Diana Villiers

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Revision as of 03:05, 29 May 2007

Diana Villiers is first introduced while riding in the hunt in the first chapter of Post Captain. She is a cousin to Sophie Williams, and lives as an almost penniless widow with her Williams relations.

Diana is a black haired woman with blue eyes, strikingly tall and slender. Her appearance is of some importance to her and she often capitalizes upon it. She is a woman with a reputation and is perceived to be flirtatious. Both Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin fall for her; indeed she is a woman who is attractive to many men. She does possess a sense of loyalty, albeit an unconventional one.

She occasionally hides her talents, such as the ability to play the piano; she is, however, a noted horsewoman. Her business sense is often lacking; she continually hovers between being poor and improvident. Much of her eventual wealth is due to the men she partners.

History

Before Master and Commander

Diana Villiers is the daughter of Mrs. William's sister, and of age with Sophie. Though English by birth, she spent much of her life abroad, particularly in India, where both her father and her first husband were officers in the British army. She also remembers a stay in Paris as a girl.

Post Captain through Desolation Island

Mrs. Williams views Diana as a threat to Sophie's marriage prospects, and first bribes her with her own horse, and later arranges for her to care for their mad Cousin Edward. Stephen, although with no assurances from Diana, falls in love with her. Jack, though fond of Sophie, finds little encouragement when Mrs. Williams discovers the state of his finances. He then turns with more affection to Diana, to Sophie's jealousy. Eventually, the two women have an argument, and Diana leaves the Williams household permanently.

While Jack is stationed in The Downs, Diana pursues a romantic relationship with him, and insists on pure friendship with Stephen. This leads to the men's estrangement and nearly a duel. Eventually, she goes into keeping with Richard Canning, a wealthy married Jewish businessman in the East India Company, and the couple travel to India.

Jack, now engaged to Sophie, brings the HMS Surprise to Bombay, where Stephen plans to meet Diana. She is unhappy with her situation, and thus encouraged, Stephen proposes. Upon his visiting her again in Calcutta for her answer, they are in interrupted by Canning, which results in a duel. Canning is killed, whether on purpose or accident is uncertain, after he severely wounded Stephen. While Stephen is convalescing, she accepts his proposal and agrees to sail for England in the East Indiaman Lushington, after Jack first refuses her passage in the Surprise. Although the Surprise leaves earlier, they reach Madeira later due to weather. Diana, however, chooses to go with a new beau, Harry Johnson to America, in hopes of making her fortune. She leaves a letter, with Stephen's ring, in Madeira.

She returned to London at the beginning of Desolation Island and is once again pursued by Stephen. Under the accusation of spying she flees again to America under the protection of Johnson. Among the friends she leaves behind is American Louisa Wogan, who is sentenced to be transported in the HMS Leopard for that very crime.