Iolanthe was a major character in book 0 and book 1, and we see much of the story from her eyes in those books.  In book 2: The Dark and Forbidding Land, she is much less in evidence as we see the world through Yuah’s eyes instead.  In book 3: The Drache Girl, we are still seeing the world from Yuah’s point of view, but Iolanthe is present much more and is much more central to the various plot lines.  Here she and Yuah meet Radley Staff upon his return to Port Dechantagne.

A second later, around the corner stepped Iolanthe Dechantagne and Yuah Korlann.  Iolanthe Calliere and Yuah Dechantagne, Staff mentally corrected himself.  Iolanthe was wearing a green velvet dress with at least seven ornately ruffled layers, and a white lace collar with a black bow.  Yuah wore a gold dress with a broad band of blue at the knees and a waterfall of lace draping from the shoulders and down over the bustle.  Both women wore hats covered in flowers that matched each of their dresses and carried matching muffs.  The two women saw Staff at the same moment and both stopped dead in their tracks.

“Radley,” gasped Iolanthe.

Then the three of them stood silently gaping at each other.  At last Yuah stepped forward.

“Mr. Staff, how lovely to see you again,” she said, removing one hand from her muff and offering it to him.

“Mrs. Dechantagne, you look more lovely that I remember.”

“Oh, pish-posh.  I’m getting to be an old lady.”

“That, madam, is sacrilege.”

She smiled.

Iolanthe still stood where she was.  Her face had gone from the pale of alabaster to the pale of ash.  Her mouth was agape, and she looked as though she was unable to breathe.  Staff stepped forward, taking her right wrist in his hands, pulling her hand from her muff, and enfolding it in his own.

“Mrs.… It’s very nice to see you again.”

“Commander Staff,” said Iolanthe, at last, taking an audible breath.  “I didn’t realize you were in the country.”

“I had always planned to return.”

Iolanthe bit her lip.

“I’m here on business,” he said, releasing her hand and turning back to Yuah.  “I just spoke to your father and he was very helpful in offering me advice on how to get everything off the ground now that I’m here.”

“He does excel at giving advice,” conceded Yuah.  “What business will you be running?”

“Coal.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, I have some very wealthy backers and a complete staff ready to go to work.  I will need the colonial governor’s office for all the permits and tax papers and what not, but I’m sure you may offer me some insight into the governor’s state of mind.”

“I… Oh, I….permits…”  Iolanthe swayed just for a moment.  Yuah took her by the shoulder and held her upright.

“I’m sure that my sister-in-law will be able to offer you all the assistance that you need.  What do you require first?”

“Your father has pointed me in the direction of an office building with apartments, though I may need somewhere to live until I secure it.”

“Well, that’s easily settled,” said Yuah.  “You simply must come and stay at the Dechantagne home.”

Iolanthe moved with what seemed like hesitation toward the front steps of the temporary city hall and sat down on the wooden planks so hard that it appeared she might fall back.

“The Dechantagne home,” said Staff.  “Your home, you mean?”

“Yes.  Well, technically it’s Terrence’s home because he is head of the household, but we all live there—me and my son and Iolanthe’s family, the servants—and a few extended family members.”

“Are you sure you would have room for me?”

“Oh, there are plenty of rooms.  You will scarcely be noticed at all.  And you would be more than welcome.”

At this, Iolanthe could simply take no more.  Her strangely beautiful aquamarine eyes rolled up into her head and she flopped back so hard that her skull smacked against the wall of the building, knocking her seemingly unconscious.  Then she rolled over and off the steps to land face first in the snowdrift just to the right of the door.

Both Yuah and Staff rushed over to help her.  Staff rolled her body over and lifted her at the shoulders.  Yuah brushed the snow from her face.

“I should take her to see the doctor.  Her corset is probably just too tight, but you never know.”  Yuah suddenly remembered that she was speaking to a man and covered her mouth with her hand.  “I mean… oh bloody hell, I don’t know what I mean.”