Chapter 2 Summary

A few days later Maturin and Aubrey are invited to dine at Mapes Court. Aubrey presents himself well but eats and drinks too much—Maturin appears in threadbare dress and covers himself with crumbs. After the guests leave, Mrs. Williams publicly concludes that Aubrey must match with Sophia and curtly invites Diana to remove herself from consideration. Later Mrs. Williams calls on Aubrey and establishes courteous and neighborly relations. Various social engagements ensue with feasting and musical performances of an informal sort. Diana begins to subtly court Aubrey; Sophia more openly and honestly gains his attentions. Maturin finds Diana's mean-spirited intelligence profoundly attractive. Another fox hunt involves all parties—Sophia demonstrates an inability to pursue the hunt with abandon; Diana has no such shortcomings. Aubrey and Maturin are both drawn to Diana's brash cocksureness. Aubrey then announces a formal ball. In...