Thursday, June 6, 1776
- It's a big day in New York City, and General Washington and his army are parading down Broadway, complete with musicians jamming out on the fife and drum. While practically the entire city turns out for the event, things at Chez Lockton basically continue as normal. Madam and her husband are obviously uninterested in all things Washington, Ruth attends to Madam's needs, and Isabel is sitting on the back steps sharpening knives.
- Lost in dreams of earning freedom for herself and her sister, Isabel almost doesn't hear Becky calling her for help. Lady Seymour wants to see her and Lockton's brought his buddies over for some kind of Loyalist Boys' Night.
- Madam is in the parlor with Lady Seymour and Ruth, who is dressed in her fine clothes… and looks like she's been crying. Isabel's immediately concerned about this, but remembering Becky's advice, holds her tongue. Isabel introduces herself as "Isabel Finch," but Madam uses it as an occasion to abruptly change her name to "Sal Lockton." Okay then.
- Madam next asks Becky to send Isa—oops, we mean Sal—to the library to wait on Lockton and his three friends. They're talking about the coming arrival of the British fleet and how badly it's needed to squash the rebel forces (Side note: Why is this starting to sound like Star Wars all of a sudden?).
- Lockton sends Isabel (yeah, we'll just keep calling her that) to the kitchen to get more food because they're eating like a bunch of Loyalist pigs. She returns with their requested bread and jam to find the door closed and hear Lockton saying something about having enough money to bribe the rebel army.
- She peeks through the crack and sees Madam's walnut chest open on the floor, her underwear thrown everywhere. Apparently no one cares about the dignity of ladies' underthings anymore, because the chest is actually packed with cash. Lockton states the plan: Any rebel willing to switch sides will be given a large sum of money plus two hundred acres of land, plus additional acres if he has a wife and children.
- Isabel delivers the bread and jam as requested. Her confusion about Curzon's offer is over. She knows what has to be done.