Chapter summaries Gwen & Art Are Not in Love Lex Croucher

Chapter 13 Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens in the immediate aftermath of the church scene, as Bridget pulls Gwen out into the night air. Gwen, still breathless and dazed, tells Bridget she was “brilliant” and wishes she had Bridget’s self-assurance and strength. Bridget explains that her family comes from the Sukhothai Kingdom, where she learned a fighting style using fists, elbows, and knees before ever picking up a weapon. Her father, having no son, taught her himself. Bridget offers to teach Gwen the sword; Gwen initially declines, but after a moment of internal deliberation—imagining the intimacy and sweat of training together—she accepts. They part, and Gwen falls asleep thinking of Bridget standing between her and the world.

The next morning, Gwen finds Gabriel at breakfast, looking exhausted. She asks about their parents, and Gabriel tells her there was an incident in Ruthin: cultists attacked a church near Maen Huail, a stone block where Arthur Pendragon supposedly beheaded an enemy. Gabriel seems evasive about his own late night, eventually admitting he was with Arthur looking at a crow. Gwen presses him, and Gabriel turns the question back on her, asking what has been going on with her.

Gwen, feeling seasick, confesses that she has feelings for someone—Lady Bridget Leclair. She explains that she has never really liked anyone before, and that she has been trying to forget about it for years. Gabriel’s face closes off. He says, “I don’t think this is a good idea,” and then, “I can’t hear this,” before standing and walking away. Gwen is left devastated, tears falling, feeling as though she has been slapped. She reflects on her mother’s earlier reassurance that feelings between women were “temporary” and nothing Gwen would ever need to worry about—words that now feel like a curse.

Gwen returns to her rooms and finds Agnes, who had been out late with Sidney, a body-man (a common servant). Gwen snaps at her, accusing her of throwing away her coveted position at court for a man who “always has soup on his sleeves.” Agnes apologizes and retreats. Gwen sits in her reading chair, overwhelmed by shame, thinking, “This is what comes of wanting things.” She later refuses Agnes’s offer to go for a walk, and the two pass an hour in stony silence.

A guard arrives with a message: a lady is here to take Gwen to the north-west courtyard to teach her combat. Gwen, having forgotten the arrangement, reluctantly goes. Bridget is waiting in breeches and a loose shirt, ignoring the stares of the guards. Gwen feels overdressed in her simple gown. They walk to the training yard, where Sir Dhawan, the Master of Arms, is reluctant to give Gwen a sword. Gwen claims it is for a play she is putting on for her father’s birthday, and Sir Dhawan reluctantly hands over blunted practice swords.

Bridget teaches Gwen the basics: how to hold the sword, stance, weight distribution, and a simple swing. Gwen is distracted by Bridget’s proximity and her own feelings, thinking wistfully, “I hope she stabs me.” Bridget shares her own story—how she was turned away from tournaments for years because of her gender, but persisted because it was what she wanted. Gwen calls her “incredible.” After half an hour, Gwen manages to land a hit on Bridget, but Bridget immediately hooks Gwen’s ankle and pins her to the ground, showing her how to get back up.

Arthur and Sidney arrive, and Arthur mocks Gwen for holding a sword. Bridget offers to duel Arthur as Gwen’s second. Arthur reluctantly agrees, and Bridget disarms him and knocks him flat in a single quick movement. Arthur claims he was holding back because she is a woman. Bridget then gestures toward Gabriel, who has appeared in a doorway with a book, looking stricken. Sir Dhawan encourages Gabriel to train, and Sidney suggests he fight Arthur. Gabriel, looking trapped, reluctantly lifts his sword.

Key Events

  • Gwen accepts Bridget’s offer to teach her sword fighting, despite her initial hesitation.

  • Gabriel tells Gwen about the cultist attack on a church in Ruthin, but seems evasive about his own activities.

  • Gwen confesses her feelings for Bridget to Gabriel; he reacts with disapproval and walks away.

  • Gwen snaps at Agnes about her relationship with Sidney, revealing class tensions.

  • Bridget teaches Gwen basic swordplay in the north-west courtyard; Gwen lands a hit but is quickly pinned.

  • Bridget defeats Arthur in a duel, humiliating him.

  • Gabriel is pressured into training with Arthur, reluctantly taking up a sword.

Character Development

Gwen takes a significant step in this chapter by voicing her feelings for Bridget aloud for the first time. Her confession to Gabriel is a moment of vulnerability, but his rejection leaves her flooded with shame. Her internal monologue reveals the deep impact of her mother’s earlier dismissal of same-sex attraction, and she begins to question whether she is “monstrous.” Her decision to learn sword fighting, even under the guise of a play, marks a small act of defiance against the expectations placed on her as a princess.

