In January, Damienne falls gravely ill with a persistent cough that recalls her own mother's death, and worsens with a cracked tooth. She lies in bed, lamenting that she cannot die in peace until Marguerite is well married. Marguerite tends to her nurse, reading aloud from a book of ladies about Queen Artemisia and Queen Esther. Damienne urges Marguerite to follow Esther's humble example and continues to pray for Roberval's prosperity, since his fortune is tied to Marguerite's dowry.

Marguerite watches constantly from the window for her guardian, and at last spots Roberval arriving on a black horse with two attendants. Despite warnings from Damienne and Madame D'Artois that it is bad luck to dress before being summoned, Marguerite insists Claire help her into a worn silver-embroidered gray gown, with frayed cuffs hidden by pinning. Soon Roberval's man Henri arrives to summon her. Damienne, too ill to accompany her, frets and warns Marguerite to expect nothing and not to complain. Madame D'Artois escorts her down.

In the great hall, Roberval greets Marguerite as cousin, notes she is fifteen and now a woman, and announces he will not leave her in the house. Marguerite briefly imagines a marriage match with lands and children, but Roberval declares instead that she is old enough to come with him to La Rochelle. Stunned and uncertain whether she is to be ward or something else, Marguerite protests softly that this is the only home she has known. Roberval, amused rather than angry, insists.

Marguerite asks when she must leave and is told only when he sends for her, indicating he travels again first. She requests to bring Damienne, Madame D'Artois, and Claire; Roberval grants this "for a time." When he turns to his secretary's business without offering provision, Marguerite, against all decorum, asks outright for money. Madame D'Artois is alarmed, but Roberval laughs, has his secretary produce a purse, and flings it into the air. Marguerite instinctively reaches up and catches the purse of gold, startling everyone in the room.