Part One, Beginnings: Arrival and Meeting Miss Winter Summary

Margaret travels to Yorkshire, where Miss Winter lives, by train. Margaret is fascinated by the landscape since many of her favorite novels were set in this area. Miss Winter's house is equally impressive, a large mansion stuffed with antiques and rugs that muffle the very sound of Margaret's footsteps. The housekeeper, Judith, shows Margaret to her suite of rooms before leaving her to unpack. When Judith returns with Margaret's dinner, she announces that Miss Winter will meet with her in the library at eight.

Margaret finds her way to the library in advance of the meeting time, curious to see what kind of books someone like Miss Winter might collect. Margaret is impressed to see that Miss Winter collects the same books that Margaret herself counts among her favorites...