Bridget is shown as a patient and encouraging teacher, but also reveals more about her past: her father taught her to fight because he had no son, and she faced years of rejection from tournaments. Her determination—“I knew I could do it. So I did”—stands in stark contrast to Gwen’s internalized shame. Bridget’s ease in the training yard, and her willingness to duel Arthur, reinforce her confidence and skill.

Gabriel is notably evasive throughout the chapter, both about his late night with Arthur and about his reaction to Gwen’s confession. His refusal to hear Gwen out suggests he is struggling with his own secrets—possibly related to his feelings for Arthur—and his disapproval may stem from fear rather than judgment. His reluctance to train with Arthur further hints at unresolved tension between them.

Arthur is humiliated by Bridget in the duel, and his excuse that he was “holding back” because she is a woman rings hollow. His mockery of Gwen’s swordplay is deflected by Bridget’s skill, and he is left scrambling for dignity.

Agnes is the target of Gwen’s misplaced anger, but her relationship with Sidney highlights the class boundaries that Gwen herself is beginning to question in other areas of her life.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Forbidden love and shame are central to this chapter. Gwen’s confession to Gabriel is met with rejection, and her subsequent feelings of shame are described as “curdling the blood in her veins.” Her mother’s earlier words about same-sex attraction being “temporary” haunt her, reinforcing the idea that her desires are wrong.

Combat as intimacy is a recurring motif. The sword-fighting lesson is charged with physical closeness—Bridget adjusting Gwen’s grip, pressing her hands, and the thrill Gwen feels at every touch. The duel between Bridget and Arthur, by contrast, is cold and efficient, highlighting the difference between combat as connection and combat as competition.

Gender nonconformity is explored through Bridget’s story of becoming a knight despite being turned away for years, and through Gwen’s tentative step into the training yard. Bridget’s refusal to back down challenges the assumption that women cannot fight, while Gwen’s participation, even under a pretext, subverts expectations.

Secrecy and confession drive the chapter’s emotional arc. Gwen’s confession to Gabriel is a risk that fails, and Gabriel’s own evasiveness suggests he is hiding something as well. The chapter ends with Gabriel reluctantly taking up a sword, a symbol of the pressures he faces.

Class boundaries are highlighted in Gwen’s outburst at Agnes about Sidney. Gwen’s anger is partly misplaced, but it reveals the social hierarchies that constrain everyone in the court, even as Gwen herself is beginning to chafe against them.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 13 is a turning point for Gwen’s emotional arc. Her confession to Gabriel—and his rejection—marks the first time she has voiced her feelings for Bridget, and the consequences are devastating. The chapter deepens the theme of forbidden love and introduces the motif of combat as a space for intimacy and self-discovery. Bridget’s backstory adds depth to her character, and the duel with Arthur reinforces her skill and confidence. The chapter also hints at Gabriel’s own secrets, setting up future tensions. Finally, Gwen’s decision to learn sword fighting, however small, represents a step toward self-acceptance in a world that tells her she should not want what she wants.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Gwen initially decline Bridget’s offer to teach her sword fighting, and what changes her mind?

Gwen declines because she believes no good can come of spending more time with Bridget, given her feelings. She imagines the intimacy and sweat of training together and decides it would be too dangerous. However, her desire to be near Bridget overrides her caution, and she accepts, hoping to elicit more of Bridget’s attention.

2. How does Gabriel’s reaction to Gwen’s confession affect her, and what does it reveal about his own situation?

Gabriel’s reaction—saying he “can’t hear this” and walking away—leaves Gwen feeling slapped and flooded with shame. His disapproval reinforces her fear that her feelings are monstrous. His evasiveness about his own late night with Arthur, and his reluctance to train with Arthur, suggest he may be struggling with his own secrets, possibly related to his feelings for Arthur. His reaction may stem from fear of his own desires rather than judgment of Gwen’s.

3. What role does the sword-fighting lesson play in Gwen’s development in this chapter?

The lesson gives Gwen a physical outlet for her emotions and a space to be close to Bridget. It also introduces her to a world she had previously only watched from the sidelines. Bridget’s story about persisting despite rejection inspires Gwen, and landing a hit—even briefly—gives her a moment of genuine thrill. The lesson is a small act of defiance against the expectations placed on her as a princess, and it foreshadows her growing willingness to challenge those expectations.

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