Chapter 25: Audrey — Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes
⚠️ 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 June 27, 1812, Audrey finds herself completely undone—not by the shock of time travel, but by her growing feelings for Lucy. She tosses aside her sketchbook, which is filled with drawings of Lucy in the ball gown she helped her try on, and paces the drawing room. Feeling trapped both in this era and in her own emotions, she escapes outside and walks to the stables, a place she's visited before to vent.
There, she finds James brushing Henry's mane. He teases her about coming to talk to Moby, the horse she previously ranted to, but she insists she just needs air. James sees through her and offers a listening ear. After a moment of hesitation, Audrey admits she thinks she's started to have feelings for someone—a friend. She says it's impossible because the person is from America, but the real reason is that the friend is Lucy, and she fears the scandal of a queer relationship in 1812.
James doesn't judge. Instead, he shares a story about his older brother, who fell in love with the daughter of a duke and eloped with her. The scandal rocked London society for two seasons, yet the couple is still together, happy, with three children. James concludes that real love doesn't care about propriety or what others think; it finds you when you least expect it.
Audrey freezes at his words, remembering Mr. Montgomery's prophecy before she was sent back in time: True love might be just around the corner! She thinks about the moment with Lucy in her room earlier that day—their eyes locked, fingertips brushing—and feels a glimmer of hope. Maybe Mr. Montgomery sent her here because Lucy could feel the same way. Maybe Lucy has been the answer all along.
Key Events
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Audrey's sketchbook reveals her obsession with Lucy, and she feels emotionally trapped.
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She leaves the drawing room and goes to the stables, where she finds James.
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James offers to listen, and Audrey confesses she has feelings for a friend, though she hides the true reason by saying the friend is from America.
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James tells the story of his brother's scandalous elopement with a duke's daughter, which ended in lasting love.
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Audrey connects James's words to Mr. Montgomery's prophecy and recalls the intimate moment with Lucy in her room.
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She begins to hope that Lucy might reciprocate her feelings.
Character Development
Audrey undergoes a significant shift in this chapter. Earlier, she struggled to acknowledge her feelings, but here she takes a leap by admitting them out loud to James. She reflects on how she spent years ignoring this part of herself, and now she doesn't want to push it down anymore. This is a moment of self-acceptance, even as she fears the consequences. Her hope at the end shows growth from denial to cautious optimism.
James emerges as a trusted confidant. He listens without judgment and offers a perspective that challenges the social norms of the time. His personal story about his brother's love affair demonstrates that love can transcend propriety, making him a catalyst for Audrey's hope.
Lucy is not physically present, but her influence looms large. Through Audrey's memories and sketches, we see how deeply Lucy has affected her, and the chapter builds anticipation for Lucy's potential feelings.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Unexpected Love: Audrey never expected to fall for a friend, and James's story reinforces that love often arrives when least expected.
Love vs. Propriety: The chapter contrasts societal rules with the power of genuine love. James's brother's elopement defied convention yet led to happiness, suggesting that love can override social expectations.
Self-Acceptance: Audrey's internal struggle and her decision to stop suppressing her feelings mark a key step in accepting her identity.
Hope: The chapter ends on a hopeful note, as Audrey allows herself to believe that Lucy might feel the same way.
Fate and Prophecy: Mr. Montgomery's earlier words about true love being just around the corner are recalled, implying that Audrey's time travel may have been orchestrated to bring her to Lucy.
Queer Love in History: Audrey's thought that queer people existed in the 1800s (she mentions Emily Dickinson's poems) acknowledges that love between women is not a modern invention, and that her feelings are valid even in this historical setting.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Audrey's emotional journey. It marks the first time she openly acknowledges her feelings for Lucy, and it plants the seed of hope that her love might be reciprocated. James's story provides a counter-narrative to the era's strict social codes, suggesting that love can triumph over scandal. The chapter also deepens the connection to Mr. Montgomery's prophecy, hinting that the time travel may have a purpose beyond mere adventure. For readers, it raises the stakes: will Lucy feel the same, and can their relationship survive the constraints of 1812?
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Audrey hesitate to tell James the full truth about her feelings?
Audrey is afraid that saying the truth out loud will make it real in a way she can't come back from. She also fears the social consequences of a queer relationship in 1812, so she hides behind the excuse that the person is from America.
2. How does James's story about his brother influence Audrey's perspective?
James's story shows that love can defy social expectations and still lead to lasting happiness. His brother's elopement with a duke's daughter was a huge scandal, yet the couple is still in love with three children. This gives Audrey hope that her own love might be possible despite the odds.
3. What role does Mr. Montgomery's prophecy play in this chapter?
Audrey recalls Mr. Montgomery's words about true love being just around the corner. She connects them to her arrival in 1812 and her growing feelings for Lucy, suggesting that the prophecy may have been guiding her toward Lucy all along. This reinforces the theme of fate and gives Audrey a reason to believe her love is meant to be.