Edna Swiftwind was the mother of Margaret, Arthur, Edward, and Elspeth. Remembered by her older children as gentle but stern and ever-watchful, Edna died giving birth to Elspeth, and her husband Victor was never quite the same thereafter. In her absence, her eldest daughter became fiercely independent, her eldest son became a wildly cavalier adventurer, her younger son gradually found his way into scandal after scandal, and young Elspeth was to grow up outspoken, vibrant, and willfully...if only to break the terrible silence of her own misplaced guilt. Ironically, Elspeth, with her pale, freckled skin and red hair, is the spitting image of Edna, and this similarity caused Victor to spoil the girl.

Edna Swiftwind is the late wife of VictorSwiftwind and mother to Lord of Oaksleigh Arthur Swiftwind, Margaret Swiftwind, Edward Swiftwind, and Elspeth Swiftwind. Calm but stern, Edna was a caring and attentive mother and teacher to her first three children prior to her death during the birth of her youngest, Elspeth. After Edna's death, Victor was never quite the same, and Arthur, Margaret, and Edward were left to grieve their mother with mostly each other for comfort. Elspeth, on the other hand, grew up with a sense of misplaced guilt over her mother's death that was only deepened by her shared traits with her mother- pale skin, a spray of freckles over the nose, and vibrant red hair.
 
Edna is fondly remembered by the household staff for being a gentle and caring mistress who typically forgave errors and was never insulting or dehumanizing, which was not the standard in most wealthy homes. People were known to say that Edna, who almost always wore white and who adored holding ladies' luncheons, throwing parties, and playing croquet, brought life into Lannora Ivy after a long period of dreariness, and all of Victor and Edna's guests were charmed by the warmth and vigor of their hostess.

Gender

Female

Eyes

Hazel

Hair

Red

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale, freckled

Height

5'9

Weight

120 lbs