Chains

Preparations for the Christmas season begin, and Isabel decorates the house. However, all the preparations remind her of spending Christmas with her family, and she cries. Lady Seymour gives Isabel new shoes for Christmas. Isabel is supposed to have Christmas day off, but Madam Lockton keeps finding work for her to do. When Lady Seymour is not present, Madam tells Isabel that she knows about Isabel’s daily visits to the prison and threatens her if she keeps going. Isabel worries about Curzon’s health if she cannot bring him food. On Christmas night, she is intent on celebrating in her own way. She bathes, dresses, and bakes a pudding and delivers it to a family in need.

Isabel accompanies Sarah, the heavily pregnant cook, to the market and runs into Captain Morse. He has an important message for his men in the prison and wants her to deliver it. She is wary but devises a plan to meet him at the tavern. Madam Lockton has told Sarah not to let Isabel fetch water from the pump, but Sarah is too tired to do it, and she agrees not to tell Madam. Isabel intentionally spills the water bucket, giving her an excuse to leave the house.