Miss Caroline Abbott Timeline and Summary

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• The novel opens with Caroline Abbott heading to Italy as the travel companion for Lilia Herriton. Miss Abbott is expected to report back to the Herritons if Lilia does anything to embarrass the family name.
• When Mrs. Herriton starts hearing rumors about Lilia's engagement, she immediately sends word to Miss Abbott asking for an explanation. Caroline responds that Lilia has become involved with "Italian nobility," but offers no apology for not notifying the Herritons sooner. Mrs. Herriton is livid and sends Philip to Italy to bring Lilia back to Sawston.
• Miss Abbott meets Philip at the station and explains the situation: Lilia has fallen for Gino Carella, the son of a poor country dentist.
• Caroline confesses that she's partly responsible for encouraging their courtship because she felt that Lilia deserved to be happy. Philip is outraged not only by Lilia's poor choice in suitors, but also by Caroline's failure to prevent such an undesirable liaison.
• When Philip learns the worst of the news, that Lilia is already married, he leaves Italy in a huff and Caroline begs him to let her accompany back home to England.
• Time passes until, one day, the Herritons learn that Lilia has died during childbirth. They decide the best plan of action is to inform Miss Abbott about Lilia's death, but keep the news about her child a secret.
• However, when Irma receives a postcard from Italy, she tells her friends about her little Italian brother and soon the news of Lilia's baby spreads through Sawston. Caroline visits the Herritons to offer her services in helping the child, but Mrs. Herriton insists that the baby is no concern of theirs.
• But Miss Abbott is determined to "rescue" the baby from his unsuitable father. She feels partly responsible for Lilia's failed marriage, and wants to make amends by securing a better future for Lilia's son.
• Miss Abbott travels to Italy to meet with Gino, and also to make sure that Philip and Harriet don't shirk their responsibilities toward the baby.
• Since Gino isn't at home, Philip suggests that they go to an opera performance. Miss Abbott has a wonderful time at the opera and seems to be soaking in the romance and magic of Italy.
• The next morning, Miss Abbott sneaks off to pay a visit to Gino before Philip (she's worried that Philip won't try hard enough to secure the baby).
• At first, Miss Abbott tries to stick to her script of convincing Gino that he should give up his son. But as she watches Gino playing affectionately with his son, she starts doubting her resolve to separate them.
• When Gino gets a bath ready for the baby, Miss Abbott offers to lend a hand, and as she's bathing the baby, she feels a sudden euphoria in being part of this intimate moment between father and son. When Philip walks in on them, Miss Abbott rushes off in embarrassment, but she knows now how much Gino loves his son.
• Caroline has switched sides now—she no longer wants to take part in separating Gino from his baby. But she promises not to interfere with Philip's attempt to follow through with Mrs. Herriton's orders.
• When Philip fails in convincing Gino to part with his son, they all get ready to return to England. But Harriet kidnaps the child, and an unfortunate carriage accident leads to the tragic death of the poor baby.
• Philip breaks the news to Gino, who attacks Philip in anger. Miss Abbott intervenes and pleads with the men to not seek any revenge. She manages to restore peace between the two men by encouraging them to share a bottle of milk intended for the baby.
• On the train ride back to Sawston, Philip thanks Miss Abbott for restoring his friendship with Gino.
• Miss Abbott confesses to Philip that she has fallen in love with Gino, but that she knows they can never be together because Gino is engaged to another woman. Little does Caroline know that Philip harbors secret feelings for her that also can never be expressed.