The Indigo Girl

As they move toward the indigo fields, Cromwell apologizes for introducing her to his enslaved apprentice, Ben, assuming that his actions have shocked her. He explains that Ben is working to earn his freedom, but he hints that this agreement is entirely up to his discretion. He then tells Eliza that John Laurens intends to trick her into believing that he wants to arrange a marriage between her and his son, Henry, when he really plans to marry her himself. When they arrive at the indigo plots, Cromwell states that the harvest is of very poor quality and that the preparations for the extraction are lacking. He admonishes Eliza and condescendingly tells her that he will need to stay much longer than intended to make her venture successful. Eliza remains diplomatic and instructs Sarah to finish the batch of dye and to teach Togo her process. She then directs Cromwell back to the house.

Excited by the prospect of seeing Ben again, Eliza has various lodgings prepared for the Laurenses, Crowell, and Ben. She ruminates on how much Ben has changed since she last saw him. At dinner, John Laurens regales everyone with blustering stories, while Henry privately jokes about his father with Eliza.