Emily awakens to a beautiful scenery outside the castle but is alarmed to find the door to the secret passage closed. She suspects someone has been in her room and asks Montoni to move her to another room, but he dismisses her concerns. Throughout the day, Emily explores the castle and notices Montoni's companions, Cavigni and Verezzi. She becomes increasingly anxious about the arrival of Morano, while Annette is captivated by Ludovico, a servant. Curiosity leads Emily to unveil a portrait, causing her to faint. Emily decides not to disclose what she saw to anyone. Tension fills the air during dinner, and they spot a group of soldiers passing by the castle. Anxious about her room, Emily stays up late and hears someone arriving at midnight. Annette confirms that it is Morano. Later, Emily awakens to find Morano in her bedroom, professing his love and urging her to escape with him. Emily refuses, and a confrontation between Morano and Montoni ensues. Morano is wounded, and Montoni accuses Emily of conspiring with Morano. Hurt and troubled, Emily realizes her aunt seems indifferent to the situation.
English novelist Ann Radcliffe (née Ward; 9 July 1764 – 7 February 1823) is credited with creating Gothic fiction. She was the only child of haberdasher William Ward and Ann Oates and was born in London. Young Radcliffe started writing, and she became well-known for her atmospheric, suspenseful books that mixed aspects of romance and horror. She wed writer and editor William Radcliffe in 1787. She achieved enormous popularity with her two well-known works, "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794) and "The Italian" (1797). Strong characters, frightening locations, and evocative descriptions were all hallmarks of Radcliffe's books. She received accolades for using psychological suspense rather than supernatural components to create a feeling of horror. While Radcliffe was alive, she was quite well-liked, but certain literary groups also had criticism for her. Her writings were criticized for being too romantic and sensational. Even yet, Radcliffe's books impacted the Gothic subgenre and provided authors like Jane Austen and Edgar Allan Poe with inspiration. Early in the 19th century, Radcliffe's writing career came to an end, and she had a tranquil life until her death in 1823. Even today, people acknowledge and appreciate her influence on literature and her role in the development of Gothic fiction.
