Chapter 16 Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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 during a hunting expedition. Bridget nearly faints, scratching her cheek as she stumbles, and Gwen and Adah rush to help. Bridget insists she is fine, but Gwen notices she is pale and shaking. After Adah leaves to fetch guards, Gwen presses Bridget to explain what is wrong. Bridget admits she is in severe pain from her menstrual cycle, a condition she has suffered for years. She reveals that physicians have dismissed her suffering, telling her it is normal and that ladies have a low threshold for pain. They offer no remedy, claiming treatment would interfere with the natural order.
Gwen, outraged, offers to massage Bridget's back, a technique Bridget says a former friend used to ease the pain. Gwen hesitates but agrees, and as she works her hands into Bridget's lower back, Bridget relaxes. During the massage, Bridget confides that she once courted a woman—the daughter of a neighboring lord—who left to marry. Gwen is stunned by this revelation, and her own feelings for Bridget become more complicated.
Back at the castle, the king's physician refuses to treat Bridget, insisting rest and fortitude are all that is needed. Gwen, emboldened by her anger, demands a second opinion and orders the physician to fetch the Wizard, Master Buchanan. The Wizard examines Bridget, asks matter-of-factly about her bleed, and provides an herbal remedy of ginger, fennel, and cinnamon bark. Bridget is grateful, and Gwen feels a surge of emotion she cannot fully name.
That evening, Arthur arrives at Gwen's chambers drunk and bleeding from a wound on his arm. He faints almost immediately, and Gwen tends to him, tearing a strip from her embroidery to bandage the cut. While unconscious, Arthur mutters that he would be better off dead. Gwen, disturbed by his sincerity, covers him with a blanket and takes his hand when he reaches for her.
Key Events
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Bridget nearly faints during the hunt, scratching her cheek and alarming Gwen and Adah.
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Bridget reveals she suffers from severe menstrual pain that physicians have dismissed.
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Gwen massages Bridget's back, and Bridget confesses she once courted a woman who left to marry.
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The king's physician refuses to treat Bridget; Gwen demands a second opinion.
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The Wizard provides an herbal remedy that offers Bridget relief.
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Arthur arrives drunk and bleeding, faints, and mutters that he would be better off dead.
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Gwen bandages Arthur's arm, covers him with a blanket, and holds his hand.
Character Development
Gwen grows significantly in this chapter. She moves from awkward hesitation—her hand hovering over Bridget's shoulder—to decisive action, both in physically helping Bridget and in challenging the physician's authority. Her demand for a second opinion shows a new assertiveness, and her internal conflict about her feelings for Bridget becomes more pronounced. She also shows unexpected tenderness toward Arthur, despite their usual bickering, revealing a capacity for care that extends beyond her romantic interest.
Bridget displays vulnerability for the first time. She admits her pain, trusts Gwen with a deeply personal confession about courting a woman, and allows herself to be helped. Her willingness to share this secret suggests a growing trust in Gwen, and her relief at the Wizard's remedy highlights how long she has suffered without proper care.
Arthur is revealed to be more fragile than his usual bravado suggests. His drunken confession that he would be better off dead is a stark contrast to his typical sarcasm, and it hints at deeper self-hatred. Gwen's reaction—covering him and holding his hand—shows that even their contentious sibling bond can soften in moments of crisis.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Dismissal of women's pain is central. Bridget's experience with physicians who minimize her suffering reflects a broader societal failure to take women's health seriously. Gwen's outrage and insistence on a second opinion directly challenge this.
Queer romance is advanced through Bridget's confession about courting a woman. This moment validates Gwen's own feelings and suggests that same-sex attraction is not as isolated as she feared, even if it must remain hidden.
Physical intimacy as care appears in the massage scene, where touch becomes a means of comfort rather than romance. Gwen's internal struggle to keep her feelings in check underscores the tension between care and desire.
Self-hatred is embodied in Arthur's muttered words. His drunken despair contrasts with his usual confidence, revealing a vulnerability that Gwen must confront.
Challenging medical authority is shown when Gwen overrides the physician's dismissal and summons the Wizard, who treats Bridget with respect and practical herbalism.
Herbal remedies symbolize a more compassionate, holistic approach to healing, as opposed to the physician's rigid refusal to help.
Vulnerability is a recurring motif—Bridget's physical pain, Arthur's emotional breakdown, and Gwen's own uncertainty all expose characters' softer sides.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal for the Gwen–Bridget relationship. Bridget's confession about courting a woman gives Gwen hope that her feelings might be reciprocated, while the intimate massage scene deepens their physical and emotional connection. It also establishes a pattern of Gwen advocating for Bridget, which will likely shape their future interactions.
Simultaneously, Arthur's drunken confession introduces a darker layer to his character, hinting at inner turmoil that may drive future plot developments. The chapter also critiques the medical establishment's treatment of women, using Bridget's pain as a lens to explore broader themes of neglect and the importance of listening to patients.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Gwen's response to Bridget's pain contrast with the physician's?
Gwen takes Bridget's pain seriously, offers immediate physical comfort, and demands a second opinion when the physician dismisses her. The physician, by contrast, refuses to provide any treatment, insisting that rest and fortitude are sufficient. Gwen's actions show empathy and a willingness to challenge authority, while the physician's response reflects a systemic disregard for women's suffering.
2. What does Bridget's confession about courting a woman reveal about her character and her trust in Gwen?
Bridget's confession reveals that she has loved a woman before and that she is willing to share this secret with Gwen, indicating a high level of trust. It also shows her resilience—she chose not to follow the woman into a life she didn't want, even at the cost of losing her. This moment deepens the bond between Gwen and Bridget and suggests that Bridget may see Gwen as someone safe to confide in.
3. How does Arthur's drunken confession affect Gwen's perception of him?
Arthur's muttered words—that he would be better off dead—shock Gwen, who had always joked about wanting him gone but never imagined he felt that way about himself. This moment humanizes Arthur in Gwen's eyes, shifting her from annoyance to concern. Her decision to cover him and hold his hand shows that, despite their constant bickering, she cares about his well-being.
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