Chapter 10 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.
All claims are based on the chapter text provided; no external information is used.
The chapter is set in November 2016 and follows Rachel Rimmer through a single day that begins with a surprising intimacy and ends with a troubling discovery.
The narrative alternates between Rachel’s private reflections and her lunch with her father, revealing her anxieties about both her personal life and her struggling jewelry business.
The chapter’s final revelation—that the customer behind a massive order is none other than Michael Rimmer—sets up a central mystery that will drive the novel forward.
Below, the chapter is summarised chronologically, its key events and character beats are isolated, and its thematic weight is examined.
Three study questions with answers are provided to help you engage with the text on a deeper level.
Use the navigation links at the bottom to move to the previous or next chapter, or to return to the book hub.
Summary
The chapter opens at nearly eight in the morning, with Rachel lying in bed next to Michael Rimmer.
She quietly sniffs the crown of his head, applying her personal theory that the scent of a person’s scalp is a reliable indicator of sexual compatibility.
She finds his smell appealing—clean, with notes of sandalwood and citrus, but with a subtle musky undertone that distinguishes it from cheap perfume.
She then studies his face, noting the signs of age: open pores, deep forehead lines, and a sharp line beside his mouth, yet his skin remains soft and plump.
She wonders if he uses skincare products and admits she has no problem with that.
The night had been a success by her standards: good conversation, good food, and good sex.
Rachel reflects on the details of their date, recalling his talk of a house in Martha’s Vineyard, a boat moored in Antibes, and a ski chalet (or condo) in an expensive resort.
She had never skied but enjoyed the idea of drinking and eating on a ski holiday.
They left after two cocktails and a shared charcuterie platter, returned to her apartment, opened champagne, and stood on the balcony overlooking the canal, laughing at the stench and inventing increasingly outlandish descriptions for it.
Then Michael said he wanted to kiss her, and they went indoors.
Rachel had expected the encounter to be more physical and urgent, but instead it was emotionally intense, which surprised and unnerved her.
She had intended Michael to be her “last hurrah”—a casual fling—not a potential first husband.
Later that day, Rachel meets her father for lunch.
He is eager to hear about her date with “the American guy.”
She plays it down, describing Michael as smart, charming, and successful, but when her father asks his age, she admits he is forty-six.
Her father is skeptical, asking why a man that age isn’t married.
Rachel clarifies that Michael is divorced and has a son, but he doesn’t see the son because the ex-wife won’t allow it.
Her father calls this “baggage,” and Rachel insists the relationship is not serious—Michael is only in London for six months.
Her father retorts that someone has to overthink things, and the conversation shifts, as it always does, to Rachel’s jewelry business.
These discussions used to be exciting when her father was helping her get the business off the ground, but now that he is essentially bankrolling her, they make her feel inadequate and edgy.
She opens the app she uses to manage orders and shows her father the latest figures.
Something looks off—the numbers are out of proportion.
She clicks on the newest order and stares numbly: someone has ordered £54,000 worth of jewelry, including the white-gold eternity ring with yellow diamonds, which is the most expensive single item on her website at £8,500.
Her father is thrilled, clapping his hands and telling her that one big order is all she needed.
Rachel, however, is mentally calculating how long it will take to fulfill the order, how quickly she can source the gems (she keeps only a small stock), and her heart races with stress.
She tells her father she is not sure she can fulfill the order in six weeks on her own.
Her father advises her to bring in help—suggesting Paige, the “nice girl next door” in her studio complex—and to write to the customer, explaining that the delivery will take eight weeks instead of six, and to request a fifty percent deposit upfront.
He tells her to work every hour and fulfill the order.
Rachel nods, but her heart and gut are not convinced.
She presses the back button on her phone and then opens the “Customer details” tab.
She breathes in sharply when she sees the name: Michael Rimmer, with an address in London.
Her father asks if she is okay, and she quickly closes the page, smiles, and tells him she can do it.
Key Events
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Rachel wakes up next to Michael Rimmer and performs her “scalp smell” test, finding him compatible.
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She reflects on the previous night’s date, including his wealth (Martha’s Vineyard, Antibes, ski chalet) and the emotional intensity of their intimacy.
