The bookshop
When Edie visits the country where Milderhurst castle is situated, she visits a little bookshop there. Bookshops are her favorite kind of stores, so she never misses an opportunity of visiting such a place. “High shelves and long rows of neatly lined-up spines were immensely reassuring” – and this metaphoric presentation of books as spines adds to the importance of them in Edie’s life. Along with the rows of books there is the smell, which appeals to reader’s senses: “the smell of ink and binding, the dusty motes in beams of strained sunlight, the embrace of warm, tranquil air”. Bookshop has this special smell and Edie claims that in there she “felt that she could breathe more easily.” The image of the bookshop adds calmness and tranquility to the story.
Darkness
The background of most of the events serves the Milderhurst castle, with its forests, lake, and wildness. But what adds a sinister tone to the narration is night, and especially rainy nights. “Nighttime is different. Things are otherwise when the world is black. Insecurities and hurts, anxieties and fears grow teeth at night.” The image of darkness, along with the castle, in the major background in the novel.
Curiosity
When Edie had a tour around the Milderhurst castle, she was astonished by its might and power. Persy’s remarks on its history help Edie to depict an image of this beautiful castle in full. At one moment during the tour, Persy had to leave Edie for some time alone, and Edie saw a door “so old and decorative” that she gave way to curiosity. Edie had no time to peep behind the door, as Persy returned, but the image of it followed her with “wretched temptation”. The image of this door, and the situation overall creates an atmosphere of secrecy, which is one of the leading elements in the novel.
