With their carriage all but useless, Martin and the Arkwrights head to the nearest place of refuge: The Seven Stars Inn. They hardly receive a warm welcome though, and when Frances storms up to her room for the night, Martin and Richard are left alone with their whiskey and cigars.

As Martin Litton and the Arkwright siblings make their way back from a festive ball, an argument ignites about which of them Martin prefers. He is torn between Frances, who he feels he can tell almost all his secrets, and Richard, who first took him under his wing at school. Before Martin can answer though, their journey home is abruptly halted.