Beyond the Roundels

Cloak and Dagger - Part Two

Recurring characters & Guest Stars:


I gave up and in the end decided dbskyler's suggestion for the Iron Duke was the best one I could come up with. So, thanks, because I was hitting a blank (and considering doing a Google search on 'actors who could play Wellington'...)

Semi-Regulars:
Lord George Longville, Earl of Haverley (Desmond Barrit)

He regards his children as collectively a nuisance and lives for country pursuits. He leaves his wife to do the worrying and is happy enough when they’re off his hands. He’s not much interested in his new son-in-law, either, but feels that no one has the business to poke their nose into the private affairs of another, even if they suspect them of treason. He may have a title, but his wild-living father squandered most of the family fortune years ago and it was his wife's money that saved the family from ruin in his younger days.

Lady Letitia Longville, Countess of Haverley (Julia Davis)

Kate’s mama is only too inclined to worry and still tends to make inconvenient demands on her daughter’s time. The least trouble sets of one of her nervous ailments (which serve to pass the days in a now all-but empty house with a husband who spends all the time he can outdoors). She is very useful in collecting valuable gossip, however.

Dowager Countess of Lynton, Elizabeth (Bess) Harwell (Eileen Atkins)

(She wouldn'be seen dead dressed like this, but I'm doing my best, okay?)
Ailing but unconventional and as indomitable as ever, Bess is Rothley’s grandmother. She’s the one member of his family he feels he has anything in common with – although he would prefer it if she didn’t issue summons to her death bed unless she is actually dying – and they are both united in being the only two to think well of John’s late mother. (Bess maintains that Rothley snr mistreated her daughter and hounded her out of existence.) It doesn’t make her sympathetic to John’s half-siblings, but luckily for them, they live at the other end of the country. In her younger days she claims to have been anything but conventional.

Lavinia Caldwell, widow (née Rothley) (Anna Chancellor)

John’s half-sister. She has an unfortunate tendency to come to London during the Season, unlike her brother who tends to remain safely in the north. She regards John only as the son of That Woman (her father’s second wife) and delights in arriving to visit and being as vocally disapproving of everything as she can be. She and Kate are at war whenever they meet, and she is happy to cast a spoke in the Rothley’s wheel whenever she can. However, she doesn’t approve of the French, either.

The rest of the Rothley household:
Henry Goodridge, John’s valet, who regards himself as the most superior member of the household and would like to move on to someone a little more fashionable (Tobias Menzies)


Greenholt the butler who never raises an eyebrow at any goings-on (Simon Williams)


Francis Taylor, footman, who takes a little too much interest into what’s going on. (Joseph Morgan)


Mrs Addicott, the housekeeper. Stern to everyone, but keeps everything well-run and everyone well-looked after. (Imelda Staunton)


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Guest Stars
George Canning (Douglas Hodge)

John previously worked under Canning at the Foreign office and still values his advice. Pro-war, unlike other members of the government, he was unwise enough to fight a duel with Castlereagh previously.

Spencer Perceval (David Troughton)

(S1 only.) Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was largely unremarkable as Prime Minister, save for the rare distinction of being assassinated in 1812.

Lord Liverpool (Nicholas Farrell)

A period of uncertainty and crisis followed the assassination of Perceval. Lord Liverpool was his successor though he initially resigned due to lack of confidence (the Commons requested the return of Canning and Castlereagh) but resumed government four weeks later and saw out the Peninsular War and Waterloo as PM.

George, Prince Regent (Anthony Head)

‘Prinny’ has just been declared Regent after his father’s madness has become permanent, but with parliamentary restrictions surrounding the act, a wife he hates and uncertainty over which party he will favour – the current Tory government or his old friends, the Whigs. Recurring guest star.

’Beau’ Brummell (James Purefoy)

He seems to have already played him on BBC4, so why waste the casting? Leader of fashion among the ton despite relatively humble origins, and arbiter of good taste, he’ll even dare to insult the Prince Regent if he feels he’s badly dressed. (Occasional guest star).

