In the aftermath of the failed ritual, Cordelia sits dazed in the parlor as Hester and Imogene argue over why the ritual failed. Imogene explains that the book required each reagent's invoker to match it in soul: water to water, wine to wine, salt to salt. Lord Evermore, though good and reliable, was the wrong person to embody wine. They agree the ritual could work if they found someone truly wine-natured.

Lord Evermore and Willard return to report Falada is dead and buried, with the head burned as a precaution. Evermore thanks Cordelia profusely for saving Old Bernard's life. Exhausted, Cordelia is led upstairs by Willard, bathed by Alice, and falls deeply asleep.

The next morning, Penelope's ghost finally reaches Cordelia, having tried to communicate the previous night through the buzzing in her head. Penelope recounts following Falada, witnessing Evangeline ensorcell Samuel with strings during the wedding, and being detected before fleeing. She was drawn to Evermore by the blaze of the ritual. Penelope agrees Evermore is wrong for the wine reagent and offers to wander the household searching for someone whose soul matches.

Alice interrupts, gushing that Cordelia is now a hero belowstairs for saving Old Bernard, who will survive minus an ear. Cordelia resolves at breakfast to finally tell Hester and Imogene about Penelope, but before she can speak, Richard bursts in grimly and leads them to the burial pit. The grave is torn open from below, scattered with goose feathers: Falada has dug himself out.