Chapter 31

Summary

• Peggy receives a telegram asking "Where did you find this story. It is life and death," which leaves her distressed and seeking Wren's counsel.
• Wren leads Peggy to the beach and they discuss the mysterious message and its implications about her storytelling.
• Peggy references Oscar Wilde's idea of art telling "beautiful untrue things" and explains how her stories transport readers to an "invisible land" filled with magic.
• Wren comforts Peggy by acknowledging the specialness of her stories and encourages her to embrace a new "greater adventure."
• Wren suggests they go to England to find the woman who sent the telegram to settle the origins of the story that’s linked to Peggy's family.
• Peggy is hesitant but admits she has a passport, and Wren encourages her to take a chance on a real-world quest.
• As they are about to kiss, Peggy's mother interrupts, and an antagonistic exchange follows between her and Wren.
• Peggy's mother reveals Wren's troubled past, but he maintains there is a misunderstanding.
• Wren leaves urging Peggy to meet him at midnight for the quest, while her mother tries to dissuade her from pursuing the matter any further.
• Peggy refuses to back down and questions her mother about the origins of the land they call Whisperwood.
• Peggy's mother tries to convince her to ignore the situation and focus on their next book deadline.
• Eager for her own adventure, Peggy sneaks out at night with a packed suitcase to meet Wren, feeling she's stepping into a new realm.