At Kintbury, Cassandra's fever is raging. In her delirium, she nearly lets slip that she is in possession of Jane's letters but manages - just - to keep Mary from finding them. As she travels in and out of consciousness, Cassandra relives the dramatic events of her youthful summer in Sidmouth, where Mr Hobday's attentions were received with delight by the Austens but presented Cassy with an impossible decision.