66 pages • 2 hours read
T. KingfisherA Sorceress Comes to Call
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 7-12Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 7 Summary
Hester initially expects Cordelia to be complicit in her mother’s schemes but soon realizes that the girl is more frightened and confused than malicious. Suspecting abuse, Hester questions whether Evangeline might be using Cordelia as bait, but she ultimately decides that Cordelia’s fear is genuine.
When Cordelia hesitantly enters Hester’s room, Hester is surprised to learn that Cordelia doesn’t know how to embroider, a skill expected of girls with aspirations to gentility. Hester teaches her and discusses the practical uses of embroidery, like disguising frayed cuffs, while implying that the Squire is frugal—though, in truth, he generously funded her goose-breeding hobby.
Cordelia becomes upset when she pricks her finger, but Hester reassures her that mistakes can be covered with creative stitching. They spend hours sewing, and when Hester asks Cordelia her age, Cordelia almost says 14 before correcting herself to say 17, claiming that she often forgets. As the dinner bell rings, Hester gives Cordelia another shawl and fakes needing help up the stairs, noting Cordelia’s strength. Hester resolves to save both Cordelia and the Squire from “Doom.”
Chapter 8 Summary
Cordelia’s first formal dinner is a disaster, as she struggles with the array of utensils and can’t see her mother’s cues. Hester discreetly helps by coughing and tapping a fork. With multiple courses, Cordelia quickly gets full and finds the meal wasteful. Aware that she’s supposed to charm the Squire, she hesitates to interrupt his conversation with Evangeline. When Cordelia loudly thanks a server, it catches the Squire’s attention, and she nervously stumbles through her responses, upsetting her mother, who quickly resumes control of the conversation.
The next morning, Cordelia fears punishment for her mistakes at dinner. Not wanting her room to lose its sense of safety, she chooses to join them at breakfast, hoping to please the Squire. Evangeline is absent, and the Squire explains that breakfast is informal. He then shares a news story about Edward Parker from Little Haw, who murdered his family and servants.
Cordelia faints and comes to as Hester and the Squire revive her. He apologizes for discussing such a disturbing event, and Cordelia reveals that she and her mother are from Little Haw. Evangeline enters, wearing one of Hester’s dresses, and the Squire takes responsibility for the incident.
Cordelia retreats to her room, and Evangeline dismisses her daughter’s fainting spell as dramatics, implying that Cordelia is trying to seem interesting. When Hester questions Cordelia’s age again, Evangeline responds coldly. Hester, however, is pleased that Evangeline largely ignores her.
Chapter 9 Summary
Dinner that night is another disaster as Evangeline puts Cordelia into obedience. Hester notices Cordelia’s altered demeanor and assumes that her previous shyness was an act. After Cordelia leaves, Hester finds her standing in the hallway, looking terrified: “[T]he eyes that met Hester’s were wild with panic, no longer a frightened rabbit, but one in a snare” (67).
In her room, Evangeline releases Cordelia, blaming her for forcing the obedience spell. Cordelia’s throat is sore from not drinking while obedient, and she feels violated by her mother’s presence in her room. To deflect her mother’s anger, Cordelia blames her schooling for not teaching her to be charming. She briefly thinks of Ellen, hoping that she wasn’t among Mr. Parker’s victims. When Alice arrives, Cordelia asks for “headache powders.” After Alice leaves to fetch them, Evangeline complains about the servants’ constant presence. Once alone, Cordelia hides in the wardrobe and falls asleep.
The next morning, Alice finds Cordelia in the wardrobe and gives her a sympathetic look reminiscent of Ellen. Cordelia worries that she won’t be able to protect Alice from her mother and confesses that her mother does “terrible things.”
Later, Cordelia and Evangeline leave for the dressmaker’s, where Evangeline criticizes Cordelia for sulking. Cordelia counters that she’s just cold, which improves Evangeline’s mood. On the way, Evangeline races another man’s cabriolet and later sells their own cabriolet to a man named Howard after proving that it isn’t enchanted. Cordelia fears that people will discover Evangeline’s powers and that she will be seen as complicit.
