When faced with the choice between their people and their children, Lord and Lady Bayford prioritize differently. In Damsel, Ray Winstone plays Lord Bayford, while Angela Bassett plays Lady Bayford.
When Queen Isabella asks for Elodie’s hand in marriage for her son, Prince Henry, Lord Bayford finally finds a way to help those who depend on him.
The bride price from a kingdom as wealthy as Aurea would be enough to get his people through the harsh winters.
The proposal also delights his wife, Lady Bayford, Elodie’s stepmother. She teaches her how to make a good first impression on the royal family.
Lady Bayford was a rope maker’s daughter before she married Lord Bayford. Elodie and Floria are not close to her, as she can be quite overbearing.
However, they both know that she nags them only because she means well. She only wants the best for them.
Lady Bayford is particularly enamored by the royal family’s wealth until she realizes that she cannot trust the royal family.
Sacrificing a daughter
Soon after meeting the royal family, Queen Isabella tells Lord Bayford of her intention to sacrifice Elodie to the dragon for the kingdom’s sake.
Lord Bayford’s people are starving, and their stores are empty, so he, too, decides to sacrifice his daughter for his people.
However, he does not tell anyone about his conversation with Queen Isabella, not even his wife when she insists.
Lady Bayford, sensing that something is amiss, takes it upon herself to speak to Queen Isabella, which makes her realize that the queen does not even care to know Elodie’s name.
Lady Bayford comes to the conclusion that the royal family is untrustworthy and tries to convince Elodie about the same.
Elodie still finds it difficult to reject marrying Henry just one day before the wedding because Lady Bayford’s concerns seem irrational.
In the end, she decides to place her trust in her father, who has no reservations about the wedding, rather than her stepmother.
Protecting their children
As Lady Bayford had feared, the royals do not care about Elodie and offer her as a sacrifice to the dragon. It is only then that Lord Bayford realizes that he has made a mistake.
He now knows that he will not be able to live with himself if Elodie dies, so he goes to rescue her, whereas Lady Bayford stays on the ship with Floria.
Lord Bayford enters the dragon’s lair and refuses to ask Elodie to come out of her hiding place, even when the dragon threatens to kill him.
Lord Bayford dies protecting Elodie. He apologizes and earns Elodie’s forgiveness in his final moments. Due to his sacrifice, Elodie finally escapes.
Similarly, Lady Bayford is injured while protecting Floria, who is taken by Queen Isabella to be sacrificed in Elodie’s place.
Despite her injuries, Lady Bayford still rushes to save Floria and runs into Elodie, who returns to the dragon’s lair and successfully saves her sister.
Later, Elodie realizes that despite being her stepmother, Lady Bayford genuinely cares about her. Elodie starts referring to her as mother instead of stepmother.
Elodie also shows her trust in Lady Bayford to take care of their people, and Lady Bayford agrees to assist Elodie in doing so.
Also Read: Elodie: Damsel character explained
