Chapter 17

Summary

• The chapter begins the night after an article came out, where the two characters, Don and Harry, respond with skepticism and secrecy, respectively, while the protagonist decides to celebrate with her friend, Celia.
• They open a bottle of wine in the protagonist's kitchen, and she muses about how domestic tasks are unfamiliar to her because she's so used to having them done for her by hired help.
• They have a conversation about their origins and families, revealing that Celia comes from a rich family steeped in vestigial nobility while the protagonist admits to having little to no family.
• They express mutual admiration and respect for each other, toasting to the protagonist's independence and perseverance.
• They keep drinking wine and chatting. When it gets cold, they decide to start a fire but both admit they've never done it before. Despite that, they make an attempt, using a negative article about the protagonist as kindling.
• Celia asks the protagonist if she is in love with Don. The protagonist expresses mixed feelings, saying she used to love him, sometimes still does but also sometimes hates him. She also admits she finds him very attractive.
• Celia changes her wine-soaked shirt for one of the protagonist's, and they have a deeper intimate moment where Celia assures the protagonist that her secrets are safe. The protagonist reflects on the meaning of true intimacy as she finds herself increasingly drawn to Celia.
• The moment is interrupted when Don walks in on them while Celia is undressed. The protagonist quickly dismisses any suspicion and the chapter ends there.