Assistant to Robin Darby, head of British intelligence in Vienna, Austria, Rosalind becomes protagonist Paul Christopher's sexual friend, while being in incestuous love with her younger brother, Clive. Years later in Washington, DC, Rosalind warns Paul Darby is a danger. More years later, after Paul's decade in a Chinese prison, Paul looks Rosalind up in London and learns from her that Barnabas "Barney" Wolkowicz and Robin are actually great friends and provides the photograph that explains to Paul everything he has endured.