I've decided to do as Shadowfox Mistress suggests and have picked a random number for the 'winning' review.
The new character's physical features and sex will be entirely up to y'all!
A few reviewers had asked about Sophie, so to make things clear:
Sophie has red-gold hair as in the novel and she has been away from Howl for 2 months.
She is only just moving into the boarding house as she had been living in a 'dump' and her new employer frets. :-)

Chapter Six
In which much plotting is done and carried out.

"What do you mean that you're moving in? Are you joking me?"

"No joke, my sweet… I've bought the house from your esteemed landlady. Don't worry, my dear. She has been well remunerated for her trouble. Why, she's even agreed to remain living in the house as its manageress!'"

Howl smiled with great satisfaction at the incensed Sophie and reached out to tuck a wildly spiralling curl behind her ear. Sophie smacked his hand away irritably and continued glaring at him, when a horrible thought struck her.

"Where did you get the money to buy such a large house? Have you been doing something illegal, Howl?" gasped Sophie, suddenly worried that Howl's single-mindedness had led him into doing something he would regret.

"No, I have not been doing anything illegal!" retorted Howl, annoyed that Sophie would immediately jump to the conclusion that he would have to do something dishonest in order to have money. "I'll have you know that saving the Crown Prince and the kingdom pays very well! The king insisted on heaping gold and silver on me, and after all I can't refuse the king's command… "

Sophie rolled her eyes and snorted delicately at his bogus obedience.

"Alright…whatever… You can stay here! I'll move out!"

"I'm sorry, my dear, but that's not possible", he informed her gently.

Eyes flashing, Sophie clenched her fists and resisted the urge to smack him right on his smirking, self-satisfied mouth.

"You can't stop me! I'll leave if I want to!"

"You may leave, by all means… But don't forget, my dear, that you have signed a year's lease and if you want to leave before the contract is up, you will have to pay quite a hefty sum in compensation… That Mistress Fishworthy is quite a businesswoman", he ended admiringly.

Sophie sucked in a deep breath and counted to ten before releasing it slowly. No, it did not help. She still wanted to stomp on the face of that annoying, obnoxious, irritating, infuriating… words were failing her!

"GAH!"

Turning on her heel, she stalked up the stairs and slammed into her room before she gave into impulse and murdered that slimy worm!

"You, on the other hand, are free to leave without penalty", smiled Howl grimly at that be-damned pretty boy after contentedly watching his girl swish up the stairs (He had always thought that she was absolutely adorable enraged). "In fact, I would prefer it, and I'm sure you would too."

"No… I don't think so. I'm perfectly comfortable here, besides, as you mentioned I have a lease. No… I believe that I shall stay."

A muscle ticked subtly at his jaw, but otherwise Howl showed no reaction to that dandified fop's impudence. "Fine. Just stay away from my Sophie."

Brushing roughly past his rival, Howl prowled with controlled grace to his new suite of rooms to plot his next plan of action.

Watching his new landlord's back, Sebastian smiled beatifically and blew gently on his well manicured nails. He had to get ready; he had an appointment.

Ah, joy! It was not often that he had such a worthy adversary. And with such a pretty little prize!