Denise Lake is the central protagonist and Howard Lake's wife. Initially neglected, she seeks romantic fulfillment abroad, leading her to flirt with others and become involved with a young violinist. Her husband's manipulative scheme to expose her lover fails, and the revelation of the lover's low-class background ultimately disillusion her. Despite her emotional drift, she instinctively returns to her husband when her deep-seated fear of lightning strikes, highlighting her complex journey between romantic pursuit and marital dependency.