Dickens proposes to Catherine, which she happily accepts. Kate, however, is frightened by the prospect of marriage and also with her new husband's determination. Dickens has his first great success with his serialisation of 'The Pickwick Papers'. Sales are not as expected and he has issues with the illustrator. With an advance on the first two stories, Dickens sets out to furnish his new home.

Charles is acting very strangely and his friends are worried, as he claims to be in love with Queen Victoria, upset that she is marrying a German; he even threatens to leave England. He wants to buy back his his copyright to 'Oliver Twist', seemingly prepared to pay a hefty sum to do so. The serialisation of 'The Old Curiosity Shop' is a huge success, with the death of the protagonist, Little Nell, capturing the imagination of the nation, leaving many a grown man in tears.