Though Hunsdon promises that Emilia will be taken care of, he withdraws from her. Having a second family would shame his estranged wife, so he can no longer be seen with Emilia. She is left alone at his house while he meets with the queen at court. In London, she goes to visit Isabella and tell her what has happened. Though Isabella is sympathetic, she is also practical and tells Emilia that they cannot live together. She is a kept woman, her home is also a place of business and having Emilia’s child there would be difficult.

One day, Emilia returns from a walk to find that all her belongings are packed away. Bess, her maid, explains that she will go with Emilia. Emilia is devastated that Hunsdon did not say goodbye, and later finds that he tried to send a note explaining that he was delayed at court. The carriage takes them to her cousin’s home. She is angered to find that Jeronimo and Hunsdon have already arranged for her to be married to a distant relative of hers named Alphonso. He was paid £700, and she bitterly reflects that the price is slightly more than Hunsdon spent last year on some clothing.