Charles Vernon is a very rich banker married to Catherine De Courcy with several children, including Catherine and Frederic. Six years ago he wanted to purchase Vernon Castle when his older brother Frederic was forced to sell the family estate, but his sister-in-law Lady Susan interfered and had the estate sold to another so she did not have to give way to Charles and his soon-to-be wife. Instead Charles purchased Churchhill. The Vernons entertain rarely and do not go to London except on business.
Following Frederic's death, Charles invited Lady Susan to visit Churchhill. She accepts the invitation after she is forced to leave Langford, where her daughter Frederica refused Sir James Martin's proposal and Lady Susan's affair with Mr. Mainwaring became problematic. He does not notice Lady Susan's duplicity, unlike his wife, and he goes to London as her agent when Frederica escapes Miss Summers's school. He initially tried to persuade Miss Summers to keep Frederica as a student, but when she refused, he brought her back to Churchhill with him. He was too fearful of distressing Frederica to ask why she had run away, leaving Lady Susan to twist the facts to suit her story.
He continues to believe Lady Susan to be an affectionate mother to Frederica, even after he gets to know his niece and comes to love her, and approves when they start to live together in London. Following the final break between Lady Susan and his brother-in-law Reginald De Courcy, Charles brings his wife to London where Catherine invites Frederica to Churchhill. Lady Susan soon marries Sir James Martin, and eventually Frederica marries Reginald.