Who is Patricia Cummings from The Lion's Lady and what is their importance?

Patricia Cummings is Christina's Aunt. She is a countess, and she is also the woman who oversees Christina's launch into society. A greedy and devious woman, Patricia plans to have Christina kidnapped and forced into marriage in order to gain control of the fortune left to Christina by her grandfather or Patricia's father. Most who know Patricia call her "an old bat".