SPOILERS!!!
Robin finds himself in charge of the mill, which is a responsibility that he hates. He starts by trying to make some changes that benefit the workers, but little by little he feels this new responsibility is too much for him. Then March turns up, which is a real blessing. Robin hires her straightaway and fires Harold. After that, Robin simply enjoys a life of entertainment while March rules the roost.
Jane and Mara write to him, asking him if Peta can live with him while he studies his university degree. Robin agrees, and Peta is certain that his sister is not looking after the employees' interests. When he accompanies the family to church, Reverend Waddell talks about the responsibility rich people have. After that, Peta volunteers to help in the parish. Then he persuades Robin to come and see how his employees live. The reverend takes Robin to the home of a woman who works in the mill, but now she has had a baby, and he is shocked to discover that a big family of eight live in just a couple of rooms. The woman, Mrs Smith, mentions that she now has a lodger, Leah. To Robin's surprise he discovers that Leah is the one who worked alongside him in the Carrigan Company. Leah asks him to meet him later.
When they talk, Leah explains that she was a shell after the end of the company. After running out of laudaunum, she turned to drink, and she ended up in prison. That is how she stopped drinking, and now she feels that her life is on the right track. Leah tells Robin that the conditions in the factory are horrendous, and she hopes to get a job in the sewing section, but there are no vacancies left.
Robin decides to talk to March because they need to make some changes for the wellbeing of the employees. March hears him in silence, and then she tells him that the mill has become unprofitable, and they should sell. What they need is to enlarge the sewing production. Robin is relieved and thinks it is a good idea.
The novel jumps to 1888, and in Rotorua where Aroha and Bao run the hotel, there is expectation about the rules the government is imposing. Everybody seems to think that Aroha and Bao are an item, but there is only a friendly relationship. Yet, Bao is totally in love. When Aroha has to defend Bao and state that she wouldn't be ashamed if she was married to Bao, he decides to lay the cards on the table and tell her how much he loves her. Aroha can't resist him, but after a night together Aroha still remembers the deaths of Matiu and Koro and thinks that she is cursed and is afraid for him. Yet, Bao thinks that she can't believe that their deaths which were caused by an accident and natural causes are not her fault at all, and he wants his chance.
Bao receives a letter from his former friends in Dunedin, telling him about the hard conditions of the Chinese and how the government imposes more and more unfair regulations. His friend wants Bao to talk on behalf of them because he can speak good English. Aroha tells him that he needs to go and defend his compatriots.
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