Chapter 17: Audrey — Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ 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

After three days of relentless dance practice, Audrey hits her breaking point. Lying on the floor of the Radcliffe drawing room, she threatens to attend the upcoming assembly in her modern clothes—sans jacket, with shoulders and undergarments showing—and jokes that she'll ruin the plot of every classic novel for the next fifty years. Lucy, exasperated but amused, awkwardly sits down beside her, admitting she's never sat on the floor before meeting Audrey.

The two lie side by side, staring at the chandelier, and Lucy asks what Audrey is good at in her own time. Audrey confesses that she loves drawing and had dreamed of attending art school, but she was wait-listed and then lost all inspiration. She admits she's afraid of being rejected again, and that not submitting new work feels safer than risking a final no. Lucy gently pushes her to be honest about whether she still wants it, and Audrey finally admits she does. Lucy promises they'll get her back to that dream.

Wanting to do something fun for Lucy in return for all her help, Audrey suggests an activity from Lucy's bachelorette-month bucket list. Lucy proposes horseback riding, and Audrey jumps at the chance. At the stables, they meet James, the stable boy, who saddles Henry for Lucy and Moby for Audrey. Moby immediately rips Audrey's bonnet off and spits it on the floor, which Audrey finds endearing. Lucy initially insists on riding sidesaddle, but Audrey persuades her to ride astride, with James's silent approval.

During the ride, Moby bolts at full gallop, and Audrey barely manages to pull the reins and stop him. Instead of being scared, she's thrilled. Lucy, visibly disheveled for the first time, admits she's never ridden that fast and that it was fun. They ride together through the grounds and into a small forest, where Lucy explains that riding is more a sign of genteel upbringing than a leisure activity for ladies, and that she's restricted from actually enjoying many of the accomplishments she was forced to learn. She reveals she sneaks in rides when her father is away.

After returning to the stable, Audrey's legs are like jelly, and she playfully snatches Lucy's hat and sprints across the field. Lucy chases her, and for a brief moment, she is completely unguarded and open—a rare glimpse of the real Lucy. But as they enter the courtyard, Lucy quickly pulls her walls back up, returning to duty and obligation mode.

Inside, Martha greets them with an invitation from Mr. Shepherd for a dinner party the next evening at his estate. Lucy reads it and confirms attendance, assuring Audrey she is more than ready. She hands the letter to Audrey with an amused grin, noting they wouldn't want to keep the handsome Mr. Shepherd waiting.

Key Events

Audrey collapses from exhaustion after three days of dance practice and threatens to attend the assembly in modern clothes.
Lucy joins her on the floor, and Audrey opens up about her love of drawing and her wait-list rejection from art school.
Lucy encourages Audrey to be honest about her desire to pursue art, and Audrey admits she still wants it.
Audrey suggests doing something fun for Lucy, and they decide to go horseback riding.
At the stables, James saddles Henry and Moby; Moby removes Audrey's bonnet.
Lucy is persuaded to ride astride instead of sidesaddle, a small act of rebellion.
Moby bolts, but Audrey stops him; both women enjoy the thrill of fast riding.
Lucy discusses the restrictions placed on ladies and admits she sneaks in rides when her father is away.
After the ride, they playfully chase each other, and Lucy briefly drops her guard.
Martha delivers an invitation from Mr. Shepherd for a dinner party the next evening; Lucy confirms attendance and reassures Audrey.

Character Development

Audrey shows significant vulnerability in this chapter. She admits her fear of rejection and the creative block that followed her wait-list news. Her confession that she still wants to attend art school, despite trying to convince herself otherwise, marks a turning point in her self-awareness. She also demonstrates care for Lucy by wanting to do something fun for her, shifting from being solely focused on her own predicament.

Lucy reveals more of her inner life. She admits she's never sat on the floor before Audrey arrived, and she shares her frustration with the societal expectations that force her to learn accomplishments she's not allowed to enjoy. Her decision to ride astride, with Audrey's encouragement, is a small but meaningful act of rebellion. The moment when she drops her guard during the chase shows a more spontaneous, joyful side, though she quickly retreats back into her composed role.

James serves as a minor but supportive figure, helping both women with the horses and silently approving Lucy's choice to ride astride. His presence adds a touch of lightness and charm to the scene.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Fear of rejection is central to Audrey's confession. She admits that not submitting new art feels safer than risking another rejection, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has faced a setback.

Creative block is explored through Audrey's inability to draw after the wait-list letter. Lucy's analogy of music ebbing and flowing offers a hopeful counterpoint, suggesting that inspiration can return.

Female societal restrictions are highlighted in Lucy's discussion of riding sidesaddle and the expectation that ladies use their accomplishments only as ornaments, not for genuine enjoyment. Her secret rides when her father is away symbolize the limited freedom she carves out for herself.

Rebellion against expectations appears in Lucy's decision to ride astride and in Audrey's playful threat to attend the assembly in modern clothes. Both acts, though small, challenge the rigid norms of the era.

Freedom and spontaneity are embodied in the fast ride and the playful chase, which allow Lucy to momentarily shed her composed exterior.

Friendship and support is the thread that ties the chapter together. Lucy encourages Audrey to be honest about her dreams, and Audrey pushes Lucy to break free from her constraints. Their mutual support deepens their bond.

Social obligations and etiquette are represented by the dinner party invitation, which reminds both women of the social world they must navigate. Lucy's confident assurance that Audrey is ready signals a shift from anxiety to readiness.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for both Audrey and Lucy's development. Audrey's confession about her art school dream and her fear of rejection humanizes her and makes her more relatable. It also sets up a potential future plot point: Lucy's promise to help her get back to that dream. For Lucy, the horseback riding scene is a rare moment of genuine freedom and joy, showing her capacity for spontaneity when given the chance. The brief glimpse of her unguarded self deepens the reader's understanding of her character and foreshadows the possibility of her breaking free from societal constraints. The chapter also introduces the dinner party invitation, which will likely be a key social event in the next chapter, bringing Audrey and Lucy into a new setting with new challenges.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Audrey hesitate to submit new art pieces to the art school, and what does Lucy's response reveal about her character?

Audrey hesitates because she's afraid of being rejected again. She'd rather not submit than risk a final no. Lucy's response—gently asking if she still wants it and then promising to help her get back to that dream—shows her empathy and her belief in Audrey's potential. It also reveals Lucy's own understanding of creative ebbs and flows, suggesting she has faced similar doubts.

2. How does the horseback riding scene illustrate the theme of female societal restrictions?

Lucy initially insists on riding sidesaddle because it's considered proper for a lady. Audrey persuades her to ride astride, and James silently approves. Lucy later explains that riding is more a sign of genteel upbringing than a leisure activity, and that she's not supposed to actually enjoy the accomplishments she was forced to learn. The scene shows how societal rules limit women's freedom and how small acts of rebellion can challenge those norms.

3. What does the dinner party invitation signify for Audrey and Lucy at this point in the story?

The invitation from Mr. Shepherd represents a new social obligation and a step into the wider world of the novel's setting. For Audrey, it's a test of her readiness to navigate Regency-era etiquette. For Lucy, it's an opportunity to show Audrey that she's prepared, and it also hints at potential romantic or social developments. Lucy's confident assurance that Audrey is ready suggests that their friendship has given Audrey the confidence she needs.