Robert is Stella's lover who has a knee injury from a war wound and works at the War Office. He remains mysterious throughout the novel, only appearing at Stella’s or his family’s country home.

Harrison is an enigmatic counterspy for England, described with uneven eyes and characteristic punctuality. He interacts with Stella through insinuation regarding her lover's actions.

Roderick is Stella’s adult son serving in the army, depicted as transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. He inherits an Irish estate, symbolizing a potential future beyond wartime.

Louie is a vulnerable young woman from Seale-on-Sea, lonely in London as her husband serves in India. She forms attachments easily due to her isolation and navigates personal struggles during the war.