Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookpossum
The first encounter between the two women took place at Irene's table "just in front of a long window whose gently moving curtains suggested a cool breeze." I hadn't remembered that when I came to the ending in front of another long window.
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That's a very interesting foreshadowing of what was to come. Didn't notice it on my read through.
Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird
I've been wondering if in fact, Irene set things in motion with Bellew, also; whether Irene had sent Jack a note putting him on the trail, orchestrating his arrival at the party. A factor that seemed unlikely to me otherwise was that the servants would tell an enraged white man where the Redfields had gone. But when I reread the text, that seemed unlikely, as Irene had essentially decided to wait things out until March. So then I thought that Clare might have been the agent and I think that might be likely. March was a deadline for her, also, and she would have wanted to get things moving if she were to jump ship, as it were. She seemed pleased and not shocked or afraid when Jack showed up at the party. She also could have given the servants the nod, "If my husband shows up, tell him where he can find me." The warring ends of Irene and Clare result in a win for Irene as the scenario plays out.
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I had wondered quite how he found them. Interesting theory, and one I could go along with. Clare was becoming increasingly reckless towards the end, and might just have done something like that to bring things to a head.