Lincoln is elected President, and George pays a surprise visit to Orry to apologize for what his fanatical sister said on their last visit and they resolve their differences, with Orry finally consenting to Brett marrying Billy. Ashton is still out for revenge and arranges for Billy to be attacked on the street, though it's not successful. She then turns to her lover Forbes LaMotte, Justin's nephew, to get the deed done, and Billy and Brett's wedding seems to be just the right day. Madeline overhears the plot and rushes to tell Orry, who tells her she will stay at Mont Royal and never return to Justin. Bent plots to run any blockade imposed on Southern ports. Orry travels to Pennsylvania to finish repaying George his investment in the cotton mill and realizes the full extent of the hatred that now exists. Confederate forces attack Fort Sumter and war is declared, forcing George and Orry say farewell, not knowing what the future may hold for their families or their friendship.