Chapter 10 Summary
Alice approaches Hester to express her concerns about Cordelia, whom she suspects is being abused. Cordelia reminds Alice of her cousin, who had been abused by a neighbor. Hester agrees but admits that she doesn’t know what to do yet. They discuss Evangeline’s rude treatment of the servants, with Alice describing her as a “piece of work” (75). Hester encourages Alice to report anything else she notices and asks what happened to the abusive neighbor; Alice replies that he fell down a well. Alice agrees to befriend Cordelia, and after she leaves, Hester decides to host a house party.
Evangeline warns Cordelia to be polite to the dressmaker, saying that dressmakers have the power to “destroy” someone’s reputation. At the shop, Mrs. Tan examines Cordelia and suggests bold colors to make her look older. Evangeline defers to Mrs. Tan’s expertise while Cordelia stands silently for hours, her body aching and stomach rumbling. On the ride home, Cordelia falls asleep and awkwardly apologizes to the coach when she trips while exiting the carriage.
Hester, dealing with knee pain, encounters Evangeline and the Squire having a private conversation, where he urges Evangeline to extend her stay despite the potential gossip. Hester interrupts and announces that she is inviting more guests, including Richard, the Lord and Lady Strauss, and Mrs. Green, to join their gathering. When Hester offers to invite Cordelia’s friends, Evangeline claims that she has none. Hester wonders if her brother will recognize Evangeline’s schemes as she prepares the invitations.
Chapter 11 Summary
Hester enlists the help of the butler, Tom Willard, to interrupt the Squire and Evangeline when they’re alone. Tom once saved Hester from drowning when she was a child and has now noticed Cordelia’s timid behavior and Evangeline’s pursuit of the Squire. He agrees to monitor the Squire and alert Hester if needed. While Tom mentions rumors about Falada being enchanted, Hester doubts it, believing that Evangeline is too poor to afford a sorcerer’s fee. Tom promises to report any new information.
Cordelia receives a message to meet Evangeline in the Blue Drawing Room. Wearing an altered gown that she suspects belonged to Hester, she joins her mother. A maid repeatedly offers refreshments, which Evangeline declines while complaining about the constant presence of servants. Cordelia silently notes her mother’s hypocrisy in seeking privacy. Evangeline needs solitude to cast subtle spells on the Squire and plans to fire the butler without a reference, which Cordelia knows is harsh.
When the maid leaves, Evangeline warns Cordelia to interact with the Strauss’s son but not develop feelings or end up in a “compromising position.” Confused, Cordelia agrees. Evangeline shares how she got pregnant out of wedlock, and Cordelia promises to inform her mother if she has feelings for the young man.
Cordelia later asks Hester about “compromising positions,” and Hester explains the implications of being alone with a man. They discuss the social double standards that protect men and ruin women’s reputations, which Cordelia finds unfair. When Cordelia asks about the term “cuckolded,” Hester pours herself a drink, astonished that Evangeline hadn’t explained these things to her daughter.
That night, Cordelia reflects on her conversation with Hester, wondering about her father, Evangeline’s influence over Falada, and whether her mother harmed her father as she did Mr. Parker. Feeling the need for just “a little bit of warning” before facing her mother (96), Cordelia stays in bed instead of hiding in the wardrobe.
Chapter 12 Summary
Hester’s guests arrive, including Lord and Lady Strauss and their son, Jacob, who talks incessantly about horses. Cordelia sits next to him at dinner, pretending to listen before excusing herself to bed with a headache.
Lady Strauss, Imogene, speaks privately with Hester, suspecting that she’s hosting the party to protect her brother. However, Imogene mistakenly believes that Hester aims to divert Evangeline’s attention to Richard. Hester reflects on her decision not to marry Richard despite her love, valuing her independence and not wanting him to watch her age. They discuss Mrs. Green, who has not yet arrived, noting her beauty and anticipating how Evangeline will react to the new competition. Imogene plans to invite Evangeline to play cards.
