Ralph Charlton

A cigar-smoking venture capitalist from the big city with far too much money. He first appeared in Nine Whispered Words and returned - no less skin-crawlingly unpleasant - in The Lion and the Unicorn.

Nine Whispered Words
A friend of Kenneth Dawson.

[Edit: Here are some notes]

- Symvatec and Springer - brought down one (probably Sym?) partly for Nancy

- ran off with Hunter's business and wife, later brought down his science business and his daughter

- James & Penny approached for funding to get out of their respective companies, got his mate Pierre in. Lol Trinity. So self serving.

The Lion and the Unicorn
Now in his late seventies and apparently settled down from his playboy antics, Charlton has been persuaded to spend some of his excessive wealth on funding the expedition at the behest of his long-standing acquaintance, Adam Reid. (He spends much of the rest on patronising the arts, a role which he feels suitable for his stature as a grand old man of City life.)

A few months prior to the time of mystery he resigned from the board of Trinity Pharmaceuticals. Officially, the resignation was on health grounds, but there are persistent rumours of scandal; when pressed about it, Charlton himself gives the impression that he was sneakily and unfairly forced from the board by ungrateful and power-hungry young directors.

- Somewhat wilfully rejects all suggestions that Harriet Finch is not who she says she is.

- Has given power of attorney to Jeremy West and with JK stands to inherit

- a lot of money to a legacy foundation - JW and KTiffey on the board

[Edit: MOAR]