The Christie Affair

After Nan’s baby is born, she experiences the bodily reactions she saw in other mothers. She grows closer to her child through the kindness of Mary Clare, which of course only sets her up for a steeper fall when they become separated. Nan’s joy is short-lived, as her daughter is taken from her by the wealthy man thought to be Archie. When Nan turns on Mary Clare for her betrayal, there is a sense of disconnection between Nan’s feelings and her actions—the body rather than the mind guiding her. Ironically, it is an instinct within the body that saves Mary Clare—Nan hears another baby crying and her body immediately changes priorities. It is also through engaging with her body, by running barefoot, that she makes it to safety.

Here, finally, we understand Nan’s plan to infiltrate the Christie family. She meets Teddy for the first time, understanding her to be her lost daughter. Agatha and Honoria are a long way behind Teddy, showing again the distance between Teddy and her mother. At this moment, Nan’s goal shifts from finding the child to finding a place for herself in that child’s life.

Part 3 begins with Finbarr pleading with Agatha to claim the motherhood of her daughter. Agatha does not disagree with him, only that her words would do any good. In the narrative, we are shown that Agatha has denied Nan’s parentage in private: “Did Finbarr stop in that moment, or any moment, and consider whether he believed Agatha’s denials that Teddy and Genevieve were the same person?” (280). This gives the reader enough doubt to come up with their own theories, and the question is left unanswered.

Chilton and Agatha’s relationship grows more intense, and Chilton finds a new lease on his life. He also observes more of the Races, whom the reader understands not to be who they appear. Contrary to Chilton and Agatha, Nan and Finbarr’s relationship begins to disintegrate as Finbarr sees the lengths Nan will go to secure her happiness. Nan reflects on the skills that she has attained in breaking up the Christies and understands that she is no longer who she once was. Finally, Agatha meets Miss Armstrong for the first time alongside Chilton, and the truth about the Marstons comes to light. Although Nan and Bess’s plan came to fruition early in the story, this moment represents the pinnacle of tension in the novel; all mysteries have been solved and what is left is only how each character will react to them.