The year is 1142. The tide of the civil war has once again favored Stephen, and so, once again, the bishops and the Hamleighs declare themselves for the winning side. With Walerian, he draws up plans to take up the wool trade that once belonged to Aliena.

Philip and Aliena are despondent at their losses, and Jack takes over the burying of the dead and the rebuilding of the town, which happens quickly. Richard returns from war and demands new knightly accoutrements, but the family's wool business has been destroyed and Aliena is penniless. Without money and the trappings of knighthood, Aliena and Richard will never be able to fulfill their oath to their dying father. Alfred, pressing his advantage, states that he will take care of Stephen’s expenses if Aliena will agree to marry him. Though she loves Jack, Aliena agrees to the marriage.

On the wedding day, Jack is determined to talk Aliena out of it. Philip confines him to a monastery cell for the sin of disobedience. By coincidence, this cell is the very cell in which his own birth father was confined before he was hanged, and Ellen knows of a way into the cell through the floor.