Duke of Wellington (David Morrissey)

Do I need to say things about the Iron Duke? I think not. (Occasional guest star.)

Patronesses of Almacks:
Lady Sefton (Janet McTeer)


Emily Cowper (Sally Hawkins)


Countess Lieven (Alice Krige)


Sally Jersey (Amanda Hale)

(I haven't cast Lady Castlereagh, Princess Esterhazy or Mrs Drummond-Burrell, but these were the ladies to gain approval of and thereby proper entry into society & each of the above makes at least one guest appearance).

I've also decided that Tom Mison is one of Hugh's friends, Dominic Cooper is the Prince of Orange (the youthful 'Slender Billy') in the final episodes, Charity Wakefield as Princess Charlotte, Stella Gonet makes a brief appearance as Mrs Fitzherbert in one of the Regent episodes, Jenny Agutter is the modiste in question in ep1, Freema Agyeman turns up in the theatre one (this whole thing was persiflage_1's idea, so...:-D) and probably Georgia King is the ill-advised object of James Longville's affection in S2. (I could do with Sir John Moore, Henry Wellesley and Lady Castlereagh, though!)

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Episode Guide

(NB: I haven't researched everything very thoroughly and one or two historical events may be deliberately exaggerated or invented for dramatic purposes. But generally, the overall timeline is as accurate as I can make it).

Series One
1.1 There Is London Town February 1811: John Rothley returns to England from America with three missions to accomplish: catch a spy, (re)enter fashionable society - and become better acquainted with his wife. The initial spy hunt centres around an emigre dressmaker (Jenny Agutter).

1.2 The Rending Thunders Onward Roll March 1811: John is concerned to help prevent a plan to put Arthur Wellesley in charge of the army out in the Peninsula. He may be the best man for the job, but in a plan engineered by his two brothers, all three Wellesleys could be damaged by the proposal. Jenny investigates a lead in the murkier corners of the city.

1.3 There Is A Thorn April/May 1811: Kate finds her talents needed to prevent a high-society scandal; Hugh embarks on a spy-hunt with misguided enthusiasm and John pays a visit to his holdings in Kent and meets landlord John White. What's more, he's not pleased to learn that the whole place is used to turning a blind eye to smuggling.

1.4 One Polish'd Horde June/July 1811: The Prince Regent gives a grand fete at Carlton House to honour Bourbon refugees, which could be exactly the opportunity John & Kate need to track down the agent they're after. James returns home on leave with news of the war and Sophy has an unwanted admirer.

1.5 Stagnant Waters August 1811: John and Kate return to Kent, where John makes himself unpopular by siding with the Customs officials over the free-traders. Tobias is disturbed to discover he may be harbouring a French agent in his employ and enlists Hurley's help to catch him.

1.6 Dreams of Better Worlds Oct 1811: White may be willing to help, but first he wants John to stop a questionable Act of Enclosure, which he says will worsen the situation in the village. Even if it isn't impossible, is it the moment to stand in the way of progress? In the course of doing so, John and Bartram find themselves also trying to put an end to the actions of a violent radical reform group.

1.7 A Foolscap Crown Nov 1811-Jan 1812: The Regent wants an end to parliamentary restrictions over him. He also wants evidence of his hated wife Caroline's unfaithfulness to counter her demands. Not only is it a dishonourable request, it's also impossible. Richard Wellesley's actions have laid him open to blackmail. John's friend Darton is forced to resign from his regiment and return home.

1.8 & 1.9 Whispering Tongues/Madness in the Brain Feb-April 1812: The situation between Britain, America and Spain has worsened and John is sent back to America, this time Kate accompanies him. It should be the ideal time for him to discover the truth about his bride, but attempts to bridge the distance between them are as ill-fated as the negotiations they have come to engage in. In England, their shadowy enemy sees it as an ideal time to act against the Rothleys.

1.10 From Politics to Silence May-Jul 1812: John and Kate return to England only days before the assassination of the Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval. Was it a random event, or part of a conspiracy? The government is now in crisis while War rages on in the Peninsula and America has now also declared war.

