Summary

In Chapter 8, Anna arrives in Saint-Tropez. She is driven along winding coastal roads to the Wilder family’s villa. She is struck by the house’s grandeur—its cream stone, terra-cotta roof, and sprawling terraces—though it feels more lived-in than the palace she’d imagined. Pippa greets her casually in the immaculate, almost sterile kitchen, contrasting with the functional “prep kitchen” where the family’s chef works (35). Anna reflects on her uncertainty about how to act in such a household, hovering between guest and servant. Mrs. Wilder gives Anna a tour of the property, shows her to a private suite, and pays her generously in advance, even adding “pocket money” to encourage her to enjoy herself (36). Overwhelmed by the beauty of the Mediterranean view, Anna attempts to study but soon falls asleep in the sun. She wakes to meet Pippa’s older...