Tuesday, January 7—Wednesday, January 15, 1777
- Things may have taken a turn for the worst for the British, but Madam still finds plenty of cause to celebrate, so there will be a ball in honor of Queen Charlotte's birthday. Madam demands that a seamstress make her a new gown for the occasion, because she can't wear something people have already seen her in.
- Lady Seymour has a seizure after dinner. It's so bad that the next morning, she can't talk or move her legs. It's virtually impossible for her to take care of herself, so the duty falls to Isabel. She overhears Madam ask the doctor point blank when Lady Seymour will die, but he can't answer that.
- There's a lot at stake here besides money, since if Lady Seymour dies before the ball, Madam will have to be in mourning and won't be able to wear her new gown. Heaven forbid.
- The next morning dawns with a beautiful sight behind the Lockton house: The sheets hanging out to dry are covered with frost and frozen solid, creating an astonishing winter wonderland. Thoughts of how much Ruth would love the icy sheets break through Isabel's mind and she forces them away, warring with herself to let these thoughts go.
- Isabel has never been this angry and angst-ridden about being a slave. She blames Lady Seymour for telling her that she wanted to buy her and rescue her from Madam Lockton's Chamber of Horrors, and she also blames the message from Common Sense, which is becoming clearer and clearer. She imagines ways that she might buy her freedom, until reality sets in and she realizes Madam would never allow it. She smashes one of the icy sheets, sending sparkling bits of snow everywhere.