Chapter 32: Lucy — 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 with Lucy unable to sleep, tormented by her engagement to Mr. Caldwell. She paces her room, feeling trapped, and finally slips out into a heavy rainstorm. She runs across the grounds—past the pond and stables—until she is exhausted. In the exact spot where she first met Audrey, she finds Audrey sitting, also awake.
Their confrontation is raw. Audrey asks if Lucy will ever be happy marrying Mr. Caldwell. Lucy admits she won't, but insists she has no choice. She tries to dismiss the situation as an “adequate marriage” and suggests they will both forget each other. Audrey accuses Lucy of letting her father, Mr. Caldwell, and society decide her feelings, of hiding in a “safe little box.” Lucy fires back, pointing out Audrey's own evasions: her indecision among Alexander, Mr. Shepherd, and James, her refusal to tell Leah the truth, and her withheld college application to avoid rejection.
Audrey, hurt, says she will leave and stay at an inn until her time is up. Lucy explains that in her era, loving another girl openly would leave them with no prospects, no life at all. As Audrey turns to leave, Lucy, desperate, calls out, “Kiss me.” Audrey hesitates, but Lucy pulls her close, and they kiss.
They stumble back to Radcliffe through the rain, entering through a side door and climbing to Lucy's room. They lock the door and become intimate, with Lucy admitting she has never been touched like this. Audrey asks what Lucy would say if she lived in Audrey's time. Lucy whispers that Audrey has consumed her completely and that she loves her.
Key Events
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Lucy, sleepless and distressed about her engagement, runs out into a storm.
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She finds Audrey at the spot where they first met.
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They argue about Lucy's lack of agency and Audrey's own evasions.
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Audrey threatens to leave for an inn; Lucy explains the impossibility of their love in her time.
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Lucy asks Audrey to kiss her, and they share a passionate kiss.
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They return to Radcliffe, enter Lucy's room, and become physically intimate.
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Lucy confesses her love, saying Audrey has consumed her completely.
Character Development
Lucy transforms from a passive figure who accepts her fate to an active participant in her own desires. At the start, she is resigned to an “adequate marriage,” but her confrontation with Audrey forces her to confront her feelings. Her decision to ask for the kiss—and later to declare her love—marks a significant shift from self-censorship to vulnerability. She acknowledges the constraints of her time but chooses to embrace the present moment rather than sacrifice it entirely.
Audrey is revealed to be more vulnerable than her confident exterior suggests. Her accusation that Lucy hides in a box is mirrored by her own avoidance of commitment and rejection. When she threatens to leave, it is a defense mechanism against the pain of an impossible love. Her question about what Lucy would say in her time shows her longing for a world where their love could be open.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Duty vs. Desire: Lucy's engagement to Mr. Caldwell represents duty, while her feelings for Audrey represent desire. The chapter forces her to choose between them, at least for the present.
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Self-Censorship: Lucy repeatedly stops herself from saying “I love you,” and Audrey also bites back words. The storm seems to mirror their internal turmoil, with lightning flashing as they finally speak truth.
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Societal Judgment: Lucy's explanation that loving another girl would leave them with “no prospects, no life at all” highlights the oppressive norms of her era. Audrey's fear of being called “abhorrent” underscores the stigma.
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Living in the Present: Lucy's decision to kiss Audrey and be intimate is a deliberate choice to focus on the present rather than the impossible future. She says, “We might not have a future, but we do still have the present.”
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Risk-Taking: Asking for the kiss is a leap of faith, a break from Lucy's pattern of letting others decide. It is the first time she acts purely on her own desire.
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Storm as Symbol: The rain and thunder reflect the emotional intensity and the cleansing power of confession. The storm also isolates them, creating a private space away from society's eyes.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the emotional climax of Lucy and Audrey's relationship. It moves from conflict to resolution, from denial to acceptance. Lucy's confession of love is a pivotal moment of self-awareness and courage, even though the future remains uncertain. The chapter also deepens the novel's exploration of forbidden love and the cost of societal conformity. It shows that even in the face of impossibility, choosing to love—even for a moment—can be transformative.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Lucy initially resist telling Audrey she loves her, and what changes her mind?
Lucy resists because she believes that confessing her love would be pointless given the constraints of her time. She knows that a future together is impossible, so she tries to suppress her feelings. However, when Audrey is about to leave forever, Lucy realizes she cannot bear the thought of never seeing her again. She decides that even if they have no future, they can embrace the present, which leads her to ask for the kiss and eventually confess her love.
2. How does the argument between Lucy and Audrey reveal their similarities?
The argument shows that both women avoid confronting their true feelings. Lucy hides behind her engagement and societal expectations, while Audrey hides behind indecision and avoidance of rejection. Lucy points out that Audrey's withholding of her application and her inability to choose among suitors are forms of self-protection. This mirroring forces both to recognize that they are not so different, which ultimately allows them to be vulnerable with each other.
3. What role does the storm play in the chapter's climax?
The storm serves as both a physical and emotional backdrop. It reflects the turmoil inside Lucy and Audrey, and it isolates them from the rest of the world, creating a private space where they can be honest. The rain and lightning intensify the passion of their kiss and the intimacy that follows, symbolizing the release of pent-up emotion and the breaking of barriers.