Chapter One Summary

In Chapter One, Laurent Marchand works tirelessly to provide wealth for his wife, Celestine, and their daughter, Rose. Laurent has a dark, secret wound caused by his son, Reginer, by his first wife. His wife had died giving birth to the boy and Laurent looked to the child to fulfill his dreams. Disappointed that the boy wanted to be a painter, Laurent throws the boy out of his home. Celestine encouraged Laurent to mend the rift, but he refused to forgive his son.

Although they had everything they could want materially, Rose and Celestine missed Laurent because he was so busy working. Celestine knew her husband loved them, but she often felt alone. Celestine's constant companion is Elise Lune, an older lady who is Celestine's servant and nurse to Rose. She is a staff member, but Elise is loved and treated...