Cordelia wakes in the curtained guest bed at Chatham House, marveling at the privacy of multiple closed doors that hide her thoughts from her mother. Alice, the maid assigned to her, brings tea and breakfast, and Cordelia's instinctive offer to help clean betrays her unfamiliarity with great houses. Alice gently explains that as a guest Cordelia will be waited on, and quietly accepts the threadbare 'gray gown' as if it were unremarkable, even draping a borrowed sea-green shawl over Cordelia to flatter her appearance.

While Alice does Cordelia's hair, Evangeline arrives at the door demanding entry. To Cordelia's astonishment, Alice deflects her mother with practiced courtesy, redirecting her to the Blue Drawing Room and summoning a footman, effectively forcing Evangeline to retreat. Alice admits she sensed Cordelia's terror at her mother's voice. This is the first time Cordelia has ever seen anyone successfully turn Evangeline aside.

In the Blue Drawing Room, Cordelia meets Hester, the Squire's sister, who is warm and welcoming, gifting her the shawl outright and inviting her to visit for embroidery or reading aloud. Cordelia is touched but ashamed that the household's kindness is being extended to her dangerous mother.

When Evangeline arrives, she approves of the shawl as a useful means to win over Hester, whom she dismisses as a threatening spinster. She coldly outlines her plan to marry Squire Samuel within a fortnight, assuring Cordelia she will not magically compel him yet, since tampering would be noticed and could break at the altar. She instructs Cordelia to be charming, use the correct cutlery at dinner, and not be 'moody.' Evangeline then leaves to go riding with the Squire, confident her plan is progressing.