Chapter 23: 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

On the afternoon of June 27, 1812, Martha announces the arrival of Lucy's ball gown from Miss Burton. Lucy asks Audrey to help her try it on, and Audrey, flustered but eager, follows her upstairs. The gown is a stunning azure creation with a wide V neckline and intricate embroidery, and Audrey immediately notes that it matches Lucy's eyes exactly.

The fitting becomes an intimate, charged experience. Audrey helps Lucy out of her current dress, her hands brushing against Lucy's skin, and the proximity makes her heart race. As she helps Lucy into the new gown, their faces are close enough that Audrey can feel Lucy's breath. When Audrey ties the back and they lock eyes in the mirror, the moment is electric. Audrey can only whisper “Beautiful.” To break the tension, she quickly mentions Mr. Caldwell, joking that he won't be able to take his eyes off Lucy. She also offers to interrupt Lucy's dinner with Mr. Caldwell if she wants to leave early, a lighthearted attempt to restore normalcy.

Martha knocks to say the carriage is ready, and Audrey leaves awkwardly, mentally scolding herself for not playing it cool.

Restless, Audrey paces the halls of Radcliffe, eventually stopping before a portrait of Lucy's father. His cold gaze seems to question her intentions. Audrey reflects on her feelings for Lucy, comparing them to her past relationship with Charlie. She realizes that Lucy encourages her art in ways Charlie never did—Charlie was overly critical and even suggested she give up drawing, while Lucy makes her want to create. Audrey understands that she is falling for Lucy, despite the impossibility of the situation. She watches from a window as Lucy's carriage departs, noting the thirteen days remaining before she must return to her own time.

Key Events

Martha delivers Lucy's ball gown from Miss Burton.
Lucy asks Audrey to help her try it on, leading to an intimate fitting.
Audrey compliments Lucy and mentions Mr. Caldwell to ease the tension.
Martha interrupts to announce the carriage is ready; Audrey leaves awkwardly.
Audrey paces the halls and stops at Lucy's father's portrait.
She reflects on her relationship with Charlie and realizes Lucy understands her art better.
Audrey watches Lucy's carriage leave and acknowledges she is falling for Lucy with thirteen days left.

Character Development

This chapter marks a turning point for Audrey. Her internal monologue reveals a deepening emotional and physical attraction to Lucy, which she explicitly identifies as a “bisexual awakening.” The fitting scene forces her to confront her feelings in a visceral way, and her awkward exit shows her vulnerability.

Audrey's reflection on Charlie is crucial. She recognizes that Charlie's critiques were harsh and discouraging, while Lucy's encouragement makes her want to create. This contrast highlights Audrey's growth: she is beginning to value a partner who supports her passion rather than one who diminishes it. Her realization that Lucy understands her art “more than Charlie ever did” signals a shift in her self-awareness and priorities.

Lucy, though less directly explored, is shown as perceptive and confident. She notices Audrey's attention and seems to invite the intimacy, though she also steps back when the tension becomes too much. Her role as a catalyst for Audrey's self-discovery is central.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Bisexual Awakening: Audrey explicitly names her experience, and the chapter traces her growing awareness of her attraction to Lucy.
Forbidden Love: The relationship is impossible—Audrey is from the future, Lucy is engaged to Mr. Caldwell, and societal norms of 1812 forbid such a connection.
Self-Discovery: Through her feelings for Lucy, Audrey learns more about herself, including what she truly values in a partner.
Artistic Encouragement: Lucy's support of Audrey's drawing contrasts with Charlie's discouragement, emphasizing the importance of a nurturing relationship.
Time Pressure: The countdown of thirteen days adds urgency to Audrey's emotions and decisions.
Societal Expectations: Lucy's engagement and the need to dress for Mr. Caldwell's preference highlight the constraints of the era.
Dress as Symbol: The azure gown represents Lucy's beauty and the societal role she must play, while also serving as the catalyst for the intimate moment between the two women.
Longing: Audrey's physical and emotional yearning is palpable throughout the fitting and her subsequent pacing.
Contrasting Relationships: The comparison between Charlie and Lucy underscores what Audrey truly needs.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 23 is pivotal because it forces Audrey to acknowledge her feelings for Lucy, moving her from vague attraction to a conscious realization. The intimate fitting scene is a turning point in their relationship, raising the stakes for the remaining days. Audrey's reflection on Charlie provides crucial backstory and clarifies her emotional growth. The chapter also deepens the central conflict: Audrey is falling for someone she can't have, both because of time travel and societal expectations. This sets up the emotional tension that will likely drive the rest of the novel.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the fitting scene reveal Audrey's internal conflict?

The fitting scene places Audrey in close physical proximity to Lucy, forcing her to confront her attraction. Her racing heart, trembling hands, and breathless compliment show her desire, while her immediate mention of Mr. Caldwell reveals her attempt to suppress those feelings. Her awkward exit afterward underscores her inner turmoil—she is both drawn to Lucy and aware of the impossibility of the situation.

2. What does Audrey's comparison between Charlie and Lucy reveal about her character growth?

Audrey realizes that Charlie's critiques were harsh and discouraging, while Lucy encourages her art and makes her want to create. This comparison shows that Audrey is learning to value a partner who supports her passions rather than one who diminishes them. It marks a shift in her self-awareness and her understanding of what she needs in a relationship.

3. Why does Audrey stop at Lucy's father's portrait, and what does it symbolize?

The portrait's cold, reproachful gaze seems to question Audrey's intentions, representing the societal and familial expectations that forbid her feelings. It also serves as a reminder of the world Lucy lives in—a world where Audrey's love is impossible. The moment forces Audrey to confront the reality of her situation, even as she acknowledges her growing feelings.