start of the novel, we are introduced to Jeanne, who has just left the convent and is eager to embrace life outside its walls. The scene is set with a heavy rain that delays her anticipated departure with her family to their countryside estate in Normandy. As they journey, Jeanne's contrasting emotions of joy and impatience come to life through her interactions with her father, the baron, and her mother, the baroness. Descriptions of the luxurious yet faded elegance of their family chateau create a vivid backdrop as Jeanne revels in her newfound freedom and daydreams about love, hinting at her growing attachment to the vicomte de Lamare, who soon enters their lives. The opening portion of the book establishes Jeanne's character and her longing for a romantic future, inviting the reader to join her on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. (This is an automatically generated summary.)