Prue reinvents herself.

• Prue Redfern — her husband, later estranged

Helen Forrest is an acquaintance who visits Brockmere and later spots Kate at the Ritz. She speaks warmly of Lady Selina and insists on getting Kate's address.

Arc: She remains a minor link to Kate's Brockmere past.

• Kate Linton — acquaintance
• Lady Selina Redfern — speaks warmly of her

A Brockmere servant, Bates meets Kate at the station, admires Richard, and drives her to the house. He relays news of Lady Selina's illness, Prue's separation, and Harry's condition without censuring Kate.

Arc: He remains a loyal household servant and source of news.

• Kate Linton — welcomes her back to Brockmere
• Harry Redfern — reports on his condition
• Prue Redfern — relays her separation
• Lady Selina Redfern — speaks of her illness

The ward sister who supervises Kate's early nursing training, Sister MacKenzie is a dedicated professional who treats Kate as a privileged girl. She scolds her for lateness and assigns her to the sluice room.

Arc: She remains a stern but professional supervisor.

• Kate Linton — her ward sister

The matron of Kate's hospital, Matron enforces rules and reprimands Kate for leaving without a pass. She later reports David Matthews's death and grants Kate compassionate leave.

Arc: She moves from strict disciplinarian to a superior who acknowledges Kate's grief and need for rest.

• Kate Linton — her superior
• Dr David Matthews — reports his death to Kate

A ward sister in France, Sister Manning sharply tells Kate not to waste time with the dead and to help the living. She represents the brutal pragmatism of wartime nursing.

Arc: She appears briefly as a voice of duty amid Kate's grief.

• Kate Linton — her superior in the ward

The owner of the tea shop where Kate works under the name Mrs Matthews, Mr Young is kind and believes she is a war widow. He is sorry to lose her and says she may return.

Arc: He remains a sympathetic employer in Kate's hidden life.

• Kate Linton — her employer

Kate's landlady, Mrs Bailey lets her stay until the birth is imminent and helps her get a cab when labour begins. She says she must think of her other tenants.

Arc: She is a practical landlady in Kate's confinement.

• Kate Linton — her landlady

Paul engages Mrs Johnson to cook, clean, and care for Richard in his flat. She looks after Richard on Kate's birthday and is left with him while Kate visits the solicitor.

Arc: She remains a supportive household figure in Kate's postwar life.

• Kate Linton — her housekeeper
• Richard (Kate's son) — caregiver
• Paul de Bernay — engaged by Paul

Emma's sick friend, Emmeline Dubois, was nursed by Emma until her death and gave permission for Emma to take her identity. Emma lives under her name in Paris and later in France.

Arc: She exists offstage as the source of Emma's false identity.

• Emma Linton — friend whose identity Emma took

Emma's former casual lover, Armand was an artist who beat and used her. She found the courage to leave him and stopped drinking.

Arc: He remains a dark memory in Emma's past.

• Emma Linton — abusive former lover

Harry's friend and comrade, Bob died saving Harry by knocking him down and covering him with his own body. Harry's nightmares and survival guilt center on Bob's death.

Arc: He exists in memory as the cause of Harry's trauma.

• Harry Redfern — friend and comrade who died saving him

Clare Brackley is the woman Harry says he intends to marry when he rejects Kate at Brockmere. She does not appear directly.

Arc: She is a false future Harry claims in his bitterness.

• Harry Redfern — the woman he says he will marry

Sir Mortimer is mentioned as having threatened Emma with an asylum, part of the pressure that drove her away. He does not appear.

Arc: He remains a shadowy figure in Emma's past.

• Emma Linton — threatened her with an asylum

Nurse Brody delivers Sir Gerald's urgent letter to Kate in September, reporting that Harry is missing and believed dead. She appears only briefly.

Arc: She serves as the bearer of the news that shocks Kate.

• Kate Linton — delivers Sir Gerald's urgent letter to her