SPOILERS!!!
Omegus explains to his guests that when they decide whose part is guilty in triggering Gwendolen's suicide, the culprit could undertake some kind of expiating journey, and they will all keep quiet about it outside this circle. It is a custom from medieval times. The guests are divided in their opinion, but they finally agree to accept the proposition except for Isobel. After Omegus leads the interview, they decide that Isobel is guilty.
When Isobel is told that her 'sentence' is to travel to Inverness and hand Gwendolen's letter to her mother, Mrs Naylor, she refuses. Yet, Vespasia eventually talks to her, telling her that if she doesn't agree to do that, those present in the house will spread the tale, exaggerating most certainly, and that will be much worse than travelling to Inverness and face Gwendolen's mother. Vespasia goes as far as volunteering to go with her, and Isobel finally relents. The next day they tell Omegus and the others, and they set off.
It seems that Vespasia has a thing for Omegus, and she likes seeing his admiration for her in his eyes. From what we can gather from her comments, Vespasia's marriage is acceptable but she is not in love. There is also some mention of an affair she had in Rome with someone called Mario Corena. Vespasia is clearly quite a liberal woman for her time.
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