Belladonna

Signa sneaks out of Thorn Grove while another party is in full swing. She runs into Byron Hawthorne, but he lets Signa go once he spots Marjorie. At the stables, Sylas tells Signa that he overheard Byron tell Marjorie about meeting at Grey’s gentleman’s club. Signa and Sylas ride to Grey’s before Byron and Marjorie can arrive, and Signa feels herself growing more interested in Sylas. She asks him if he thinks that Byron or Marjorie could be involved in Lillian’s murder, as Byron has the motive of wanting control of Grey’s while Marjorie seems romantically interested in Elijah.

When they make it to Grey’s, Sylas picks the lock. They enter just as they hear a carriage coming, and must hide in a coat closet. They see Byron and Marjorie come in and discuss the failing business and how Percy will be left with nothing if Byron doesn’t take over Grey’s. Byron wants Marjorie to seduce Elijah and convince him to give the business to Percy if not him, but Marjorie is offended and tells Byron to stay away from Percy. Byron threatens to ruin Percy if Marjorie doesn’t help, and hits her before she storms out.

Signa and Sylas continue to look around Grey’s. In Elijah’s desk, they find a letter from Lillian that urges Elijah not to ruin Grey’s for Percy’s sake. They take this as another piece of the puzzle before heading back to Thorn Grove.

As Signa works her way through the secret tunnels of Thorn Grove, she meets with Death, who admonishes her for being late for their midnight meeting. Signa does not want to believe that she is part of Death’s world, but he tells her that he has never met another person who shares his powers. Signa realizes that she doesn’t hate Death, but is curious about him and craves the powers they share. However, Signa is still angry with him until he admits that he killed all of her relatives to protect her, as they were all cruel and selfish. She wants to be mad at Death but she is happy that someone wanted to protect her.

Death shows Signa how to access her powers without belladonna when he touches her, and Signa feels the various emotions associated with death and her powers. Death leads Signa back through the walls of Thorn Grove, promising to come back the following night.

Signa goes through the kitchen the next morning and finds Blythe’s real medicine. Later in the day, she continues her lessons with Marjorie, learning to dance with Percy. Elijah comes to watch them, but he is suddenly interrupted by Byron, who complains to his brother about missing shipments for Grey’s. Percy offers to help with the shipments, but Elijah insists that Percy keep dancing and ignore the business at Grey’s.

Signa gives Percy some space and goes to visit Blythe, who does not look less ill despite not taking her belladonna tea. They discuss Signa’s upcoming debut, and Signa is surprised that Blythe does not want to participate in the season or marry, given what happens to wealthy women who do. Signa understands Blythe’s want of liberty but worries that she will feel alone, despite feeling their friendship grow stronger.

Blythe confides in Signa that her father has let Grey’s go to ruin since Lillian’s death, believing that Elijah’s thoughts are so consumed with his wife’s death that he does not care about Grey’s, contrary to the letter Signa found in his desk. When Blythe falls asleep, Signa feels Death’s presence and he warns her that, if Blythe is not healed in the next week, she will not have an easy death. Death apologizes for the way he has affected Signa’s life and promises to help her figure out the source of Blythe’s illness.

Signa believes she will find an antidote for Blythe in the library of Thorn Grove, but before she can find it, Sylas sneaks onto her balcony. He takes her to the library and she wonders how he knows his way around the house.

Signa already knew the library was supposed to be haunted, but she is surprised when a spirit lights a candle and helps them find books. She doesn’t feel afraid of the spirit like she did with Lillian, as the ghost, a scholar named Thaddeus Kipling, is helpful and unobtrusive. Signa discovers that there is a plant that can work as an antidote for belladonna and assumes that they can find it at an apothecary in town the next day.

Signa hears that Blythe has gotten worse overnight. She goes into town with Percy, who is angry as his father has forbidden him from stopping by Grey’s. Signa tells Percy about the antidote and he is skeptical, but agrees they should try anything to save Blythe.

They get what they need from the apothecary, but Percy believes the woman who runs it to be a witch and is still unsure. As they are leaving, they are spotted by Eliza, Charlotte, and a handsome man they introduce as Lord Everett Wakefield, the most eligible gentleman in town other than Percy. Everett tells Signa how he met her mother once, and she is mystified by him. They invite Signa and Percy to tea and don’t let them refuse.

As Eliza goes to flirt with Percy, Signa is left alone with Charlotte to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of finding a husband. Unlike Signa, Charlotte must find a wealthy match in order to support her family and is not cheered by the prospect of a wealthy woman like Signa debuting this season. Though Signa realizes tea with young ladies and an eligible lord is everything she could have ever wanted, she feels a disconnect between what she actually wants and what she is expected to want.

In the carriage to Thorn Grove, Percy is embarrassed to have been seen at the apothecary, and he finds it suspicious that Signa knows exactly what is killing Blythe, who has gotten worse since Signa’s arrival. When they get to Blythe, she looks sicker than ever. Signa feels the presence of Death lingering, but Signa gets her to take the antidote.

Though Blythe is still weak after the antidote, Signa can see that she is getting better. Marjorie sees the two women together and she asks how Signa was able to cure her, appearing happy when Signa tells her it was a cure from a book in the library. As Marjorie walks Signa back to her room, they talk about Signa’s debut and a masquerade ball they will be having soon.