1.11 A People Starved Oct-Dec 1812: Wheat prices have risen ever higher and there are riots in London. White is still refusing to give vital information and the rift between John and Kate has grows further, not being helped by a visit from John's half-sister, Lavinia.

1.12 A Matter of Chance Jan/Feb 1813: Smith is delivering warnings - or threats - and the master spy behind the network seems to know that John is on his trail. Darton and Sophy inadvertently have their own adventure and Kate lays a trap to catch a high-society swindler that leads to a confrontation with John.

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Series 2
2.1 Wedlock's the Devil March-May 1813: There's a faux wealthy widow in Town who may be worse than a fortune hunter and John feels that Bartram is the man for this investigation. Bartram disagrees and winds up calling for the Bow Street Runners. Cecy confesses the truth about her husband to Kate.

2.2 The Truth in Masquerade Jun-Aug 1813: James is wounded and home. His feelings for an unhappily married young lady could cause a scandal that would be the ruin of them all. Foster has questions about one of the Covent garden theatre companies.

2.3 These Dark Battlements Sep-October 1813: There's trouble over the events at San Sebastian at home while the War is coming to a head with British troops invading France, and Wellington resigns over lack of support - a bad move when plenty of men in the Commons would advice pursuing peace, not war.

2.4 A Boast, A Marvel, and A Show Feb-Mar 1814: It's a hard winter but there's a Frost Fair on the Thames and good news from France. John has much to deal with following the arrival of the Duchess of Oldenbury in London. Kate is putting her talents to good use for John's Grandmama, who has a request of her own.

2.5 The Painted Veil April 1814: John believes he's finally found his spymaster, but to confirm his guess, he has a difficult request to make of Jenny. Sophy and Hugh try to help and land themselves in the clutches of Smith. Bartram claims he's washed his hands of the lot of them, but he and Foster are trying to put away a moneylender, whose fortunes are linked with John's suspect.

2.6 A Frivolous Distinction May-Jul 1814: London is full of Victory celebrations, there's a grand fete at Carlton House - and the Allied Leaders are all in London. In theory, there would be no point in a Bonapartist agent trying anything, but, after all, the Emperor isn't dead yet - and there's always the question of revenge.

2.7 & 2.8 Satire's Song Part 1 & 2 Nov 1814-Jan 1815 John goes with Lord Castlereagh to the Congress of Vienna, but the competing demands of the Allies over the proposed Peace Treaty is never a simple matter. Darton and Hugh follow up John's lead in England, but come to a dead end - maybe a literal one if they aren't careful.

2.9 A Frightful Fiend Feb-Mar 1815: While in France, the news arrives that Napoleon has escaped. John and Kate find themselves involved in preventing an attempt on Wellington's life. In England, White is after someone to try and deal with the passing of the Corn Law, but it's really not Sophy's forte.

2.10 The Fatal Truth June 1815: London society follows the Congress to Brussels, John and Kate rejoining Sophy and Hugh amongst others there. What's more, as fashionable balls and excursions occupy their days, John becomes convinced his unknown enemy is also here.

2.11 Hate Is The Longest Pleasure 15th-16th June 1815: At the Duchess of Richmond's Ball, John finally learns the truth about his shadowy enemy and it's closer to home than he ever dreamt. To destroy the spymaster is to effectively destroy himself and his family. He searches for a way to avoid that necessity - and both of them are coming to the conclusion that a convenient 'accident' would be the neatest solution. Kate cannot understand why he won't tell her the truth and Hugh may be regretting that he never took the King's shilling, but he can still be a hero.

2.12 The Battle of Belle-Alliance 17th-19th Jun 1815: With John wounded, Kate and Jenny set out on an ill-advised mission to tackle the spy themselves. Darton intervenes, but it's the appearance of Smith that resolves matters. At home, there's financial crisis in the City and Bartram wonders whether to buy or sell. However, in the face of the battle raging nearby they are all too aware that not only all their fates, but the future of Europe rests on the outcome...

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