My Cousin Rachel: Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

It is September by the time Philip returns home to his estate in Cornwall. The servants and tenants are all in mourning, as Nick Kendall has informed them of Ambrose’s death. Philip feels relieved to be home; on his return journey, he felt haunted by images of the “monstrous” Rachel, but now the images have “vanished as nightmares do at break of day.” Philip is greatly comforted by the familiar sights of his estate. He goes out walking the grounds and is thrilled by the realization that everyone and everything he sees “[is] all part of [his] inheritance; they all belonged.” His first night home, he falls asleep feeling deeply at ease, “as though something long sleeping had stirred inside [him] and now come to life.”

The following day, Nick Kendall pays a visit to Philip in order to read him Ambrose’s will. Rainaldi was correct in stating that Kendall has been appointed Philip’s new legal guardian. Per Ambrose’s wishes, the Ashley estate does not officially become Philip’s until his twenty-fifth birthday (in April), so now that Ambrose is gone, Kendall will serve as Philip’s legal guardian until that time. This means that Philip will have to request any money for estate accounts or personal use from Kendall for seven more months.

Nick Kendall and Philip spend some time reminiscing about Philip’s boyhood days. Kendall laments that Philip has grown up “ignorant of women,” and adds that he and Louise both worry about what life will be like for Philip’s future wife. Philip replies, “My wife can take care of all the difficulties when the time comes. If it ever does come, which is unlikely.”

Philip then recounts for Nick Kendall his visit to Rainaldi. He bitterly informs his godfather of Rachel’s departure from the villa, saying she “[went] off, like a thief, taking all Ambrose’s possessions with her.” Kendall chides Philip for being ungenerous, reminding him that Ambrose’s will does not include provisions for a wife. This leads Philip and Kendall to squabble, with Philip insisting that Rachel “drove [Ambrose] to his death,” and Kendall maintaining that Philip must “reconcile [himself] to the fact that the man we knew and admired and loved was not his true self before he died.” Philip refuses to believe this, and Kendall harshly orders him “not to spread [his] views to others.” If Rachel ever heard these views, he says, “she would be well within her rights to bring a case against [Philip] for slander.”

Surprised by Nick Kendall’s forcefulness, Philip awkwardly asks him (and Louise, who has been out walking in the Ashley gardens) for dinner. After dinner, Philip and Louise talk privately. Louise is disappointed that Philip has not gleaned any information about Rachel’s appearance. Philip teases Louise, saying: “I ought to have taken you to Florence with me. You would have learnt much more than I did.” Louise blushes at this, and again later when Philip bids her and her father good night. Philip feels amused by the idea of a girl “whose hair [he] used to pull only a few years back, now looking upon [him] with respect.”

Philip settles down to work on the estate; there is much to do given his long absence and the start of the harvest. He is surprised to receive a note from Nick Kendall within only a week’s time, bidding Philip to come visit him. When Philip rides over to his godfather’s the next day, he learns that his godfather has received a letter from Rachel, who has arrived by boat in Plymouth, England.