Catherine St. Day, Countess of Moth, is the heroine and love interest of Lucy Muchelny in Olivia Waite’s novel A Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics.
The daughter of a famous female naturalist and a man who showed her love and respect in equal measure, Catherine was expecting the same sort of relationship when she married Henry. Instead, she got a bully, who browbeat her into wifely submission, draining her family fortune while isolating her socially and dragging her all around the world on his horribly colonial “scientific” missions.
Though deeply relieved by his death Catherine was also left at a loss, because without his demanding presence at the center of her life she had nobody and nothing to do. Prior to meeting Lucy, she filled her time by attending meetings of Henry’s scientific club, though only as a guest as women were denied membership, using the remains of her money to fund their projects and expeditions.
After meeting Lucy, Catherine slowly learns to value herself and her desires, in and out of the bedroom. Suddenly aware of the utter disrespect shown to female scientists, and women as a whole, by both the club and society in general, Catherine throws her money and the influence of her title behind creating opportunities for women in both the arts and sciences. Though the emotional toll of an abusive marriage leads to her struggling in relationships she’s able to grow and heal as a person, learning to trust enough in herself and another person for a happy ending.
Like many bisexual women, especially in the past when bisexuality was even more stigmatized than it is now, Catherine is late to recognize her attraction to women for what it is. Having fallen for men early on in life Catherine never examined her feelings for women, as they played no role in the path laid out by society for noblewomen. After her realization, however, she embraces it quickly and thoroughly, feeling like a missing piece has finally slotted into place.