Margaret is a solitary amateur biographer who works in her father's rare bookshop. Her deep passion for nineteenth-century gothic literature significantly influences how she views the world and interacts with others. She lives with the silent trauma of losing her conjoined twin sister at birth, a grief that isolates her from her fragile mother. When invited to write the biography of England's most famous living author, Margaret travels to Yorkshire to uncover the truth.

Vida is England's most celebrated and financially successful author, famous for her collection *Thirteen Tales*, which notably contains only twelve stories. Known for inventing fictional pasts for herself during interviews, she finally decides to share her true history as her health rapidly declines. She presents her life story starting with her birth as Adeline March and her chaotic upbringing at the Angelfield estate. She commands the room with an imposing physical presence that gradually softens as she tells her history.

Hester is a highly intelligent, self-assured governess hired to bring order to the chaotic Angelfield household. Though her physical features are plain, she possesses a commanding energy that immediately asserts authority over the estate's neglected children. She views her charges not just as pupils but as subjects for psychological study. Frustrated by the societal limitations placed on women scholars, she manipulates the local doctor into partnering on her research.

John represents the fourth generation of his family to tend the gardens at the Angelfield estate. He takes immense pride in his elaborate topiary garden, planting and pruning according to the cycles of the moon. As the household structure fails, he quietly assumes additional domestic duties to keep the estate running. He prefers the predictable order of nature over the volatile humans living inside the house.

Charlie is the violent, unchecked heir to the Angelfield estate. Left to his own devices by a grieving father, he drives away most of the household staff with his sadistic behavior. He develops an intense, obsessive attachment to his younger sister that dictates his entire existence. When Isabelle is removed from the home, he spirals into profound distress and isolation.

Emmeline is one of the twins raised in near-total isolation at the Angelfield estate. She communicates with her sister in a private language and operates with no understanding of social boundaries. Unlike her more volatile twin, Emmeline shows a slight willingness to adapt when the governess enforces structure. She possesses a placid demeanor that masks her complete detachment from the outside world.

Aurelius is a gentle, large man who lives in a stone cottage near the ruins of the Angelfield estate. He works as a local caterer and feels an unexplainable, lifelong connection to the destroyed house. Abandoned as an infant on a nearby doorstep, he possesses only a few strange items from the night he was found. He eagerly searches for clues about his origins while offering warm hospitality to visitors.

Isabelle grows up completely unchecked at the Angelfield estate after her father withdraws into grief. She outsmarts her brother's cruel games, becoming the center of his obsessive attention. Disappearing after a summer romance, she returns months later as a widow with twin daughters. She shows no interest in parenting, wandering her filthy family home in a detached daze before being moved to a psychiatric facility.

Known affectionately as the Missus, Mrs. Dunne is the longtime housekeeper at Angelfield. She tries to introduce normalcy into the twins' lives, though she lacks the authority or energy to fully control them. As she ages, her eyesight and hearing fail, making it difficult for her to maintain the large, decaying house. She shares a quiet, enduring companionship with the estate's gardener.

Dr. Maudsley acts as a community elder and physician for the village near Angelfield. He assesses Isabelle's mental state and coordinates the arrival of a governess to handle the wild children. Pompous but easily flattered, he agrees to co-author a psychological study on the twins, enjoying the intellectual stimulation. His professional boundaries blur as he grows closer to the governess.

Mrs. Maudsley is the practical wife of the local physician. She steps into the filthy Angelfield house to assess the situation, resulting in a violent encounter with Isabelle. Later, she fiercely protects her household when she discovers her husband's indiscretions.

Mr. Lea is a rare book dealer who earns a living acquiring texts for international clients. He shares a deep appreciation for literature with his daughter, supporting her amateur biographical work. He struggles to balance his affection for Margaret with the demands of caring for his chronically depressed wife.

Margaret's mother is a fragile woman who lives in a perpetual state of grief. Traumatized by a complicated delivery and the loss of one of her conjoined twins, she remains emotionally distant from her surviving daughter. She avoids the family bookshop and spends most of her time secluded at home.

Moira is Margaret's conjoined twin who died shortly after their surgical separation. Though physically absent, her memory casts a long shadow over the Lea household. Margaret feels a phantom connection to her, experiencing a persistent ache at the site of their surgical scar.

Dr. Clifton is a dedicated physician managing Vida's terminal illness. He visits the estate daily, ensuring his patient remains comfortable while urging Margaret to understand the severity of the situation. He demonstrates an attentive bedside manner, later treating Margaret when the intense research process impacts her own health.

Judith is the steadfast housekeeper at Vida's remote home. She quietly manages the daily operations of the household and cares for her employer as her health declines. She maintains a discreet presence, keeping the estate running smoothly without interfering in the biographical interviews.

Maurice serves as the driver and groundskeeper for Vida's estate. He maintains the property's elaborate, maze-like gardens, constantly smoothing over mysterious patches of disturbed soil. He works quietly alongside the housekeeper to support their ailing employer.

Ambrose is a local youth employed to assist the aging gardener with heavy labor. He works efficiently outdoors, occasionally providing game for the household to eat. He develops a casual friendship with the young women of the estate, sharing cigarettes and tea during breaks.

Mrs. Love is a kindly woman who lives in a cottage near the woods. A firm believer in superstitions, she assumes her own death is imminent after making a repetitive knitting mistake. Instead, she opens her door to find an abandoned infant, whom she immediately takes in and raises as her own.

George is the wealthy patriarch of the Angelfield estate. Completely overcome by grief following the loss of his wife, he abandons all parental responsibilities. He allows his home to fall into ruin and his children to run wild, eventually locking himself away entirely.

Roland is a neighbor boy whom Isabelle decides to pursue. He falls into a romance with her, eventually marrying her away from the estate. His sudden death from pneumonia leaves his widow alone to return to her childhood home with their infant daughters.

Mr. Lomax is the family solicitor who handles the legal and financial affairs of the Angelfield estate. He manages the household allowance and attempts to institute some oversight when the family proves incapable of governing themselves. He maintains the estate's paperwork, including official declarations of absence.

Karen is a local resident whom Margaret encounters near the ruins of Angelfield. She lives a quiet life raising her son and daughter in the nearby village. She possesses old photographs and family history that provide crucial links for Margaret's research.

Tom is a young local boy who amuses himself by finding discarded items, like a construction hat, around the demolition site. His photograph, taken by Margaret, accidentally becomes a significant piece of evidence in her investigation.

Emma is Karen's young daughter, growing up in the village near the Angelfield estate.

Shadow is the resident cat at Vida's Yorkshire home. Feline and independent, the cat provides Margaret with quiet companionship and helps keep her grounded in the present moment as she becomes dangerously consumed by her historical research.

Mary is a village woman targeted by the unchecked Angelfield twins. While she completes her daily washing, her unattended baby carriage becomes an object of intense fascination for the wild girls, leading to a dangerous incident.

Fred is a local villager whose family suffers the consequences of the Angelfield twins' complete lack of boundaries when their baby carriage is stolen.