Chapters Forty-one — Forty-four Summary

In Chapter Forty-one, Ismae begins her commanded murder of Hivern but as she talks about her life and her children, Ismae begins to feel a sympathy toward the woman. She realizes that the two of them are very much alike. It is when Hivern begs for Francois' life that Ismae realizes that she cannot kill her. She puts out the candle meant to kill Hivern and makes her walk to run the poison from her body. She tells Hivern that if she and Francois will appear before the duchess and swear loyalty, she will allow them to live.

In Chapter Forty-two, Ismae tells Duval of the marque against his mother and her plan to let the woman make retribution for her sin. The plan works, Ismae believes, because as Hivern and Francois make their oaths, the marque...