I Capture the Castle

Cassandra runs to warn the family of the Cottons’ approach, and they rush to clean what they can and prepare tea. Mrs. Cotton is with them. She is an enthusiastic literary scholar and speaks with a boldness that Cassandra and the Mortmains find surprising. She highly respects Jacob Wrestling. During tea, Cassandra notes that Rose is expertly flirting with both Cotton brothers. The Cottons invite them to dinner at Scoatney Hall with the Vicar and promise to send the car to drive them over. After the Cottons leave, Topaz worries over what they will wear to a formal dinner, remarking that Simon seems truly interested in Rose. Miss Marcy arrives and suggests that she can purchase the materials for a dress if Topaz could sew one. Cassandra notes that Topaz and Miss Marcy “resembled each other in their absolute lust to marry Rose off” (102).

Stephen approaches Cassandra to find out what she thinks of the Cotton brothers, and Cassandra replies that she doesn’t think them as handsome as he nor as gentlemanly. As they talk, Cassandra notes how Stephen looks at her as if “he was quite a different person—much more interesting, even a little bit exciting” (104). She writes of her feelings for Stephen rationally, deciding that she doesn’t return his affection and will need to be less encouraging in the future.

Cassandra writes at length about the dinner party at Scoatney. Topaz and Rose bought material for a new dress for Rose to wear, and Cassandra helps to sew the frills, noting how she feels she belongs in a Victorian novel (108). Neither Rose nor Cassandra speak openly about their romances, with Cassandra afraid of Rose judging Stephen’s advances as he is “a boy of a different class from ours” (109). Stephen and Thomas stay behind as the family goes to Scoatney with the Vicar. Once there, they meet Aubrey and Leda Fox-Cotton, relations of the Cottons and well-known visual artists in the London scene. During dinner, Cassandra notices the division between them and the servants waiting on them and the attraction Simon displays for Rose. Mrs. Cotton converses with Mortmain and tries to rile him into revealing any writing he might be working on, but Mortmain assures her he has no plan to author a new piece. They speak animatedly during dinner, causing Cassandra to worry that Topaz might feel neglected.

After dinner, the group goes to the hall to listen to records and dance. Cassandra decides she dislikes Leda, primarily because Leda insists on calling her “girl” and complains about Cassandra’s naivety. Cassandra notices two faces watching through the window, and when Simon goes to tell the onlookers to leave, Cassandra follows and explains that it is only Stephen and Thomas. They are invited to join the party inside. Leda is impressed by Stephen and asks him to come to London and be photographed by her, which makes Cassandra jealous.

Cassandra compares the feeling of Scoatney Hall with her family’s castle, noting that “everywhere at Scoatney one feels so conscious of the past” (125). She admires the sense of history in the Hall. Neil and Simon plan to spend the next two weeks in London and say goodbye to the Mortmains. Once back in their bedroom in the castle, Rose confides that she intends to marry Simon regardless of whether she loves him or not so she can live as a wealthy woman.

Cassandra begins this entry by noting, “Now that life has become so much more exciting I think of this journal as a story I am telling” (131), believing herself to be getting practice in novel-writing by describing her family’s interactions with the Cottons. In the days following the party, Topaz worries over Mortmain’s sudden irritation with her and wonders if he isn’t interested in Mrs. Cotton. The family sells one of Aunt Milicent’s furs to the Vicar for 200 pounds, enough to give them spending money and buy more food, which allows Mortmain to take day trips to London without telling the family where he’s going or who he is seeing. Stephen writes Cassandra a piece of original poetry, and the two argue over whether Stephen should model for Leda.

While journaling on the Belmotte Tower hill, Cassandra is joined by Simon, who drove down for the day with Neil. Simon gives her money to pass on to Stephen to buy a train ticket to London for his modeling session. Throughout the conversation, he calls Cassandra “child.” They speak about journaling and writing, with Simon wondering if Mortmain will ever publish again. Both wonder if a second period of imprisonment might help shock Mortmain into writing again. Simon asks her to relay to Mortmain that the Cottons won’t expect them to pay rent for the castle. Then, Cassandra accidentally mentions that she overheard Simon’s conversation with Neil in which they criticized Rose, and he apologizes.

The pair walk to the village to meet Neil, bonding over poetry and their shared love for the English countryside. At the village’s inn, The Keys, they find Rose and Neil having a drink outside. The four have lunch together, with Cassandra noting how much in love Simon appears to be with Rose. When Rose and Cassandra return to the castle, Rose insists that Neil is her enemy (153). Mortmain returns from London and fights to see Cassandra’s journal but is unimpressed with her speed-writing code.

Stephen decides to model for Leda, and Topaz admits that she suspects Leda intends to be intimate with him. Cassandra is jealous and irritated but wonders if she is truly attracted to Stephen: “Why don’t I get attracted—really attracted? Or do I?” (159). Simon sends her a new, expensive journal from London and invites the entire family over for lunch once he and Neil return from London. Mrs. Cotton stays in London in her new apartment. The family attends, and then Rose and Cassandra go on a picnic with the brothers at a seaside village the next day. Cassandra notes that Simon and Rose seem more in love, while Neil and Rose seem more antagonistic. They return home to find out that Mortmain has invited the Cottons to dinner after seeing Mrs. Cotton on the train coming out to visit her sons. Topaz, Rose, and Cassandra are horrified, as the family had to sell their furniture the previous year and do not have enough food for an elegant dinner. Topaz works to make the drawing room presentable and borrows foodstuffs from the Vicar.

The dinner goes well, with Cassandra noting that Americans are “wonderfully adaptable,” and the family’s poverty wasn’t too embarrassing for her. After eating, the young people show the Cottons around the castle. Cassandra tries leaving Rose and Simon alone and suggests that she and Neil swim in the moat. Neil borrows Thomas’ bathing suit, and they meet at the moat, where Cassandra begins to regret the proposal as the water will be cold. Neil jumps in and makes her follow, and the two swim along the moat under the moonlight. When they get out, and Neil asks for a towel, Cassandra remembers that the family has few towels, and most are threadbare; she has Neil wait in the kitchen while she sneaks up to her bedroom with Rose to find something suitable.

Outside the bedroom, Cassandra overhears Simon proposing to Rose, who accepts. Cassandra enters and notices that Simon has shaved his beard. She congratulates them and returns to the kitchen, telling Neil about the engagement. Neil responds that he believes Rose is “a gold-digger. And you know it, Cassandra” (178). Cassandra defends her sister even though Neil is speaking the truth. The families meet in the hall, and the engagement is announced. Before leaving, Neil and Cassandra make up. Rose confides to Cassandra later that night that she asked Simon to shave his beard but would have married him regardless, intent on having “all the clothes I want” (183). Cassandra writes that she is happy for Rose regardless of her motives.