Lady Hester's houseguests arrive. The Strausses bring their tall, awkward son, who corners Cordelia with endless monologues about horses. Lady Imogene Strauss is warm and observant, while Lord Strauss is jovial. At dinner, Cordelia is seated beside young Master Strauss but escapes serious conversation by simply nodding through his horse-talk; her mother, focused on the Squire, takes no notice.

In the solar, Imogene and Hester drink rum-laced tea while Imogene plays solitaire. Imogene immediately deduces that Evangeline is hunting marriage and that Hester has invited guests strategically. She surprises Hester by guessing that Lord Evermore (Richard) was invited to redirect Evangeline's attentions, prompting Hester's private regret over never having married Richard herself due to her pride in independence and fear of aging in his sight. Imogene warns that pressuring Evangeline could make her move on Samuel faster, especially with the beautiful Penelope Green also invited as a former mistress meant to remind Samuel of past loves.

The next morning at breakfast, Master Strauss again traps Cordelia with horse-breeding talk while she fixates on his pimple. Hester announces that Penelope Green and Lord Evermore will arrive that afternoon, and the Squire and Lady Strauss praise Mrs. Green warmly. Cordelia notices Evangeline's eyes flash with jealousy at the mention of a rival.

Lady Strauss reads a newspaper item about a bride whose hair magically turned brown at her wedding. The Squire dismisses sorcerers as nonexistent, while Evangeline murmurs "Water, wine, and salt" and disparages "two-bit conjurers," implying real sorcerers know better. Cordelia sits frozen, careful not to react. Catching Cordelia watching her, Evangeline summons her daughter to the Blue Drawing Room, leaving Cordelia uneasy.