Chapter 6: Things to Come – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens two weeks after the wedding. James never mentions the wedding-dress incident, and Cordelia is relieved. Their domestic life becomes surprisingly comfortable: they read by the fire, play board games (draughts, chess, backgammon), and the winner asks a question. Through these games, they share childhood wishes and fears. James gives Cordelia a gold globe pendant, saying he wanted to give her the world.

They attend Rosamund and Thoby Wentworth’s engagement party at the ornate “Pastry.” Cordelia is steered into the married ladies’ circle, where she feels bored and gossiped about. Matthew rescues her for a polonaise. During the dance, Matthew reveals that Charles Fairchild has caused a diplomatic incident by excluding the Marseilles vampire clan from a meeting in Paris; Will and Tessa must go to Paris to smooth things over. Cordelia compliments Matthew, saying he would have made a better ambassador. After the dance, James defies convention and asks Cordelia for the first waltz.

Key Events

Cordelia and James settle into a companionable domestic routine, sharing games, meals, and late-night conversations.
James gifts Cordelia a gold globe pendant as a two-week anniversary present.
The couple attends the Wentworths’ engagement party, where the house resembles a wedding cake.
Cordelia is placed with the married ladies and subjected to whispers about her reputation.
Matthew escorts Cordelia onto the dance floor for the polonaise, rescuing her from the matrons.
Matthew reveals that Charles Fairchild’s diplomatic mistake in Paris requires Will and Tessa to travel there.
Cordelia tells Matthew he would have been a better ambassador than Charles.
James breaks social convention by asking his own wife to waltz.

Character Development

Cordelia Carstairs: Her love for James deepens as she experiences the intimacy of married life. She begins to feel possessive of their shared moments, yet she remains aware that James’s heart may belong to Grace. She learns to navigate Shadowhunter society as a married woman.
James Herondale: He shows thoughtfulness through small gifts and attentive gestures. The “Mask” reappears when he feels emotional, hinting at hidden feelings. His decision to dance with Cordelia signals a willingness to prioritize her over convention.
Matthew Fairchild: Revealed as observant and witty, he is also insecure about his place compared to Charles. Cordelia’s praise visibly affects him, showing a need for validation.
Will and Tessa: Their parental duty takes them away from London, foreshadowing a shift in the younger generation’s independence.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Domestic Intimacy: The quiet evenings of games and questions build a real partnership between Cordelia and James, contrasting with their arranged marriage.
Unspoken Love: Cordelia’s internal conflict—loving James while believing his affections lie elsewhere—is a central tension. The globe pendant symbolizes James’s desire to give her everything except his heart.
Performance and Reality: The elaborate party, with its ice sculpture and gossip, highlights the performance required in Shadowhunter society. James’s public waltz defies that performance.
Travel as Escape: Both Cordelia and James dream of Constantinople and other faraway places, suggesting that their true connection lies in shared dreams of freedom.
The Game of Questions: This ritual allows vulnerability and discovery, building trust.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 6 deepens the emotional foundation of Cordelia and James’s marriage, making the eventual conflict more poignant. It introduces the Charles Paris subplot, which will have repercussions for the Fairchild family and the Enclave. The chapter also solidifies Matthew as a key confidant for Cordelia and hints at his own insecurities. Finally, the waltz breaking convention signals that James may be developing feelings beyond friendship.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What gift does James give Cordelia, and what does it symbolize? James gives Cordelia a gold globe pendant, explaining he wanted to give her the world because they have talked so much of travel. The necklace symbolizes his wish to share dreams of adventure with her, even if he cannot yet offer full romantic commitment.

2. Why does Matthew dance with Cordelia, and what news does he share? Matthew rescues Cordelia from the dull married-ladies circle. During the polonaise, he tells her that Charles Fairchild accidentally omitted the Marseille vampire clan from a crucial meeting in Paris, creating a diplomatic crisis. Will and Tessa must go to France to smooth things over.

3. How does James defy social convention at the party, and why is this significant? James asks Cordelia to waltz with him even though husbands traditionally do not dance with their wives at formal balls. This public gesture signals that he values her happiness over rigid rules, and it suggests his feelings for her may be growing beyond friendship.