Episode 2 ...: Taboo -

Their marriage is revealed to be a joyless arrangement. Thorne Geary, desperate for the inheritance, views James with open hostility and is even suspected of having a hand in Horace’s poisoning.

James purchases a ship at auction, but finding manacles and chains on board triggers visceral, nightmarish flashbacks related to the slave trade and his past traumas. Taboo - Episode 2 ...

James begins assembling his "Crew of the Damned," enlisting allies to help him navigate the treacherous waters of 1814 London. Their marriage is revealed to be a joyless arrangement

James encounters Zilpha at a concert, urging her to run away with him. Her refusal and the underlying tension between them suggest a dark, shared history that haunts both siblings. James begins assembling his "Crew of the Damned,"

For the East India Company, Lorna is a potential "backstop." If they cannot bribe or break James, they may find her easier to manipulate.

James inherits his father’s assets but pointedly ignores his debts, though he later pays off certain creditors in full as a show of unexpected power. ⚓ The Game Board Expands