The next morning, Jacob continues talking to Cordelia about horses. Distracted by a pimple near his lip, Cordelia recalls her etiquette book’s advice not to point out “personal defects.” Evangeline joins the group as they discuss the arrival of Richard and Mrs. Green. Cordelia notices a sharp look in her mother’s eyes at the mention of Mrs. Green, recognizing her as a potential rival. Evangeline catches Cordelia staring and redirects her to Jacob, who is now rambling about Lord Stanville, a person unfamiliar to Cordelia.
Imogene mentions a news story about a woman whose hair color changed from blond to brown during her wedding, sparking a brief conversation about sorcerers. Cordelia feigns amusement at something Jacob says, and Evangeline promptly summons her to the Blue Drawing Room.
Chapters 7-12 Analysis
In this section, the novel shifts from introducing the characters and setting to establishing the primary conflicts and deepening the themes of agency, identity, and challenging societal norms. As Cordelia and Evangeline settle into the Chatham household, new characters are introduced, broadening the narrative and complicating the relationships within the plot.
The theme of Finding Agency in Abusive Situations becomes more complex as Cordelia navigates her new environment. The Chatham House offers Cordelia a new sense of safety. Her room, an “unexpected oasis,” provides her with a space where she momentarily feels free from her mother’s control. The motif of doors appears throughout the narrative, symbolizing barriers—or the lack thereof—between Cordelia and Evangeline. Despite this physical distance, Cordelia’s sense of safety is precarious. When Evangeline enters her room, Cordelia is struck by the futility of these barriers: “No amount of doors will ever stop her” (67). This emphasizes the psychological impact of Evangeline’s control, suggesting that even physical separations cannot fully protect Cordelia from her mother’s intrusion. The motif reinforces Cordelia’s growing sense of awareness of the lengths she must go to in seeking her own agency.
The portrayal of abuse becomes more overt as Cordelia’s obedience spells take on a greater presence. The rigid control that Evangeline exerts over Cordelia, including the obedience spells at dinner, exposes the abusive power dynamics at play. Hester and Alice’s growing awareness of this abuse solidifies their roles as Cordelia’s allies, indicating a shift in the narrative toward finding ways to protect and empower her. Cordelia’s fainting spell at breakfast, coupled with the Squire’s regret over his carelessness, further underscores the emotional toll of her past.
The Search for Identity is also deepened through Cordelia’s interactions with Hester and Alice. Hester’s growing concern for Cordelia shifts her perception of the girl from being a possible accomplice in Evangeline’s schemes to a victim who needs saving. This shift underscores Cordelia’s internal struggle to distinguish herself from her mother’s influence. Cordelia’s questions to Hester, especially about social expectations and phrases she doesn’t understand, reveal her desire to define herself outside of her mother’s control. Her realization of Evangeline’s hypocrisy—“The sheer scope of this hypocrisy took Cordelia’s breath away” (89)—marks a significant development in her character as she begins to question her mother’s authority and intentions.
The introduction of new characters—the Strauss family, Tom Willard, and the enigmatic Mrs. Green—broadens the scope of the plot, introducing new tensions and highlighting the differences in how each character navigates societal expectations. The Strauss family, with their differing interests and social manners, serve as a foil to Evangeline and Cordelia’s strained relationship. The dynamics within these new interactions emphasize Evangeline’s intentions to manipulate the Squire and secure her place in the household, while Hester’s house party is a strategic move to disrupt Evangeline’s plans. Hester’s allies, like Tom and Alice, begin to play a more active role in protecting the Squire and Cordelia, subtly establishing resistance to Evangeline’s control.
These chapters transition the story from the establishment of context to the rise of conflict, highlighting the subtle power struggles and the stakes for Cordelia’s autonomy. Kingfisher’s use of symbolic elements like the motif of doors, along with the introduction of new characters and their motivations, sets the stage for deeper confrontations. As Cordelia’s character arc develops, the narrative explores her gradual realization of the oppressive forces in her life and her cautious steps toward finding her own voice and agency.
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