Chapter 24: Kate
Summary
- Kate is pregnant with a girl, confirmed by a scan from Dr. Collins.
- Dr. Collins comments on the baby looking like a fighter.
- Kate is at her Aunt Violet's home and decides to call her mother, who's been worried about her.
- Kate has been distant and distracted, which has caused her mother concern.
- Kate inquires about her father's family and the history of Orton Hall, hearing it might be related to a viscount.
- Kate's mother mentions a scandal and disinheritance in the family but has no details.
- Kate learns from her mother that there were rumors about witchcraft associated with Aunt Violet.
- Kate reveals to her mother that she is pregnant and decides to keep the baby, despite the father, Simon, not knowing.
- Kate reflects on her previous abusive relationship with Simon and destroys a Polaroid of them together.
- While trying to learn about her family's past, Kate hikes to Orton Hall through rain and challenging terrain.
- Kate arrives at the neglected Orton Hall and meets a reclusive old man she assumes is the viscount.
- The viscount lets Kate inside the decrepit and bug-infested house.
- The man behaves strangely and talks about insects taking over the house and "the swarm."
- Kate tries to learn about her family history from the man but gets no information as his memory seems unreliable.
- The man reacts violently when he notices Kate's bee-shaped brooch, demanding she leave the house.
- Kate senses fear and unease throughout the house, noting lots of dead insect wings and the stench of insect repellent.
- After the unsettling visit, Kate questions who had "released" the viscount, as he mentioned, and what he was released from.
- Kate finds an insect wing on her shirt, recalling the viscount's words and a phrase from 'Witch Burning': "Mother of beetles."