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Rachel meets her father for lunch; he interrogates her about Michael’s age, marital status, and “baggage.”
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The conversation turns to Rachel’s jewelry business, and she discovers a £54,000 order on her phone.
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Her father advises her to hire Paige, extend delivery time, and ask for a deposit.
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Rachel checks the customer details and learns the order is from Michael Rimmer, but she hides this from her father.
Character Development
- Rachel is caught between two desires: she wants a casual, no-strings affair (her “last hurrah”) but is unnerved by the emotional connection she feels with Michael.
Her internal conflict is evident when she reflects on the night: she was “pleasantly surprised” but also “unnerved.”
Her business anxiety reveals her financial dependence on her father, which makes her feel inadequate.
The chapter also shows her capacity for deception—she hides the customer’s identity from her father, a small but significant lie that hints at her growing unease.
- Michael Rimmer is present only through Rachel’s memories and the customer details, but his wealth and charm are established.
His decision to place a massive order from Rachel’s website—without telling her—suggests a manipulative or at least secretive side, though his motives are not yet clear.
- Rachel’s father is protective and pragmatic.
He warns her about Michael’s “baggage” and then gives practical business advice, but his tone also carries a hint of condescension, as if he still sees her as a child who needs guidance.
His comment that “someone has to overthink things” underscores his belief that Rachel is not thinking enough.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Wealth and status: Michael’s possessions (Martha’s Vineyard house, Antibes boat, ski chalet) are described in detail, establishing his wealth as a key part of his allure.
The £54,000 order is a symbol of that wealth, but it also becomes a source of stress for Rachel, suggesting that money does not bring ease.
- Deception and hidden identity: Rachel hides the customer’s identity from her father, and Michael has hidden his order from Rachel.
This motif of concealment foreshadows larger secrets in the novel.
- Aging and attraction: Rachel’s examination of Michael’s face—his pores, lines, and soft skin—reflects her awareness of age and her own changing expectations.
The scalp smell test is a quirky, intimate ritual that ties physical attraction to a sense of cleanliness and care.
- Financial dependence: Rachel’s business is bankrolled by her father, and the big order is both a lifeline and a burden.
Her internal stress about fulfilling it highlights her precarious position.
- Father-daughter dynamics: The lunch conversation reveals a pattern: her father is supportive but also controlling, and Rachel feels inadequate in his presence.
His advice is practical, but it also reinforces her dependence on him.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the novel’s structure.
It introduces the central mystery of Michael Rimmer’s true intentions: why would a man who is dating Rachel secretly place a £54,000 order from her website?
The revelation creates dramatic irony—the reader knows something Rachel’s father does not—and sets up a potential conflict between Rachel’s personal and professional lives.
The chapter also deepens Rachel’s characterization, showing her vulnerability, her desire for independence, and her willingness to deceive those closest to her.
Thematically, it establishes the tension between wealth and emotional fulfillment, and it foreshadows the larger secrets that will unravel as the novel progresses.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Rachel hide the customer’s identity from her father?
Rachel hides the identity because she is likely embarrassed or confused.
She has just told her father that Michael is only a casual fling, and discovering that he is her biggest customer would complicate that narrative.
It also suggests she is beginning to suspect Michael’s motives, and she does not want her father to interfere or judge her further.
The concealment is a small act of rebellion against her father’s overbearing presence.
- What does Rachel’s “scalp smell” theory reveal about her character?
The theory reveals Rachel’s practical, almost scientific approach to romance.
She uses a sensory test to gauge compatibility, which suggests she is cautious and analytical in matters of the heart.
It also shows her appreciation for cleanliness and care, which aligns with her attraction to Michael’s polished, wealthy lifestyle.
The fact that she performs this test while he sleeps indicates her vulnerability and her need to assess a partner before fully committing.
- How does Rachel’s father’s advice reflect their relationship?
Her father’s advice—to hire Paige, extend the delivery time, and ask for a deposit—is practical and shows his business acumen, but it also underscores his role as the one who “overthinks” and solves problems.
Rachel’s internal resistance (“her heart wasn’t convinced, and neither was her gut”) suggests she feels infantilized by his constant guidance.
The dynamic is one of dependence and subtle resentment, which is a recurring theme in their interactions.