A Sorceress Comes to Call

Cordelia clarifies that Falada was not truly a horse, and Hester compares the familiar to a ghost. That evening, Hester and Imogene sit outside, with Imogene sharing a chart that categorizes people as wine, water, salt, and more. As they talk, a headless and terrifying Falada emerges from the woods, still pursued by the geese. When Falada injures one of the geese, Hester becomes enraged, and Imogene urges her to retreat inside. They block the door as Falada tries, unsuccessfully, to break in.

Cordelia, troubled by the thought that her mother could control the dead, is unnerved. The house is on lockdown, with the staff told that there’s a rabid horse outside. That night, she dreams of Falada’s burnt skull speaking to her and cries out, but she reassures Alice, who checks on her, that it was just a nightmare.

The following day, Hester reveals that she and Imogene learned more about who should invoke wine, but the method to identify the person remains unclear. Richard reports that Falada broke into a shed overnight and that the gamekeeper is now searching for him. Despite their research efforts, they find no solutions, and Tom argues against testing innocent people. That evening, Richard returns with grim news: The gamekeeper has been killed.

Cordelia sneaks out of bed at midnight, determined to confront Falada herself. She encounters Alice, who helps her escape the house, leading her through the servants’ stairway and covering for her when they pass a footman. Alice promises to keep quiet unless Cordelia doesn’t return by dawn.

Cordelia quickly finds Falada, though his headless form is nearly unrecognizable. He charges at her but stops just in front of her. Cordelia pleads with him to stop harming people, and he bows, inviting her to ride. Though terrified, she climbs onto his back, accidentally grabbing his neck wound and screaming in pain. Falada charges into the forest at full speed, heedless of branches, and Cordelia struggles to hold on. The ride feels endless, yet the night persists. Finally, Falada halts, and Cordelia finds herself face-to-face with Evangeline.

Cordelia attempts to engage Evangeline in conversation, but Evangeline sees through her and knows that she tried to break the spells on Falada. She orders Cordelia to dismount, and Cordelia, stiff and sore, collapses onto the ground. Evangeline accuses her of attempting to steal Falada and claims that if the obedience spell had been broken, Falada would have turned violent. She forces Cordelia to rise and, finding a penknife, makes her obedient again, compelling her to cut her own leg.

Under pressure, Cordelia admits that Richard knows about the sorcery, prompting Evangeline to assume that it’s because Cordelia has fallen in love with him. Evangeline shares how Cordelia’s father rejected her, leading to his murder, and admits that she nearly killed Cordelia too. She then dismisses love as impractical, favoring wealth instead.

Cordelia, desperate, confesses more about Richard and Imogene’s ritual book, though she lies about Imogene’s belief in magic. Evangeline reveals her plan to use Hester to kill Richard, leaving Cordelia feeling deeply betrayed by her own forced confessions.

The next morning, Alice wakes Hester, who is flustered to find Richard in her bed from the night before. As Richard hides under the bed, Hester opens the door to Alice, who reports that Cordelia has gone after Falada. Hester then instructs Richard to come out from his hiding spot.

Evangeline forces Cordelia to ride Falada back to the Evermore estate, where search parties are out looking for Cordelia. Evangeline orders Cordelia to call out for Richard, and Cordelia uses his first name, hoping that he will sense that something is wrong. As she shouts that Evangeline is there, Evangeline immediately takes over Cordelia’s body, causing her to bite her tongue and snap her mouth shut. With sinister intent, Evangeline hands Cordelia a knife and commands her to approach Richard.

Communicating through her thoughts, Cordelia hears Penelope, who encourages her to resist her mother’s control. Penelope’s reminder that Cordelia is not Falada helps her alter her aim, slicing Richard’s cheek instead of stabbing his neck. Richard is confused, and Hester, recognizing something that is off, declares that Cordelia is being controlled. Hester’s suspicion is confirmed when Cordelia uses Richard’s first name, which she normally avoids.

Evangeline shifts her focus to Hester, commanding her to stab Richard, but Hester resists even as Evangeline’s magic hits her. Evangeline’s grip over Cordelia weakens, allowing Cordelia to drop the knife. With Penelope’s continued support and Evangeline trying to control too many people at once, Cordelia manages to fight back. Hester seizes the opportunity and strikes Evangeline with her cane, rendering her unconscious.

Falada charges from the forest but halts when he sees Imogene holding a knife to Evangeline’s neck. Hester stops Imogene from killing Evangeline, worried about unknown spells that could activate. Tom suggests trying the ritual again, and Penelope offers to embody the wine. Cordelia explains her communication with Penelope’s ghost. Tom steps in, ensuring that Evangeline stays unconscious by briefly suffocating her.

With limited supplies, they rely on collective belief to transform the ground into holy space. Alice soaks her skirt in lake water, and Imogene provides brandy from her flask. They quickly prepare: Hester wrings water from the wet fabric, Imogene uses blood for the salt, and Alice pours brandy into Cordelia’s hand. As Cordelia chants, Penelope drinks the wine, and the ritual’s three notes resonate, signaling success. Evangeline desperately tries to stop them, warning that she cannot control Falada. She clings to Cordelia as the ritual completes, and Penelope bids Cordelia farewell.

Richard wakes Hester, whose throat is sore from chanting the water note. Nearby, Evangeline lies on the ground, still alive. Suddenly, the geese scream as Falada charges and violently tramples Evangeline to death. As Falada begins to fade, he briefly pauses as if seeking another victim. Richard releases Hester and steps forward, but the short goose intervenes, flying in front of Richard. Falada attempts to charge again but then vanishes.

A week later, Hester uses a wheelchair, and Richard’s facial wounds are healing. Cordelia, unable to provide any concrete answers about sorcery, feels that she may have lost whatever magical powers she once had. Imogene is still upset with Cordelia for keeping Penelope’s ghost a secret. They reflect on Falada’s hatred for Evangeline, and Cordelia feels a tinge of sympathy for the creature. Imogene prepares to leave, and Tom suggests collaborating with Richard to document their experiences.

Hester watches the short goose, now with a broken wing, and is glad to let him breed. She reflects on her brother’s freedom from Evangeline’s influence, unaware of her sorcery. The Squire, relieved, is willing to care for Cordelia. When Richard approaches Hester, she preemptively cuts off what she thinks is another marriage proposal. Instead, Richard proposes adopting Cordelia and asks Hester to live at Evermore House as Cordelia’s chaperone. Hester agrees.

Cordelia later visits Penelope’s grave, noting the flowers and poem left in her honor. She shares plans for her education and tracking down her father, wishing that she could still seek Penelope’s advice. Cordelia promises to live with “style,” carrying Penelope’s memory forward.