Charlotte Collis
La joven galerista Prue llega de Londres para visitar a su excéntrica tía Phoebe, viuda de un pintor cuya fama atrajo en su tiempo a un grupo de jóvenes artistas. Entre ellos se encuentra Daniel, un atractivo norteamericano que, por algún motivo, ha sentido el impulso repentino de volver a Penmarron. Y con ellos coincide la niña Charlotte, entrañable personaje que, poco a poco, va adquiriendo un papel decisivo en el desarrollo de la historia. Aunque la comunidad es pequeña y el pasado está fresco en la memoria de todos, hay secretos que nunca han sido desvelados y que, de conocerse, serían comprometedores.
Nina
11-year-old Nina and her mother Birgit move to the countryside. But while Birgit seems to cope very well with the upheaval, the shy young girl only feels accepted when she joins a girl guide group. Nina's new teacher for Religious Education, the organizer of the group, and the parson belong to the fanatically pious "Legion Of The Holy Angels", a sect preparing its members for the final battle between demons and angels. As Birgi's behaviour doesn't conform to her daughter's ideas, Nina sacrifices a black kitten which allegedly has a bad influence on Birgit. But this only makes things worse, for Birgit eventually forbids her daughter to go to the scouts' sessions and thereby loses her trust. Nina's friend Miriam is having a hard time being accepted by the scouts and leaves them when she isn't allowed to participate in an important ceremony. Nina is faced with a difficult decision...
