Hester barricades herself in the family library searching for ways to stop a sorcerer, but finds the collection nearly useless: religious texts, fairy tales, and an absurdly written volume titled A True Accounte of Divers Remarkable Sorceryes and Devilreys. Buried in the latter, she discovers an intriguing theory: sorcerers are like panthers, intolerant of rivals, with the strongest killing off middling competitors and ignoring the weakest. This explains why most known sorcery seems trivial, while truly powerful sorcerers like Evangeline (Doom) operate undetected.

The theory leads Hester to wonder whether sorcery is hereditary, and briefly to consider whether Cordelia might also be a sorcerer. She concludes that if Cordelia has any latent talent, she is unaware of it or untrained, since Evangeline would never cultivate a rival.

Willard unusually announces Samuel's arrival. Samuel, grave and using Hester's old nickname "Henny," reveals that Richard has asked permission to court Cordelia. Concerned about Hester's long-standing feelings for Richard, Samuel offers to refuse if she still cares for him. Hester denies any attachment and endorses the match. She proposes that, during Samuel's honeymoon with Evangeline, she and Cordelia travel to town to open the old town house, conveniently giving Hester a refuge should Evangeline want her gone. Samuel gratefully agrees. Hester silently vows to free her brother from Evangeline.

The next morning, Evangeline bursts into Hester's solar, delighted by Lord Evermore's offer for Cordelia. Cordelia, panicked and unsure how to respond, looks to Hester, who smoothly explains that Richard would never have spoken to Cordelia before securing parental approval. Lady Strauss nearly chokes covering her reaction. Evangeline embraces Cordelia, thrilled at the wealthy match and the prospect of remaining close through the family connection, while Cordelia weakly smiles and untangles her embroidery floss.