Secrets of a Charmed Life

Emmeline “Emmy” Downtree is the main protagonist and one of the three central protagonists whose perspectives are explored in the novel. She is the older daughter of Annie Downtree and a child of the wealthy Henry Thorne. She is also Julia’s half-sister. She starts out as an ambitious aspiring wedding gown designer who hopes to own her own bridal store. However, when the Blitz separates her from her sister, she becomes guilt-ridden and focused on finding her again. She changes her name to Isabel Crofton to keep herself from being reported to social services, and she continues her search for Julia, though she is unable to find her. Eventually, she marries her friend, American journalist Jonah “Mac” MacFarland, and they have a daughter named Gwen. Kendra interviews Emmy on her 90th birthday, which she celebrates as her 93rd birthday.

At the beginning, Emmy is quiet but also ambitious and impulsive. She is extremely talented at sketching bridal dresses and, despite only being experienced in embroidering, she turns out to have a talent for sewing. Her ambition and individualistic personality put her at odds with her mother, who thinks she should focus more on supporting Julia while she works and the danger from the war grows.