Laura's plan does not sit well with her younger brother George or her little sister Lottie. A lot of the humor in the story stems from Laura's brother and sister. They are basically nice children, but they are spoiled and their antics unnerve Sterling, especially when Lottie, who is a big fan of gothic novels, tries her hand at poisoning. Lottie is always followed about by a cluster of kittens, and one of them attaches itself to Sterling. He vaguely remembers having seen a kitten like that somewhere before but he just can't remember.
Cookie too is a very funny character.
She is constantly baking the worst crumpets in the world, because she is under the impression that Sterling loves them. The relationship between Laura and Sterling when he can't remember his identity, is quite sweet. He is kind, loving and nice - the kind of man who will kiss a kitten. Sterling harbors a deep feeling of anger toward his mother, whom he blames for giving him to the old Duke. When his memory comes back, and he finds himself married to a woman who lied to him, he is torn between anger at her deception, love for her sweetness and beauty, and fear at facing the truth about his estrangement from his mother.