A bohemian.  Ruth is a carefree and provocative woman.  She rarely conforms to fashions expected of women of the time.  She favours wearing her brown hair loose, rather than over styled and rigid.  Her clothing is rarely ‘vogue’ but has a certain level of the exotic, even for a girl born in the New Forest.  She prefers to wear natural fabrics, silk being the favourite.  If she has to wear clothes at all…  It is not uncommon for her to wander round her apartment in the nude and she is not ashamed to admit visitors in that state either.  She does, however, take fastidious care of her skin and beauty regime and is never seen without a deep red lipstick on.
Ruth is the sort of woman you can trust.  Her eyes are a warm brown, her deep red lips always seem to have an inviting, near smile.  Her voice has a soothing quality to it.  It is a voice that is rarely raised, but holds a level of command.  She expects to be heard when she speaks.  Hard working, intelligent and watchful.  She is an extremely good listener.  Ruth has very few inhibitions and likes to shock.

Born on 31st October 1914 (she is 25) in Burley in the New Forest.  Her mother, Agnes Drake, was a teacher with a great love for the outdoors and a member of the New Forest Coven.  Ruth’s father never returned from the Great War and is presumed dead following an unsuccessful raiding party.  Ruth inherited her mother’s love for the countryside and the esoteric.  Ruth was fascinated by the uses of the New Forest flora and fauna for everyday cooking and healing as well as what is poisonous and should be avoided.  Ruth travelled to London to study Archaeology under Margaret Alice Murray, who is a good friend of her mother’s.  Miss Murray also give extra tuition for favoured students on the subject of folklore.
Ruth has been brought up with strong female role models.  She joined the New Forest Coven when she was 16, before she travelled to London and has dabbled in esoteric ‘magick’.  Ruth’s hero is Margaretha Geertruida "Margreet" MacLeod (better known as Mata Hari).

In 1939, with events happening in Europe, Murray suggests Ruth ‘do her bit’ and work for the government to aid in any way she can to avert the impending horror.  As an intelligent, young woman, with possibly ‘questionable morals’, who can use the excuse of an archaeological expedition to travel and study during a time of unrest she has been signed up to be a spy.  Just like her hero.