For a woman who gives up royal status, power, influence etc and to do so for a mere human man, that man must be someone special. Someone who knows what to do with his fingers and not just in the garden either! Derek is tall, dark, handsome, a fanatical gardener, devoted to his wife and family, humane, compassionate and shows the good side of humanity. It frustrates Eileen her old world won’t see that and reject him on the grounds of his species. Problems erupt when Derek’s enabled to find out who Eileen really is. He’s devastated by this. Eileen’s devastated by having to use mind wipes on the man she loves, and that increases when he becomes ill as a result, the first warning sign that charm has been used too often. Derek is a great father to Jenny, loves being a granddad to Eddie and gets on very well with Paul, much to his wife’s disgust.
MELANBURY, L’EVALLIER’S WIFE - Joely Richardson
Gorgeous, aristocratic, surprised to find herself genuinely falling for her husband and later enjoying sex (her parents never mentioned much about it and the start of her marriage was disastrous as a result. It was apparent Melanbury seemed to be afraid of being in the same room as L’Evallier, this situation thankfully for both of them changed). Is prejudiced against hybrids and humans. Tends to back the Queen but comes to realize Jenny does have her virtues and the monarch is going too far in wanting to force the girl into the Kingdom (though of course if Melanbury had her way no hybrid would go anywhere near the realm, ever). She and L’Evallier become a real team. And despite her parents’ disapproval of working women, Melanbury becomes the Queen’s correspondence secretary. Melanbury’s life takes off from this point - she discovers she wants to be useful.