Wednesday, May 29, 1776
- Curzon escorts Isabel across the mile walk from the all-important capitalized Tea Water Pump to the Locktons' house. Once she arrives, she meets Becky Berry, the housekeeper, who's a hot mess over the Locktons' unexpected return. She explains Isabel's duties to her—going to the Tea Water Pump every day and helping Becky with shopping—and the rules of the house, which mainly consist of not going off by herself without a pass (kind of like a hall pass, except for going into the city) and not dawdling during work.
- Becky gives Isabel the nickel tour of the house and they begin to dust Lockton's library. She explains to Isabel that whatever she does, she can't get her loyalties confused; because the Locktons support the King's side of the conflict, that makes their slaves Loyalists, too.
- Evidently, this isn't entirely unprecedented, and people all over the city are constantly changing sides.
- Lady Clarissa Seymour, Lockton's rich aunt, is dropping by later that day to hear the news of the Boston Uprising. Becky explains that while the Locktons don't like Lady Seymour much, she gets whatever she wants every time she visits because they stand to inherit a ton of her money when she dies.