Billie Piper and Julie Walters head
all-star cast in
Philip Pullman's The
Ruby In The Smoke
Character profiles
Sally Lockhart
Sally may only be 19 years old but she's a remarkable young woman - beautiful, with extraordinary strength and determination. She was orphaned when her father, shipping agent Matthew Lockhart, drowned when his ship went down in the South China Seas.
Sally and her father were very close. Her upbringing was pretty eccentric: he taught her all about book-keeping, how to fire a pistol, and how to speak Hindustani like a native. Not exactly the ideal accomplishments of a Victorian lady.
But Sally's remarkable assets will prove very useful indeed, as she is drawn into the dark web of secrets surrounding her father's death.
Sally receives a note from a stranger which puts her in grave danger - particularly when she crosses the path of a terrifying old hag called Mrs Holland. But Sally also finds new friends in Jim Taylor, the company dogsbody at her father's firm, and the handsome photographer Frederick Garland. Together, they set about solving the mystery - and form close new friendships along the way...
Mrs Holland
Mrs Holland is evil through and through. She runs a dingy lodging house in Hangman's Wharf in the darkest corner of Wapping, near the London docks.
She rules this world with an iron fist, treating all who work for her with cruelty and contempt. Her young maid, Adelaide, lives in a constant state of terror. Even the burly thugs who do Mrs Holland's dirtiest work are too scared to cross her.
But Mrs Holland was not always a malevolent old crone. In her youth, she was a great beauty and buried deep in this past-life is a secret which will lead Mrs Holland straight to Sally Lockhart.
For she is totally obsessed with getting her hands on the famous Ruby of Agrapur. And, unknowingly, Sally is the only person who can stop her...
Adelaide
Mrs Holland's small maid, only ten years old and covered in grime. But somewhere beneath the filth is a sweet young girl with flaxen hair and huge eyes - eyes haunted by a permanent and soul-destroying fear.
Because Adelaide is scared to death of Mrs Holland's threats. If she makes a mistake, tries to run away, or even just stews the tea, then Mrs Holland swears she'll murder her and throw her body in the yard. It's no idle promise either - Adelaide has seen the bones of the last maid and she's desperate not to meet the same fate.
But Adelaide can't help but be drawn into the mystery surrounding Sally Lockhart and the Ruby of Agrapur. And even though she finds some firm friends in the shape of Jim Taylor, Sally and Frederick Garland, it is all but inevitable that Mrs Holland will discover Adelaide is working against her...
Frederick Garland
Frederick is a photographer, boyishly handsome, in his late twenties with straw-coloured hair and good-natured features. He meets Sally Lockhart by chance when he helps her escape from Mrs Holland, who is in hot pursuit.
Soon, he becomes Sally's closest friend - and takes her under his wing when she needs somewhere to stay in London. It's not long before an attraction grows between him and Sally, which could turn into something special.
Frederick runs a small photography studio and shop in Holborn with his fiesty sister Rosa. But whilst Frederick has a fine creative brain, he isn't up to much when it comes to accounting so the business is not doing very well.
When Sally moves in, she takes over the book-keeping and helps bring some order to the business side of things. In return, Frederick supports Sally in her quest to solve the mystery of her father's death, and overcome the evil Mrs Holland.
Jim Taylor
The company dogsbody at the Lockhart and Selby shipping firm. Jim is in his late teens, with a slightly unkempt and grimy appearance. He's lively, intelligent, and above all a true and loyal friend.
In his spare time, Jim loves reading Penny Dreadful comics - their boys' own adventures and fiendish riddles appeal to his spirit of adventure.
He's a great amateur detective too. Which makes him an absolutely indispensable help for Sally as she attempts to piece together the mystery surrounding the Ruby of Agrapur.
Jim quickly becomes great friends with Frederick and Rosa, and takes little Adelaide under his wing. He'd do anything to save her - even if it means going against the evil Mrs Holland.
Rosa Garland
Frederick's sister, a fiesty and incredibly smart actress. She's unconventional, outspoken and knows her brother so well that they tend to finish each other's sentences off. When they're not arguing, that is.
When Sally comes to live at Garland's, Rosa is a strong ally and friend to her and they grow almost as close as sisters. Rosa also finds herself growing very fond of the Reverend Nicholas Bedwell - who is drawn into her life because of his connection with Lockhart and Selby, and the death of Sally's father.
Matthew Bedwell
Matthew Bedwell worked for Sally's father, and was aboard the very ship which sank drowning him. Now, he's back in London with one mission. To tell Sally the truth about what happened.
But unfortunately Matthew is an opium addict, a dark obsessive habit which threatens to overcome him. He falls into the wrong hands, ending up in Mrs Holland's lodging house. Matthew manages to get word to Sally through Mrs Holland's maid, Adelaide.
It will take all their best efforts - and those of Matthew's twin brother, Nicholas - to get him out of harm's way...
Nicholas Bedwell
Nicholas Bedwell is the curate of St John's, Summertown Oxford. He's also got a remarkably fine right hook, having boxed for his university. It's a skill which comes in very useful when Nicholas has to fight Mrs Holland and her thugs in order to rescue his poor twin brother, Matthew.
Nicholas is loyal, strong, wise and kind - a great friend to Sally Lockhart, and a real thorn in Mrs Holland's side.
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