Background

Meriel Cavendish, Lady Harvey was born Meriel Riley-Smith in 1901 in Glamorgan, Wales, the great-granddaughter of prominent Welsh archaeologist Lord Rhys-Davies and the only child of the current baron.

The Welsh family had, through the generations, kept up their forbearer's tradition of romping all over the world in the search of artifacts, and Meriel's parents were no exception. By the age of sixteen, she had lived in a dozen countries, spoke as many languages, and had survived bouts with typhoid, yellow fever and malaria with no ill effects. Lady Rhys-Davies had proven not so lucky, however, and succumbed to malaria.

The family returned to Wales; Lord Rhys-Davies was broken by the death of his wife and lost his love of adventuring. Meriel enrolled at Lady Margaret Hall (Oxford) where she read history and literature. She threw herself into her studies and graduated with honors.

Soon after graduation she met and married Lord Harvey, a diplomat thirty years her senior. Though the marriage was happy and they couple was blessed with an "heir and a spare," Lady Harvey grew bored with her pentathelon compeitions: she needed more. Her husband, who had retired, re-entered the diplomatic corps, taking his wife and sons with him. He also urged her into public service -- and it was the best thing he could have done. Meriel thrived in the active and chaotic enviroment of her work, and when Lord Harvey died the following year, it was the only way she could deal with her grief.

Her sons live with their grandfather, Lord Rhys-Davies (the eldest is the current Lord Harvey, while his younger brother is the heir to the barony of Rhys-Davies, as Meriel's father had no male heir). The current Lord Harvey is Peter Cavendish and is now eight; Lord Jonathan Cavendish is six. Both are instructed by private tutors and their grandfather.

Personality

Happiest when busy, Meriel has thrown herself into her government work with gusto. She loves talking to people and collecting information about them - not just for government use, but simply for the joy of acquiring the information. She recalls birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions for her friends around the world and always repays favors in kind.

While not a bad mother, Meriel is not doting. She enjoys having her sons with her whenever possible, but is not good at expressing her love for them verbally. Yet as they've grown older she has grown closer to them through their correspondance: when she is away, she writes frequent and lengthy letters about her travels and work and always sends expensive gifts. She is looking forward to the day when they can travel with her, as she did with her parents.

Lord Norling is a prominent member of the House of Lords and British diplomat. Meriel instantly took a disliking to him and considers him a rival. She knows it's irrational, but she suspects he worked against her husband in the Lords -- and so she enjoys showing him up whenever she can.

Powers/Tactics

She's a good all-around athlete, but Meriel possesses no powers per se. She is immune to diseases and is rather lucky, yet her greatest gift is a wide network of contacts around the world -- she has spent more time in Kabul than Kent, and she's proud of it.

Appearance

Now thirty-three, Meriel is a handsome woman. She can endure any manner of physical privations without complaint, but when given the chance she will dress to the nines. She is of medium height and thin, with black hair, gray eyes and a large mouth. Her tone is lilting and no matter which language she speaks, it carries a degree of a Welsh accent.

Character copyright SCM, 2001