•
Carol Day: A young female model.
Family members •
Marcus Axel: Carol's uncle and guardian. He collects African art. •
Richard Axel: Carol's uncle, who owns the Caribbean island Gabriela. •
Cousin Hugo: Carol's cousin who is the
black sheep of the family. He is an associate of con-man Vernon Flowers and always begs for money when he is at Carol's place.
Friends •
Michael Fletcher: A photographer and first fiancé of Carol. •
Joe Wilson: Australian photographer and Carol's second fiancé. •
Charles Logan: A friend of Carol whom she fancies. •
Mark Lovell: A jazz musician. Brother of Nora Lovell. •
Nora Lovell: Carol's schoolmate and early roommate in London. Sister of Mark Lovell. •
Max Kessell: Mark Lovell's roommate and fellow musician. •
Adam Boone: A friend of Carol who is a reclusive sculptor. •
Clive Ellis: An artist and friend of Carol. •
Jack Slingsby: An artist and friend of Carol. •
Angela Logan: A friend of Carol who is a model. •
Baines: Butler of Marcus Axel. Carol often takes him in confidence. •
Humphrey Patcham •
Oswald Patcham: Son of Humphrey Patcham, who develops a crush on Carol. •
Vernon Flowers: A con-man and a criminal who is a bad influence on Carol's cousin Hugo.
Side characters •
Arnold Tracy: An older man who tries to make Carol love him. •
Reverend William Evans: A
vicar in Marcus Axel's village. •
Commander Black: A retired commander and good friend of Uncle Marcus. He is the father of Edward Black. •
Edward Black: Son of Commander Black. He is a spoiled man. •
Captain Riker: Friend of the Patcham who keeps over Oswald. •
Paul Egan: Head of a fashion house and Carol's main employer. •
June Egan: Wife of Paul Egan. •
Jennifer Egan: Daughter of Paul Egan. •
Gillian Vane: Assistant of Paul Egan •
Henry Dietz: Owns a small Caribbean island. •
Ian Carr: Sent down from Oxford in disgrace, stays with his mother Anne. •
Peter Castle: Playwright and friend of Paul Egan. •
Tim Privett: Friend of Uncle Richard. •
Doctor Gomez: A black doctor who lives on the Caribbean island Gabriela. •
Sarah: Uncle Richard's black housekeeper. •
Joe Wilson •
Simon Ware: An assistant of Joe Wilson who suffers from mental problems. He develops an obsession with Carol. == Story Lines ==