Chapter 31: Audrey — 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
On July 4, 1812, Audrey wakes with her mind still reeling from the near-kiss with Lucy. She can barely eat, and the tension between them is palpable. Mr. Sinclair, humming cheerfully, announces that Mr. Caldwell will arrive within the hour to formally propose to Lucy. Lucy is visibly stricken, and Audrey, though internally desperate, tells her that this is exactly what she has been working toward—unless she sees another way. Lucy doesn't deny it, and the two retreat to the drawing room to pretend everything is normal.
In the drawing room, Lucy plays the piano while Audrey attempts to sketch. But every time she tries to draw Lucy, the lines come out wrong. Frustrated and fearful that her entire journey has been pointless, Audrey instead sketches escape scenarios: leaping out the window, kissing Lucy and instantly returning to Pittsburgh, even Mr. Caldwell choking on his breakfast. None of these fantasies feel possible. As the clock ticks toward the hour, a knock sounds, and Mr. Caldwell arrives with Martha and Mr. Sinclair. Audrey, unable to watch the proposal, blurts out an excuse and flees the room, leaving Lucy behind.
She runs upstairs, gathers all traces of her presence from Lucy's room—the reticule, the altered dresses, her blanket—and locks herself in the guest room. She tries to turn on her phone, hoping for a glimpse of Cooper or her real life, but it remains dead. From downstairs, she hears the sounds of celebration: congratulations and well-wishes from the staff. A tear slips down her cheek. She wonders why she is here at all, and whether the point was simply to prove she could love again after Charlie.
As afternoon fades to night, Abigail comes to call her to dinner, but Audrey refuses. She pulls out the quarter and sees that six days remain. She agonizes over what will happen: either she stays trapped in the past, or she returns home and loses Lucy forever. A faint knock comes at the door, and Lucy whispers her name. Audrey stands, pressing her palm against the wood, but neither speaks. Finally, Lucy's footsteps retreat. Audrey is left alone, staring at the six on the quarter, feeling that either way, she loses.
Key Events
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Mr. Sinclair announces Mr. Caldwell's imminent proposal to Lucy.
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Audrey and Lucy share a tense, unresolved conversation about the proposal.
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In the drawing room, Audrey tries to sketch Lucy but fails, instead drawing escape fantasies.
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Mr. Caldwell arrives, and Audrey abruptly leaves the room.
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Audrey gathers her belongings from Lucy's room and locks herself in the guest room.
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She attempts to turn on her phone but fails.
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She hears celebrations from downstairs, signaling the proposal's acceptance.
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She reflects on her purpose and pulls out the quarter, seeing six days remain.
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Lucy comes to the door, but they do not speak.
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Audrey worries about being trapped in the past or losing Lucy forever.
Character Development
This chapter marks a turning point for Audrey. Her internal conflict intensifies as she realizes she has fallen for someone she cannot have. Her decision to leave the drawing room—rather than stay as moral support—shows her self-sacrificing nature; she cannot bear to watch Lucy accept another man's proposal, but she also refuses to interfere with Lucy's apparent choice. Her inability to sketch Lucy is symbolic of her emotional block: she cannot capture the person she loves because the future is uncertain and painful.
Audrey also begins to question the purpose of her journey. She wonders if the quarter's magic was never about finding true love but about proving she could love again after Charlie. This realization is both a comfort and a source of frustration, as she still doesn't know what the countdown is leading to. Her isolation in the guest room, refusing dinner and avoiding contact, underscores her fear of both outcomes: staying in the past or leaving Lucy behind.
Lucy, though less present in this chapter, shows vulnerability. She is stricken by the proposal and seeks Audrey's guidance, but when Audrey offers no clear alternative, Lucy accepts her fate. Her silent visit to Audrey's door suggests she too is conflicted, but she ultimately respects Audrey's silence. This mutual restraint highlights the impossibility of their situation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Forbidden Love: The central theme is the impossibility of Audrey and Lucy's relationship in 1812. Audrey explicitly notes that her feelings would be considered