2. Belinda Has a Beau

5. Jed Sides with the Union

With a bit of downtime on their hands, Mansion House besties Jed and Samuel make a trip to the Foster family plantation to deliver a prosthetic leg to Jed’s brother, Ezra. When they arrive, Samuel receives a cold greeting from Jed’s mother and Ezra who initially assume he’s a slave. Despite learning that Samuel made the prosthetic and is studying medicine, the family dismisses him and demands that he dine separately in the kitchen. Later that night, Jed, who has been changed by his time at a Union hospital and from Mary’s influence, reminds his mother that her way of life is no longer the norm.

6. The Brits Let James Green Down

Shortly after President Lincoln declares the Battle at Antietam a Union victory and that the South is a “slave nation,” James’ deal with the British Ambassador falls through. To rub salt in the wound, Lord Edward, the liaison between James and the ambassador, notifies the Greens that he can no longer stay with them. Not even a soothing British accent can make a burn like this feel better.

7. Pinkerton on the Trail

Elsewhere, Pinkerton pays a visit to Miles and William, who formerly worked for the Green family. Earlier, Jimmy had granted the men mercy when he and his partners discovered that the pair found their arms stash in the Green warehouse. The pair initially seem conflicted about their loyalty to the Greens, but Miles discloses information about the illegal business to Pinkerton, who seems quite pleased with his investigative work.

8. Who Is the Father?

While Jed struggles with his family’s values (or lack thereof), Samuel meets a man named Saga who needs his help delivering another slave’s baby. When the woman’s condition worsens with eclampsia and she begins to go into labor, Jed is called in to help and the whole family comes along for the ride. When the child is born, Ezra says he’ll sell the baby but Samuel inquires about the father. With a single meeting of the eyes and sibling telepathy, Jed comes to the swift conclusion that the child is Ezra’s, leaving everyone, including Mrs. Foster in shock. I guess Jed isn’t invited to dinner anymore.

9. Samuel Puts Med School on Hold

After a long, traumatic visit to the Foster plantation, Samuel admits to Jed that he’s having mixed feelings about attending medical school as he questions where his place should be during this period of the war. (Meeting Mrs. Foster will probably do that to a man.) After his experiences that day, and perhaps through his help with the contraband school and his meeting with former and current slaves like Caleb and Saga, it seems that Samuel finally understands Charlotte’s message.

10. Dr. Hale and Nurse Hastings: Pranksters at Work

As the rest of our characters deal with their family drama, Nurse Hastings and Dr. Hale are working tirelessly to drive Major McBurney out of the hospital, even recruiting the rest of the staff for their schemes. Mixing tartar emetic, epsom salts and sulphate of soda, Hale and Matron Brannan whip up a drink sure to make McBurney ill. It does the job and the gang manages to convince him that he’s thrown up his entrails by giving him a bucket to use, which is already filled with chicken guts. So in case you were looking for any April Fool’s Day pranks…

11. Salt bae < Fire bae

When Jane hears the news of Alice’s extracurricular activities, she has a stern mom-to-mom talk with Tom Fairfax’s mother. Yet the discussion is cut short when Mrs. Fairfax notifies the Green family of a new search warrant Pinkerton has received for their warehouse. Hysterical, James races to the building and lights it on fire to conceal Captain Van Der Berg’s body and, unknowingly, Jimmy’s arms business. Fortunately, he reacts just in time and leaves Pinkerton with all evidence ablaze. Things are heating up in Alexandria.

12. Reunited at Last

Oh, look, it’s Mary! Just when you thought you’d never see your favorite nurse again, she’s back and looking sicklier than ever. Under the weather? That's an understatement. After Jed realizes how stubborn he’s being, refusing to visit Mary should she not want to see him, he finally makes the trek to Boston. There’s no chicken noodle soup involved but he does sit with her and reassures her that she’ll recover to see the end of the war. (And obviously live happily ever after with Jed.)

13. Love is in the Air for Belinda

And Emma

And Charlotte

But wait! The dating excitement doesn’t stop with Jed and Mary. During the past two episodes of the show, we’ve watched as Chaplain Hopkins struggles with his faith and his relationship with Emma. After all, he did kill a guy after their first kiss. Luckily for him, drowning a Confederate soldier is not a deal breaker. Though he initially ignores Emma’s efforts to comfort him, he eventually sees the light and agrees to officiate Belinda and George’s wedding. The celebration is full of dancing, merriment and GLANCES. Charlotte and Samuel also participate in the fun and finally solidify their relationship with a bit of handholding. It looks like things are finally beginning to look up on Mercy Street.

Real Stories: People and Places

Learn the true stories behind some of the places and people featured in Mercy Street.

More