Summary

Chapter 1 establishes Anthony’s Victorian home, which he calls Padua. Anthony comes home with a tin of what he believes to be someone’s ashes, which he found while he was out. Laura, his assistant, has left for the day. Anthony settles in and hears “The Very Thought of You” playing on a gramophone. He looks at a photo of his deceased fiancée, identified in a later chapter as Therese, and toasts her.

Chapter 2 introduces Laura, giving background information about her. She has worked for Anthony as his housekeeper and personal assistant for nearly six years. Laura reflects on how she came to work for Anthony and how much has come to care for him. She remembers her marriage to Vince. Their marriage suffered after Laura had a miscarriage and struggled to get pregnant again. Laura and Vince divorced after Vince had...