Forge

As the winter melts into spring, it brings with it a series of misfortunes and illness. The air is rank with the odor of rotting horseflesh. Gideon collapses from his cough and is rushed away for treatment, leaving Curzon to do both their work. Bellingham, meanwhile, has prospered, and is made assistant quartermaster general, a position that will enable him to easily enrich himself. Curzon accompanies Bellingham back to camp, where he observes the men in training, under the guidance of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian general brought over to drill the soldiers into a proper military force.

Eben comes careening up to Curzon, Bellingham, and the generals. One of the generals, upon learning that Curzon has served in the military, allows him to visit with his friends. Eben takes Curzon through the camp, and tells him how Burns died of smallpox not long after Bellingham took Curzon back. Sylvanus, too, has died, and was buried beside Caleb. Eben then explains to Curzon his plan to free him.

Eben returns Curzon his belongings, the compass included, and tells him how, after his abduction, he and all the men of his company (except Burns) signed a petition to have Curzon released. The captain burned the petition, but the men still plan to smuggle Curzon out of camp. Hearing this moves Curzon considerably–he cannot believe his friends would risk so much for him. Nonetheless, Curzon tells them he cannot go without Isabel.

Back at Moore Hall, Curzon and Isabel tend to more guests. Isabel tells him that Missus Greene, the wife of a Colonial general, wishes to buy her, and that Gideon had plotted with Isabel to escape, after being bought. Curzon tries to tell her that Gideon isn’t trustworthy, and that she should flee with Curzon, instead. The two have another argument and Isabel storms out. Missus Cook urges Curzon to try honey rather than vinegar to win her back. Curzon does so over the following weeks, though his anxieties begin to manifest themselves in a sour mood and spots on his forehead. One night, while cleaning the table, Curzon drops a plate, and, as punishment, Bellingham wrenches Isabel’s wrist.

The following morning, Bellingham and Greene leave for headquarters. Curzon spends the day mucking out the barn.He sees Gideondressed as a fieldhand. He has come to help Isabel escape, with a promise to help her find her sister. Curzon implores her to not trust him, saying Gideon has no intention of helping her. That night, Isabel escapes with Gideon. Her departure breaks Curzon’s heart.

Curzon wakes later that night to discover that Isabel has returned. She tells him that Gideon is a former spy for the British, and that she was unable to leave with him as she’d left her “ghost” behind. Isabel shaves Curzon’s face as he tells her a storyabout how his mother and father met, how he was born, and how his father named him. His mother had always said to his father in Portuguese that he was her heart… her “coração.” After she died, his father gave him the name Curzon in memory of her.

Curzon finally confesses his feelings to Isabel. He tells her that she is his heart. And with that, she kisses him.