The second Mrs. de Winter the story in the form of a flashback. In her younger years, she served as a companion to as woman named Mrs. Van Hopper. During her stay at Monte Carlo, Mrs. Van Hopper introduces there to Maxim de Winter.
At tea, he seems quite rude and indifferent, but he alter apologizes to the narrator. When Mrs. Van Hopper falls ill, the narrator begins frequently seeing Maxim for lunch. When questioned about her absence, the narrator lies and says that she is taking tennis lessons.
On one of their dates, Maxim drives out to a cliff somewhere in the country. There it seems as if something from his past is trouble ing him. The notices a poetry book that was given to Maxim from Rebecca. When he sees that she fancies the book, he gives it to her. The feels a lot of self-doubt in regards to her relationship with Maxim. She has fallen madly in love with him but she feels he will neither get over Rebecca, nor will her ever grow to love her.
Soon after, the narrator learns that learns that Mrs. Van Hopper is returning to New York and as her companion, she is expected to do so as well. On the day of her departure, she visits Maxim to bid him farewell. When he learns that she is leaving, he proposes marriage. Fearful of Mrs. Van Hopper’s reaction, she suggests that Maxim break the news to her.
She is not upset but rather she feels that the narrator has deceived her and that she is making a mistake that she will undoubtedly regret.
