Bertie Wells

“Spoilsport,' said Daisy, and she stuck her tongue out at me.”

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## Bertie Wells

Bertie in Mistletoe and Murder (US version)

### Alias(es)

Bertie
Squinty (by Daisy)

## Traits

### Age

17 (in Arsenic for Tea, Mistletoe and Murder)
18 (in Death Sets Sail)

## Professional Status

### Education

Eton
Maudlin Collage

## Personal Status

### Relative(s)

Daisy Wells (sister)
George Wells (father)
Margaret Wells (mother)
Felix Mountfitchet (uncle)
Lucy Mountfitchet (aunt)
Saskia Wells (great-aunt)
Eustacia Mountfitchet (great-aunt)
Rupert Wells (uncle)
Arthur Wells (grandfather)
Elizabeth Baker-Briggs (grandmother)

**Albert "Bertie" Wells** is the older brother of the Honourable Daisy Wells. In Mistletoe and Murder, he studies History at Maudlin Collage in Cambridge, where he is a member of a secret climbing society. He is nicknamed Squinty by Daisy, possibly suggesting that he wears glasses.

He is said to own 'an out-of-tune ukulele' and a pair of bright green trousers, which Daisy points out as 'awful' in Mistletoe and Murder. The bright green colour of the trousers imply that Bertie was fashionable and quite avant-garde, as bright dyes were popular in the 1930s. Green is also often associated with queerness, and Bertie is gay.

## Storylines

### Arsenic for Tea

Bertie makes his first appearance in Arsenic for Tea, when he and his friend, Stephen Bampton, stay at Fallingford over spring break to celebrate Daisy's birthday. Hazel says that Bertie was angry and scowling all the time; Bertie knew that Lady Hastings was having an affair with Mr Curtis, which likely contributed to his constant state of anger. His mother was also portrayed as a rather ignorant parent who doesn't take care of her children much, which was possibly also a reason why he was so upset all the time. He was said to have an out-of-tune ukulele which he played a lot. After Stephen's arrest, Bertie was heartbroken and devastated, but he didn't say anything.

### Mistletoe and Murder

In Mistletoe and Murder, Daisy and Hazel go to visit Bertie's university in Cambridge. Here, it is revealed that he is a member of The Night Climbers, along with some of his friends, which is how he met Harold. Bertie and Harold take Alexander and George on a night climbing trip, which upsets Daisy as she enjoys climbing and would've liked to come. It is also exposed that he, and some of his classmates, pay Amanda Price to write their essays for them, which Daisy disapproves of.

### Death Sets Sail

Bertie's most recent appearance is at the end of Death Sets Sail, after Daisy fakes her death. He arrived at Fallingford accompanied by Harold, and shouted that he taught Daisy to swim and that no one in his family cares, and plays his ukulele angrily until Hetty begs him to stop. Harold tries to calm him down, but does not succeed.

## Relationships

### Daisy Wells

Daisy is Bertie's sister, who is younger than him by three years. Bertie's relationship with Daisy could be interpreted as poor at first, as in Arsenic for Tea, it was mentioned that he once tried to push her down the stairs when they were younger. However they seem to have a good overall bond, as in Death Sets Sail, Bertie reveals that he taught Daisy to swim, and his excitement to see Daisy as well as his attempts to look after her and Hazel in Mistletoe and Murder did not go ignored. After Daisy's fake death, he was furious and devastated.

### Harold Mukherjee

Harold is Bertie's friend at Cambridge and they met by collaborating in their society, The Night Climbers. It is unclear whether they are in a relationship or not, but they are heavily implied to be in love. Harold accompanied Bertie to Fallingford in death Sets Sail.

### Chummy and Donald Melling

Previous friends of Bertie's, before their deaths in Mistletoe and Murder. They were the same Night Climbers group as Bertie.

### Amanda Price

Also a college friend of Bertie's, who was in love with him and who Bertie pays to complete essays for him. She also tried to show Bertie that she was a part of The Night Climbers, even though Bertie tells Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong that you are not supposed to know climbers out of your group, "It's all very hush hush."

### Stephen Bampton

Stephen was one of Bertie's friends from Eton, before he even started at Cambridge. Stephen was in Arsenic for Tea and was arrested by Inspector Priestley for murdering Denis Curtis. They could be interpreted as being in a relationship, however this is not confirmed.