Marthe is an orphan who was raised at the Lafayette Memorial Foundation's preventorium during the years leading up to World War II. Employed as a teacher at the castle, she utilizes her keen artistic talents to manage the increasingly restrictive policies of the Vichy government. She quietly gathers and distributes black-market goods to support the local community.

Born into the wealthy and influential Noailles family in 18th-century France, Adrienne possesses a questioning mind despite her era's strict expectations of absolute obedience. She manages courtly maneuvers in French high society while her husband fights in the American Revolution. To support his efforts, she takes over the management of their estates and establishes a presence as a formidable political hostess.

A former Broadway performer who married into a wealthy New York family, Beatrice faces the steady collapse of her marriage. Stranded in Europe as the Great War breaks out, she shifts her focus to establishing a war relief charity named after the Marquis de Lafayette. She utilizes her vast social network to gather vital supplies for soldiers on the front lines.

Gilbert is a provincial noble who marries into the prominent Noailles family. Initially mocked at the French court for his background, he adopts his family's ambitious motto, "Why not?" He develops an intense interest in the American fight for independence and relies on his wife's social management to maintain his standing in France while he pursues military action abroad.

A wealthy New York society figure, explorer, and politician. William has been estranged from his wife, Beatrice, for five years. Following a severe leg injury, he pushes his family away and turns to alcohol to cope with his physical and emotional distress, actively resisting his wife's efforts to intervene.

An enforcer of the Nazi regime occupying France. He embodies the ruthless violence and ideological fanaticism of his government. His presence in the region introduces immediate physical danger to the local population and heightens the stakes for anyone engaged in subversive activities.

Heir to a cognac fortune and a former banker, Maxime serves as a liaison between the French and British military during World War I. He treats Beatrice with a level of care and attention that she lacks in her marriage, providing a steady presence in an otherwise chaotic environment.

The daughter of Baroness Emily de LaGrange, Anna returns to Chavaniac during the early days of World War II. With her husband held as a prisoner of war, she considers collaborating with programs sanctioned by the Vichy government to secure his release. She reconnects with Marthe, sparking a complex dynamic between the childhood friends.

Operating under the Vichy government's authority in the town near Chavaniac, Sergeant Travert enforces the law with a quiet skepticism. He possesses sharp observational skills, quickly catching on to the illegal activities occurring around the castle. He approaches the local resistance efforts with a cautious pragmatism.

A former member of the French military whose Jewish heritage forces him into hiding under the Vichy government. He fiercely protects his children and hesitates to accept outside help, knowing the severe risks involved. His situation prompts the local community to test the limits of their silent defiance.

Marthe's childhood friend and romantic partner. He is quickly conscripted into the French military as the war escalates. Before departing for the front lines, he gives Marthe his mother's ring, solidifying their commitment in a time of deep uncertainty.

A wealthy New York heiress and close companion to Beatrice. Emily joins her friend in the frantic escape from Paris at the dawn of World War I. She later contributes to the Lafayette Fund and navigates her own developing romance with a French baron while assisting in the war relief efforts.

The Duc d'Ayen is a powerful French noble who heavily influences his daughter's early life choices. He expects strict obedience and adherence to courtly traditions. He actively attempts to block Gilbert's participation in the American Revolution, preferring to maintain the king's neutrality and his family's reputation.

Adrienne's mother and the Duchesse d'Ayen. She adheres strictly to the expectations of the French nobility, emphasizing duty and proper lineage. She provides a conservative, traditional presence in her daughter's early life at court.

Henri's mother and a local resident of the Chavaniac region. She quietly defies the Vichy government's oppressive laws by offering her home as a sanctuary for those targeted by the regime. She maintains a quiet strength while her son fights in the war.

A young man from Chavaniac who is conscripted alongside his friend Henri. He faces the harsh realities of a prisoner of war camp before managing to return to the castle, where he continues to discreetly assist the local resistance network.

An authoritative administrative figure at the castle who handles the logistics of the preventorium. She is pragmatic and keenly aware of the growing political dangers, particularly regarding her own Jewish heritage, prompting her to rely on Marthe for covert assistance.

A titled French noble working in diplomatic and military circles. He becomes romantically involved with Emily Sloane, later maintaining his position at Chavaniac under the Vichy government, where his political decisions create tension among the castle's residents.

A young girl whose family is forced into hiding from the Vichy government. Her suspected tuberculosis diagnosis creates an urgent need for medical care, prompting those around her to risk falsifying documents to secure her admission into the Chavaniac preventorium.

The young queen holds immense power and influence over the French nobility. She embodies the extravagant, traditional ways of the French court and frequently expects loyalty and entertainment from her subjects, creating a rigid social environment that Adrienne must carefully manage.

Beatrice's nephew, a young American who feels a strong pull toward the brewing conflict in Europe. Against his family's wishes, he chooses to remain in France and enlist in the military rather than returning to the safety of New York, demonstrating a strong moral conviction.

A staff member at Chavaniac who rigidly supports the Vichy government's conservative rules. She holds prejudices against those who do not conform to the regime's ideals and actively monitors the staff and children for perceived infractions.

A woman managing the complex, rumor-filled society of the French court. She seeks Adrienne's help when her social standing is severely threatened by public gossip, highlighting the precarious position of women reliant on male protection in 18th-century Paris.