Frances Wray is a character from the novel "The Paying Guests" by Sarah Waters. She lives in post-World War I England with her mother, Mrs. Wray, in a large, decaying house. The family is struggling financially after the death of Frances's father, which has forced them to take in lodgers to make ends meet. Frances's family dynamics are complex, marked by a close but stifling relationship with her mother. The absence of her father and the pressures of societal expectations weigh heavily on both women, shaping Frances's character and her choices throughout the story.