Anaïs insists Mallory wear their mother’s burgundy gown to dinner, complete with a braided ribbon in her hair. Triphine comments that Mallory could be pretty with effort. Mallory hides a knife in her boot, and Anaïs reminds her to behave respectably. As Julie escorts the sisters to the banquet hall, Mallory reflects on the wives who once lived here and wonders if they knew what kind of man they had married.

At the large and ornate hall, Armand bows in greeting; Anaïs curtsies, but Mallory does not. The long table is set with real silver. Housekeeper Yvette clears her throat before the meal, prompting Armand to lead a prayer to the Seven gods. Anaïs plays along, but Mallory only sighs a few words after Anaïs kicks her under the table.

As they eat, Mallory mentions Le Bleu poisoning his wives’ wine before slashing their throats. Yvette scolds her for making a spectacle of the family history, but Armand defends her and thinks about the murdered women, saying it would be worse to pretend it never happened. Armand dismisses Yvette and admits that he tolerates her due to all her years of service. A chirpy