At twelve, Marguerite reflects on her undisciplined early studies and the arrival of Claire D'Artois, a year older, who came to live at the château with her widowed mother Jacqueline. Claire excels at writing, music, needlework, and piety, while her mother teaches both girls Latin and scripture with quiet tact, never holding Claire up as superior despite Marguerite's obvious inferiority. Marguerite, frustrated, declares herself a dunce, but Madame D'Artois refuses to agree because of Marguerite's high birth.

Marguerite grows envious of the close bond between Claire and her mother, feeling like a beggar despite her wealth. She confides her loneliness to Damienne, who urges her to imitate Claire. Over months, Marguerite disciplines herself, learning to embroider, write, and play music with skill, then to dismiss her achievements with humility, modeling herself on Claire and her mother's values of patience, excellence, and humility.

The household settles into ordered devotion, with chapel worship, walks in the walled garden, and lessons on martyrs and scripture. Marguerite secretly adopts an image of the Virgin as a stand-in for her mother. Gradually, Claire warms to her, and the two girls become close confidantes. Claire shares memories of her father's death, when she claims to have seen his soul rise, and tales of serving at the court of Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, who gave her a gold ring engraved with M.

When Marguerite asks Claire the worst thing that ever happened to her, Claire names her father's death; Marguerite answers, "Not having sisters," and Claire silently offers her hand. The girls become inseparable, leaving the older women out, while Madame D'Artois watches thoughtfully, considering the future.

One summer day Claire reveals troubling news that her mother has chosen her to deliver: a betrothal has been arranged for Marguerite to a sixteen-year-old boy of the Montpellier house, whose father has written to her guardian about her dowry. Marguerite protests that she is not yet fifteen and that Roberval is at sea, but Claire reveals that Roberval has returned.