Someone who knows medicine spares Ms. Xander—"I'll spare your life today"—and promises, "I'll help you with the cure tomorrow" for Fathomfrost. At the Xander home a retainer reveals she's engaged to the North Marquis's son, Quincy, but has "lost her chastity," jeopardizing the match. The family lord vows to confront the North Marquis. In a brutal family scene the grandmother publicly shames Ms. Xander, forces her to kneel on shards and apologize. The cure is promised as damage control, but her reputation and engagement hang in doubt while she remains humiliated.