Chapters Five through Nine Summary

Josiah makes a verbal offer to purchase the house at 29 Queens Square but is initially rebuffed by the owner, Stephen Waring, who says that he doesn't believe Josiah can afford to purchase the house. Josiah learns from others that Waring has paid dearly for the new house he is having built and realizes the house at Queens Square is going to cost more than he'd initially imagined. Frances is learning about the shipping business from Sarah, including the fact that they trade in slaves. Sarah paints a dim picture of the financial state and laughs at Frances' assumption that Josiah is financially sound. Frances then learns that the job she had initially applied for - as governess - was to complete a plan to teach the newly arrived slaves so that they could be sold as trained...