A Sorceress Comes to Call Chapter 12 Summary

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Lady Hester’s houseguests begin arriving. Cordelia meets Lord and Lady Strauss and their tall, slender son, who talks endlessly about horses. Cordelia follows etiquette by nodding politely while his mother eventually rescues her. At dinner, Cordelia sits next to Master Strauss and avoids conversation by feigning headache afterward, which her mother accepts indifferently.

Later, Imogene Lady Strauss reveals she brought a deck of cards and flask to Hester’s solar. Hester confesses her worry that Evangeline is pursuing the Squire Samuel. Imogene notes Evangeline’s obvious marital ambitions and remarks that Cordelia seems nervous and ignorant but clever. Hester admits she knows nothing about Evangeline’s background.

Imogene guesses Hester invited Lord Evermore to divert Evangeline. Hester is startled; she had not thought of that, and she privately reflects on her own unspoken feelings for Evermore—how her independence and fear of aging prevented a match. Imogene gently suggests Hester underestimate Evermore’s interest.

At breakfast, Master Strauss again corners Cordelia with horse talk. Hester announces that Mrs. Green and Lord Evermore will arrive that afternoon. The group discusses a newspaper scandal about a bride whose hair turned from blonde to brown during a wedding, implying magic. Evangeline murmurs about “water, wine, and salt,” and the Squire dismisses real sorcerers as nonexistent. Cordelia feels tense, sensing her mother’s displeasure at the mention of Mrs. Green as a rival. When her mother summons her to the Blue Drawing Room, Cordelia reluctantly leaves the table.

Key Events

Lord and Lady Strauss arrive with their horse-obsessed son; Cordelia practices polite listening.
Cordelia sits next to Master Strauss at dinner and avoids compromising conversation.
Imogene Strauss and Hester privately discuss Evangeline’s predatory behavior toward Samuel.
Hester reveals she invited Lord Evermore and Mrs. Green, hoping to disrupt Evangeline’s plans.
Imogene warns that provoking Evangeline might accelerate her actions.
At breakfast, the newspaper story about a magical hair-color transformation sparks discussion of sorcery.
Evangeline’s reaction to Mrs. Green’s arrival indicates she sees her as a rival.
Cordelia is summoned by her mother after breakfast.

Character Development

Cordelia: Improves her social performance by using etiquette to avoid real engagement; her internal observation sharpens, especially noting her mother’s reactions.
Hester: Reveals personal vulnerability—her past regret over not marrying Lord Evermore due to pride and fears of aging. Her protective strategy for Samuel becomes more layered.
Imogene Strauss: Perceptive and blunt, she sees through Hester’s motives and warns of risks. Her card-playing and knitting disguise a sharp mind.
Evangeline: Briefly shows her calculating nature when she mentions “water, wine, and salt,” hinting at magical knowledge; her eyes flash at the praise of Mrs. Green, revealing jealousy.
Squire Samuel: Naively dismisses real sorcerers, unaware of Evangeline’s true nature.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Performance and Etiquette: Cordelia’s reliance on The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette shows how social rules become a shield. Her feigned headache and polite murmurs mask her true thoughts.
Rivalry and Manipulation: Hester’s house party is a deliberate ploy to counter Evangeline’s influence. Imogene’s tiger-in-the-enclosure metaphor highlights the danger of pitting strong personalities against each other.
Hidden Magic and Skepticism: The newspaper scandal about a bride’s hair color change implies magic is real but concealed. The Squire’s dismissal of sorcerers contrasts with Evangeline’s murmured phrase, suggesting she knows more than she admits.
Aging and Regret: Hester’s internal lament about being “old” and missing her chance with Evermore touches on societal double standards for aging women.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter expands the cast and deepens the conflict. Hester’s private conversation with Imogene reveals her past and her strategy, making her more sympathetic and showing she is not merely a hostess but a tactician. The introduction of Lord Evermore and Mrs. Green sets up romantic and magical tensions. The discussion of sorcery and the hair-color scandal lays groundwork for Evangeline’s abilities, while Cordelia’s growing awareness of her mother’s danger signals her potential transformation from passive observer to active participant.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Hester invite Lord Evermore and Mrs. Green to the house party?
Hester hopes that by bringing Samuel’s former mistress (Mrs. Green) and a wealthy unattached lord (Evermore), she can distract Evangeline or remind Samuel of his previous attachment. Imogene warns this might provoke Evangeline to act faster.
What does the newspaper story about the bride’s hair color reveal about attitudes toward magic in this world?
The story shows that magic is known to exist but is often dismissed as fraud or trickery. Characters assume a spell would not hold through a church wedding, and the Squire asserts that real sorcerers haven’t existed for a hundred years. Evangeline’s murmur about “water, wine, and salt” suggests she has practical magical knowledge.
How does Cordelia’s interaction with Master Strauss illustrate her social education?
Cordelia follows etiquette by nodding and making nondescript responses without genuine conversation. She avoids eye contact and uses a feigned headache to escape. This shows she is learning to navigate society without revealing her ignorance or attracting attention, but also that she feels trapped by her mother’s scrutiny.