I Capture the Castle

Cassandra writes about the previous day, during which she completed the Midsummer Eve rites at Belmotte Tower that she and Rose have done for several years. With Rose, Topaz, and Mortmain in London, Thomas at a friend’s house, and Stephen modeling for Leda, Cassandra has the castle to herself for the rites. In the morning, she receives a package from Rose: the expensive perfume they saw in the London department store when picking up Aunt Milicent’s furs. Cassandra picks wildflowers for a garland, dresses in a new dress for the rites, and then opens Rose’s scent. However, she decides not to put it on, as its smell is artificial compared to her wildflowers. She builds a fire on the tower’s mound. A car pulls up next to the castle, and Simon joins her; he is at Scoatney talking to the agent about the grounds.

Cassandra includes him in the rites as he is “one of the few people who would really find Midsummer rites romantic—that he’d see them as a link with the past” (210). Afterward, they drive to Scoatney and spend time listening to records in the garden. They bond over the sense of history at Scoatney and how Simon is determined not to remodel the Hall for electricity. They dance. Simon kisses her, then remarks, “You astonishing child” (221). Cassandra, at first happy that Simon kissed her, becomes ashamed and runs away to hide her feelings. Simon explains that the kiss was only an impulse. He drives her home, and they make up as friends. Once alone, Cassandra admits to herself that she is falling in love with Simon and that “to be in love seemed the most blissful luxury I had ever known” (223). She struggles to reconcile her happiness with the hurt Rose will feel if she finds out.

Three weeks pass, during which Cassandra cannot write due to a depression caused by realizing she loves Simon deeply; she brings the journal up to date by first describing Stephen’s return from London and his prospects as a film actor. Mortmain returns from London and discusses Rose’s engagement with Cassandra, he being unconvinced that Rose loves Simon. Cassandra begins to indulge in daydreams of being with Simon, finding how cruel she can be toward Rose in her thoughts (230). She wonders if Simon was in the wrong for kissing her but doesn’t pursue that line of thought further, as she doesn’t want to think badly of him.

In the hopes of finding relief from her misery, Cassandra goes to visit the Vicar. She has never found solace in religion but takes to the Vicar’s suggestion of finding solace in a source outside oneself. The following day it rains heavily, and she hopes to speak with the Vicar again but finds him out of the house. Instead, she goes to The Keys, and the landlady hangs up her dress to dry as Cassandra indulges in cherry brandy. There, she talks with Miss Marcy, who suggests that volunteering for good works in the village is a proven method to relieve grief or sadness. Despite seeking advice, Cassandra never tells anyone why she is upset and ultimately decides that she would rather experience suffering than try to mask her emotions with religion or volunteering. After this decision, Cassandra realizes that the dressmaker’s dummy Miss Blossom, which she and Rose often animated, would be forever silent, as they are both past the point of needing such solace.

The next morning is Cassandra’s birthday. She wakes to find a wireless outside her door from Stephen, who saved his money from modeling to buy it for her. She listens with Thomas and Mortmain until another package is delivered: an expensive gramophone and wireless from Simon. When Stephen sees this, his disappointment is so severe that Cassandra proposes going for a walk with him. She leads him to the woods while thanking him for his present. In the woods, Cassandra invites Stephen to kiss her. When they stop, Cassandra is overcome and runs back to her bedroom. Stephen puts a note under the door promising that she doesn’t need to return his love until she is ready. Cassandra decides to go with Stephen to London the next time he works with Leda to ascertain whether Rose is in love with Simon or not.

Cassandra writes after returning from her trip to London. She arrived at Mrs. Cotton’s flat to find that the family was out, having forgotten to send a note ahead to tell them she would be visiting. The maid lets her use the phone to call Leda, who tells her to come for lunch after Stephen’s photography session is finished. She walks in Hyde Park to pass the time, noting how the park “links the Londons of all periods together” (261). She arrives at Leda’s studio for lunch and sees the photographs of Stephen. She is surprised by his appearance and encourages him to do well in his acting interview to become a film actor. He will stay at Leda’s overnight. She returns to Mrs. Cotton’s apartment and waits in Rose’s room. The apartment’s luxurious and wealthy feeling makes her emotions feel dulled. Rose, Topaz, Simon, and Mrs. Cotton return home and are excited to find Cassandra there. They invite her out dancing, and Rose lends her clothes. On the phone, Leda tells them that Stephen got the acting role. Neil arrives to join them; Rose notes how he must only want to see Cassandra, as he has not visited the apartment in weeks despite living in London himself.

At the dance, Neil tells Cassandra that he has been accepted as a partner on a ranch in California and will leave for America the next week. Cassandra notes how the ball is “so luxurious—and so meaningless, so lifeless” (272). They return to the apartment. Topaz and Cassandra speak privately about Mortmain, with Cassandra advising her not to be too disappointed in her father’s behavior. He will need her support if he is truly writing again. Topaz promises to return to the castle within a fortnight once she finishes some modeling work.

Cassandra and Rose talk before going to bed, during which Rose admits that she doesn’t love Simon but still plans to marry him. Cassandra is furious with her, and Rose realizes she is in love with Simon. Rose says she would give him up to Cassandra if she thought Simon loved her but claims “he just thinks of you as a little girl” (278). Cassandra refuses to stay the night and leaves, finding an all-night diner where she orders food. There, she realizes that she left her purse with her money and train ticket at the apartment. Using a pay phone, she calls Leda and asks for Stephen, who immediately comes to meet her and pay the bill.

They walk to the Thames and discuss Stephen’s new acting career. He confesses that he was awake at the time of Cassandra’s call, which was after two in the morning. He admits that he was intimate with Leda and is wracked with guilt. At the same time, he confronts Cassandra about not being in love with him. She admits that she loves Simon and could never marry Stephen, regardless of how much she cares for him.