Chapter 22: Ruby — 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 Ruby Tremaine waiting in the Davenport foyer, hat and gloves in hand, for Harrison Barton to arrive. She has deliberately positioned herself so that when Barton arrives, he'll have a chance encounter with John Davenport and her father, Mr. Tremaine, who are meeting inside the study. Ruby hopes this meeting will get her matchmaking plan back on track.

When John emerges, he compliments Ruby and mentions he hasn't seen her or Olivia at Freeport lately. This unsettles Ruby, since she and Olivia have actually been spending less time together than either of them likes. Ruby covers for her friend, insisting they're inseparable as ever, but privately wonders where Olivia is spending her time if not with her or with Mr. Lawrence.

Barton arrives and is introduced to Mr. Davenport. John and Barton exchange cool, brief greetings, and Ruby notices the tension between them. She quickly loops her arm through Barton's and they leave, with her father calling after her to be home for dinner.

Outside, Ruby is surprised to find Barton has brought an automobile instead of his usual carriage. She's delighted by the novelty and asks if he'll teach her to drive. He says he can, but not today—the surprise is at a destination only he knows. They drive through downtown Chicago, and Ruby marvels at the speed and energy of the city from this new vantage point.

Barton parks outside a jewelry shop. Inside, he reveals the surprise: he won Ruby's missing ruby necklace in a poker game from Lonnie Lynch. The necklace had belonged to Ruby's mother, who must have sold it at some point. Barton has had it appraised and polished, and he returns it to her. Ruby is deeply moved, crying despite her promise never to cry over jewelry again. She tries to refuse, but Barton insists, and the shopkeeper places a mirror before them as he fastens the necklace around her throat.

Ruby is overwhelmed—both by the restoration of the keepsake and by the guilt of knowing she's been using Barton as part of her scheme. She thanks him, and he tells her he won't hear of repayment. He says he knew how much she missed the necklace and wanted to do this for her.

They drive to Lake Shore Drive for a picnic. As they settle into a quiet spot, the physical tension between them builds. Barton kisses her neck, her jaw, and finally her lips. Ruby is swept up in the passion, kissing him back until her lips bruise and her heart pounds. The intimacy blurs the line between her plan and her genuine feelings. When Barton finally pulls back and suggests they eat, Ruby laughs—she had forgotten she was hungry.

Key Events

Ruby stages a chance encounter between John Davenport and Harrison Barton in the Davenport foyer.
John mentions he hasn't seen Ruby or Olivia at Freeport lately, prompting Ruby to wonder where Olivia is spending her time.
Barton and John exchange cool, tense greetings before Ruby and Barton leave together.
Barton surprises Ruby with an automobile instead of his usual carriage and drives her downtown.
At a jewelry shop, Barton reveals he won Ruby's missing ruby necklace in a poker game from Lonnie Lynch.
The necklace had belonged to Ruby's mother, who must have sold it; Barton returns it to her.
Ruby is deeply moved and cries, but also feels guilt over using Barton.
They drive to Lake Shore Drive for a picnic, where they share passionate kisses before Barton suggests they eat.

Character Development

Ruby Tremaine is caught between two competing impulses in this chapter. On one hand, she's executing a calculated plan—staging encounters, managing impressions, and using Barton as a means to an end. On the other, she's genuinely moved by Barton's thoughtfulness. The return of her mother's necklace cracks her emotional armor, and the kisses at the picnic make her question whether she can keep up the charade. Her internal conflict is the chapter's emotional core: she recognizes Barton's sweetness and sincerity even as she acknowledges she's using him.

Harrison Barton reveals a more vulnerable and generous side here. He shares that he doesn't gamble as a rule, having no wish to return to the hardships of his childhood, yet he risked a steep buy-in to win back Ruby's necklace. His careful attention—having the piece appraised and polished, arranging the surprise—shows genuine care. His restraint during the picnic (pulling back to suggest they eat) also suggests he's mindful of propriety even as desire builds between them.

John Davenport appears briefly but meaningfully. His cool greeting to Barton and his observation about Ruby and Olivia's absence from Freeport hint at his awareness of the social currents around him. His comment about missing Ruby at dinner subtly signals that the Davenport household has noticed the shift in Ruby's attention.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The necklace as symbol of family and loss. The ruby necklace belonged to Ruby's mother, who must have sold it. Its return represents more than a recovered trinket—it's a restoration of family connection and memory. Ruby's tears and her vow never to take it off again show how deeply the loss had affected her.

Courtship as performance. Ruby's entire approach to Barton is theatrical: she stages encounters, manages her expressions, and plays a role. The chapter highlights how much of courtship in this social world is about appearances and timing.

Guilt versus genuine feeling. Ruby's guilt over using Barton grows as his genuine kindness becomes undeniable. The chapter traces the blurring line between her plan and her real emotions, especially during the intimate moments at the picnic.

Modernity and the automobile. The automobile represents a new kind of freedom and excitement. Ruby's delight in the speed and energy of downtown traffic contrasts with the more formal, controlled world of carriages and social calls. The car is also a private space that enables intimacy.

Urban vitality. Ruby's description of downtown—the trollies, the elevated train, the food carts, the snippets of conversation—paints the city as alive and urgent, a backdrop that energizes the chapter's romantic developments.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Ruby's storyline. The return of the necklace deepens her emotional investment in Barton at the exact moment she's trying to use him for her own purposes. The physical intimacy at the picnic makes it impossible for her to maintain the comfortable fiction that they're just friends. The chapter also plants questions about Olivia's whereabouts—John's comment suggests Olivia has been spending time somewhere Ruby doesn't know about, setting up future revelations. Finally, the tension between John and Barton establishes a rivalry that will likely shape the rest of the novel.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Ruby feel guilty after receiving the necklace from Harrison Barton?

Ruby feels guilty because she's been using Barton as part of her matchmaking scheme—she's courting him publicly to advance her plan, not because she genuinely wants a relationship with him. Barton's gift of the necklace is deeply personal and sincere, and it makes Ruby confront the fact that she's deceiving someone who has shown her real kindness. The more genuine Barton's feelings become, the harder it is for Ruby to maintain her distance.

2. What does John Davenport's comment about Olivia reveal, and why does it unsettle Ruby?

John mentions he hasn't seen Ruby or Olivia at Freeport lately. This unsettles Ruby because she and Olivia have actually been spending less time together than either of them likes. Ruby covers for her friend by insisting they're inseparable as ever, but privately she wonders where Olivia is spending her time. The comment plants a question about Olivia's activities that will likely be explored in later chapters.

3. How does the automobile function symbolically in this chapter?

The automobile represents modernity, freedom, and intimacy. Ruby's delight in the speed and energy of downtown traffic contrasts with the more formal world of carriages and social calls. The car also creates a private, enclosed space that enables the physical intimacy between Ruby and Barton—it's a vehicle for both literal and emotional movement away from the constraints of her social world.