Foxglove

As they walk around the palace gardens, Blythe tries to push Signa toward the prince, knowing that she has little chance of marrying Everett. Signa teams up with Blythe for the game so she does not have to be close to Fate, who joins up with Everett. Fate mentions that he plays croquet for prizes and suggests the losers kiss him if he wins. He suggests that the women pick a prize as well. Blythe says that if she and Signa win, he will put in a good word for Elijah and arrange for Blythe to see her father. Fate agrees. Blythe proves to be an excellent croquet player, and Death arrives to help Signa and hinder Everett. Signa suspects that Blythe notices when Death helps her hit her ball. Tension grows between Blythe and Fate, the only two naturally good players, and Blythe wins the game. Fate tells the women to go to the prison early the next morning, and as they leave, Signa cannot shake the feeling that Blythe is suspicious of her.

Blythe recalls Charlotte’s suggestion that she and Signa are cursed. Blythe thinks of the shadows she saw surrounding Signa as they played croquet, which she recognized as the same shadows that were in the room with her when she almost died. She confronts Signa on the carriage ride back to Thorn Grove, asking Signa to tell her she is imagining things. Signa decides to tell Blythe the truth.

When they arrive at Thorn Grove, Signa takes Blythe to the stable, where a newborn foal is on the brink of death. Death once told Signa that her powers would act as she wanted if she was brave enough to endure the results. Wanting to show herself to Blythe in her reaper form, Signa takes the last of the belladonna berries. Blythe sees her, surprising even Death. Signa assumes Blythe can see her because she already defied death three times. Signa tells Blythe to comfort the foal as she uses her powers to put him out of his misery, but Blythe looks at Signa with hate, demanding that she bring the foal back to life. Signa’s sadness and rage grow, and she suddenly feels the foal’s chest rise, startled that she could bring him back to life. However, Blythe was not talking about the foal, but Percy, demanding Signa bring her brother back. Blythe asks if Percy is alive, and Signa admits that he is not. Blythe orders Signa to leave Thorn Grove by morning.

Signa sits in the stable after Blythe leaves, and Death comes to comfort her, noticing that the silver in her hair has vanished. Signa makes Death promise not to leave her. Both of them want to build a life together where they do not have to feel so alone.

The morning after Signa’s departure, Blythe, riding with Byron to the prison, tries not to think about Signa’s betrayal or mysterious powers. She watches prisoners doing hard labor with masks to conceal their faces and feels the injustice deeply. Blythe hardly recognizes her father in his weak and mangled state, but she still sees some hope in his eyes. Elijah seems hostile toward Byron as they discuss his trial next week. He is disappointed to learn that Signa has left. Byron tries to persuade Elijah not to look into the murderer but into how they can shorten his sentence, and the two argue. Blythe silences them, assuring them that they will find the murderer and resolve this.

Signa arrives at the seaside home of Foxglove Manor with Elaine and Gundry just as a storm is about to start. Foxglove, which has been uninhabited for 20 years, is in a dilapidated state, but Signa tries to keep her hopes up about building her new life here. She imagines what her parents were like when they lived here years ago, but she hardly feels at home in the strange place, with its portraits of people she does not recognize and lingering spirits.

That night, Signa dreams of Percy choking her and wakes to the hands of an old woman’s spirit around her throat. Between life and death, Signa taps into her power and throws the spirit off of her, stopping Death just before he reaps the spirit. Signa asks who the spirit is, but she says only that she will keep trying to kill Signa. Fearing for Elaine’s life, Signa tells Death to take the spirit and rushes to her lady’s maid. Elaine is frightened by the way the color has leached out of Signa’s hair, but otherwise fine. When Elaine hears a piano, Signa manages to keep her downstairs while she investigates.

Signa finds three new spirits in the drawing room, one of which is playing the piano. As the spirits speak about her sudden arrival, Signa pretends not to see or hear them for a moment. They want to take Foxglove Manor back, as they have lived there for years, but Signa eventually tells them that will not happen. She suggests that they go to the afterlife with Death instead. One of the spirits tells Signa that there are around 20 ghosts at Foxglove, and though they promise not to bother Signa, they cannot make promises for the others. The spirits add that they are afraid of Elaine and will not go near because they have seen her skin glow in mysterious ways and turn silver when they approach. Signa shows the spirits her power and asks Death to do the same for the others. When she sees the hem of a ghostly dress, she decides to follow it.

The day Signa left, Blythe received a note in her handwriting that read, “Byron,” which she assumed was a hint about the murder. Attempting to figure out who killed the duke, Blythe invites Charlotte, Eliza, and Diana to tea for some gossip. Blythe asks Eliza if Everett has suspicions about the murder. Eliza and Diana are tense and tease one another. Eventually, Eliza mentions that Everett is hosting a fox hunt for potential suitors and Blythe asks for an invitation.