Chapter summaries Any Way the Wind Blows Rainbow Rowell

Chapter 27: Lady Salisbury – A Key Witness

⚠️ 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

Simon and Baz borrow clothes from Baz’s wardrobe and travel to Lady Salisbury’s home in a wealthy neighbourhood. She initially thanks Simon for killing the Mage, then reveals her adult son Jamie has been missing for a month. She shows them a “candle spell” she cast that proves Jamie is still alive but hidden. Jamie had a reading disorder that kept him out of Watford, and he became obsessed with Chosen One conspiracy theories, particularly one promoted by a figure named Smith Smith-Richards, who claims to heal broken magic. Lady Salisbury believes Jamie left to attend Smith-Richards’s meetings and never returned. She also mentions that Baz’s stepmother, Daphne, has been acting strangely and might be involved. The chapter ends with Baz and Simon deciding to investigate Smith Smith-Richards.

Key Events

  • Baz insists Simon dress in his borrowed clothes before their visit; Simon reluctantly complies.
  • At Lady Salisbury’s door, she initially seems angry, then thanks Simon for killing the Mage and hugs him.
  • Lady Salisbury serves cake and milk; Simon accepts eagerly while Baz demurs.
  • Simon reveals his wings to Lady Salisbury, who is awed and asks to touch them (he flinches).
  • Lady Salisbury shows them the candle spell in her bedroom: two candles burning for her missing children (Jamie and Lucy).
  • She explains that Jamie, now 38, has a reading disorder that prevented him from attending Watford and learning magic properly.
  • Jamie became consumed by online conspiracy theories about a “Greatest Mage” and Smith Smith-Richards.
  • Jamie said, “What if Smith can fix my magic?” before disappearing.
  • Lady Salisbury tried to contact Smith-Richards’s group but was turned away; the Coven also dismissed her.
  • Baz connects Jamie’s story to his stepmother Daphne, who is also missing and who always struggled with magic.

Character Development

  • Simon Snow: Still adjusting to a post-Mage world, he shows humility about his past as the Chosen One. He is touched by Lady Salisbury’s gratitude and visibly affected when she thanks him. His protective feelings for Baz grow stronger, and he admits to himself how terrifying it is to care this much.
  • Baz Pitch: Demonstrates his strategic and diplomatic nature by dressing Simon appropriately and steering the conversation. He is deeply unsettled by the parallels between Jamie’s story and his stepmother’s situation. He takes careful notes, showing his investigative instincts.
  • Lady Salisbury: A complex figure: warm and grateful, but also grieving and determined. She refuses to accept that Jamie is a lost cause, and her passion for the truth makes her an ally.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Exclusion and Identity: Jamie’s reading disorder barred him from Watford, leading to a lifetime of feeling inadequate. This echoes the systemic prejudice within the World of Mages, where magic ability is often tied to birth and education.
  • The Candle as a Soul Anchor: The burning candles symbolize hope and continued existence. Lady Salisbury’s spell is a powerful visual of her faith that Jamie remains alive.
  • The Danger of Conspiracy Theories: Smith Smith-Richards preys on those who feel marginalized by conventional magical society, offering false promises of “fixing” magic. The chapter critiques how vulnerability can be exploited.
  • Costume and Performance: Baz’s insistence on proper clothes highlights the performative aspect of magical society – appearances matter when seeking respect from strangers.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 27 introduces the central conspiracy of the second half of the book: the figure of Smith Smith-Richards, who claims to heal magic and is gathering followers. It deepens the mystery of the disappearances that have been hinted at earlier (including Baz’s stepmother Daphne). The chapter also provides crucial backstory about Watford’s elitism and the emotional scars left on those who couldn’t fit in. Lady Salisbury becomes a key ally and a source of information that will propel Simon and Baz’s investigation forward.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Lady Salisbury thank Simon for killing the Mage, and what does this reveal about her political stance?
    Answer: She thanks Simon because she despised the Mage and believes Simon is a hero. This reveals she is part of the faction of magicians who opposed the Mage’s methods and welcomed his death, aligning her with families like the Pitch-Grimms.

  2. What connection does Baz make between Jamie’s situation and his stepmother Daphne?
    Answer: Baz realizes Daphne also struggled with magic throughout her life and recently left home to “work on her magic.” He suspects she may have been drawn to Smith Smith-Richards’s promises, linking the two disappearances.

  3. How does the candle spell function as a symbol in this chapter?
    Answer: The candle spell symbolizes hope and the irreducible proof of life. For Lady Salisbury, the candle’s continued flame means Jamie is still alive and reachable, even though all other spells fail. It also mirrors the unstable state of magic itself – flickering but not extinguished.

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