Penelope (Pen) Creed aka Penn Brown, Penn Wyndham – Orphaned at the age of twelve, Pen was sent to live in London with her uncle's family, the Griffins. In the process he avoids a betrothal to Melissa Brandon, whose family are relying on him to help them out of their financial difficulties. In a drunken moment he insists on accompanying Pen Creed to her childhood home. He has remained unmarried because he is convinced that prospective brides are only interested in his money. His cravat is tied to his own design – the Wyndham Fall – a style much emulated by his admirers. He is a member of White's and an arbitre of fashion, with his clothes made by Weston & his boots by Hoby.

Brown – At twenty-nine he is extremely wealthy, a leader of the ton, and an accomplished sportsman, living in St. The two become allies, leave London in search of Miss Creed's childhood sweetheart, and find themselves in the middle of a dangerous game of mystery, theft, and murder. She is a very wealthy orphan who is running away from her own distasteful marriage plans. The night before he is to announce his choice he comes across Penelope Creed, a young girl in boys' clothes, hanging helplessly from an upper story window.

Depressed by the life laid out before him, he nevertheless agrees to this course. Sir Richard Wyndham, an accomplished Corinthian, is being forced into marriage by his family, who want him to have an heir. The Corinthian is a regency novel by Georgette Heyer.

The corinthian by georgette heyer