James Bellamy has started his new job in the City but he is feeling out of sorts and is completely bored. He's also broken off his engagement with Phyllis. Lady Marjorie is planning a trip that a trip to New York to see Elizabeth and then on to Canada. Richard Bellamy is busy writing a biography of his father-in-law Lord Southwold and has engaged a pretty young typist, Miss Forrest, prepare his manuscript. When Miss Forrest comes to work on a Saturday, James orders lunch for both of them in the dining room that leads to a major confrontation with Hudson over whether wine should be served. James is trying to impress the young woman by playing master of the house - his parents are away for the weekend - while Hudson feels it is his role to ensure the rules of the house are followed when the master is away. A humiliated Hudson feels he has been put in an impossible situation and given the lack of proper standards, feels he must resign. Darker clouds lie ahead for everyone, however. Written by garykmcd

A pall has been cast over the Bellamy household since the sinking of the Titanic with Lady Marjorie and Miss Roberts aboard en route to New York. Hazel Forrest is still working for Richard Bellamy who is in the last stages of completing his biography of his late wife's father, Lord Southwold. James continues his interest in Hazel much to the disdain of Hudson, who still sees her as too low in station to socialize with a Bellamy. Richard learns from the family solicitor, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, that much of Lady Marjorie's wealth will now pass to the children, leaving him to ponder his own future. As time passes, the day to day functioning of the house begins to deteriorate. Reviewing the household accounts, having the seamstress come in for necessary repairs and payments to shopkeepers have all fallen behind. Richard's request that Hazel take care of the accounts does not sit well with Hudson and some of the other servants. However, an unexpected arrival on a rainy night gives them not ... Written by garykmcd

James goes to spend a weekend at Somerby Park, ancestral home of his friend Bunny Newbury who is now a Marquis having recently inherited his title from his late father. Bunny has also invited Diana Russell whom he hopes will marry him. She and James were great friends in their youth with Diana spending a good deal of time at Southwold and she clearly has her eye on him, much to Bunny's dismay. Hudson has accompanied James for the weekend to act as his valet and his loader for the shooting. He is somewhat in awe of the large estate and can only imagine what it would be like to be butler in such a household. Lunch on shooting day is something of a disaster when the butler Makepiece, is in his cups and unable to organize the event properly. Hudson steps in and takes charge ensuring all goes well and catching the eye of Bunny's mother, Lady Newbury who comment to the housekeeper that Hudson is exactly the kind of man they would need at the estate. As for James, he realizes that throughout... Written by garykmcd

Unbeknownst to Richard Bellamy his son James has been secretly seeing Hazel Forrest in her free hours and has asked her to marry him. She doesn't accept him right away but does resign her position as Richard's secretary. When Richard hears of it, he lashes out at James questioning his judgment but the younger Bellamy stands his ground. Hazel turns him down but it's clear that she has a secret which she will not reveal to James. James assumes his father has interfered in his life and it is left to Hazel's kindly father, Arthur Forrest, to tell James of the perceived impediment preventing Hazel from marrying. As for Richard, he is clearly being pursued by his old family friend, Lady Prudence Fairfax, who thinks he should remarry. Written by garykmcd

Rose is shocked when Alfred, their former footman, turns up at 165 Eaton Place. From all appearance he's been sleeping rough and clearly hasn't eaten for several days. Without telling anyone, she let's him stay in the servants' hall and feeds him. He tells her his story since he ran off with the German Baron and spins a yarn about how his attraction to his latest employer's pretty young daughter got him sacked. Rose has a soft spot for Alfred but not surprisingly, he hasn't been truthful with her. When Hudson reports Alfred's presence to Richard Bellamy, a visiting Sir Geoffrey Dillon makes inquiries only to learn that Alfred's most recent employer was found murdered. The police are soon on the scene but one of the servants is put in danger when Alfred takes a prisoner. Written by garykmcd

James and Hazel have returned to 165 Eaton Place and Hazel in particular now has to settle in. The servants are somewhat dismayed at the little amount of entertaining the young couple have planned for the fall and all in all, life has become dull for everyone. Hazel receives a call from the Lili de Ternay, claiming to have met Richard years ago and simply calling to renew their acquaintance. Hazel naturally invites her and her brother Kurt to dinner not realizing that they are penniless fortune hunters who mistakenly believe that Richard is a rich man, given his connection to the Southwolds. Below stairs, there is a new under-house parlor maid, a young Welsh girl named Gwyneth whose imagination proves to be far more than anyone can handle. Written by garykmcd

Richard's financial difficulties may come to an end when a chance meeting at his club gives him a tip on a stock that should increase considerably in value. He's told that Cartwright Engineering will soon received a large contract and is a sure bet. The tipster receives Richard's assurance that the source of this information will remain confidential. The stock tip proves to be a good one and Richard makes a pretty penny. His troubles begin when a Parliamentary opponent, Henry Pritchett, begins to suggest that Richard used inside information from his days at the Admiralty and the Government initiates an inquiry. Richard is true to his word and refuses to divulge the source of his stock tip leading to trouble with the Conservative Party. The resolution to the situation is not entirely to Richard's liking however. Written by garykmcd

Hazel is worried at the prospect of spending the weekend with James's friends Bunny and Diana Newbury and their coterie of hangers-on. The purpose of the weekend is a fox hunt but James forbids Hazel from riding given her inexperience and the dangers involved. Diana still has feelings for James and is not below pulling practical jokes and convinces Hazel that she should join them after the hunt has started and surprise James. Hazel's life is put in danger leading to a row with James. Then there's the question of bed-hopping, which at least some of the guest are enjoying. When Major Cochran-Danby enters Hazel's room with an eye to her bed, he tells her James is doing the same in Diana's room. A heartbroken Hazel then bolts for London. It's all a bit of an eye opener for Edward as well who is acting as James' valet for the weekend when a French ladies maid clearly shows an interest in him. Written by garykmcd

It's Chritsmas 1913 and 165 Eaton Place has a new resident in the form of Miss Georgina Worsley, Richard's niece. Lady Southwold is also visiting for the holiday. Georgina is 18 and has been at school in Switzerland. She is an orphan and there is a likelihood that she will stay on with the Bellamys as Richard's ward. Also new is Daisy, the under-house parlor maid. Also 18, Daisy is relatively new to service but she and Georgina hit it off, though their backgrounds could not be more different. When Georgina hears that Daisy has not been to see her parents in London's East End for some three years, she suggests they take food out of the larder and visit them. What they see is an eye-opener for Georgina. When they fail to return early on Christmas Eve, everyone is concerned for their well-being, forcing Richard to call the police. Written by garykmcd

Edward the footman finds himself in a spot of bother after gossiping with fellow footmen at the local pub about the weekend he spent at Somemrby. His mention that he saw Lord Charles Gilmour leaving Lady Tewkbury's bedroom in the dead of night is overheard by an enquiries agent and Edward soon finds himself as the key witness when the lady's husband launches divorce proceedings. Richard learns of it all when it turn out that Sir Geoffrey Dillon, the family solicitor, is also representing Col. Tewksbury, the ladies aggrieved husband. Also on his mind is that Charles Gilmour is something of a protégé and a rising star in the Conservative party. Richard realizes that the only way to extricate himself and the household from their dilemma is to find a way to ensure the divorce proceedings never reach the courts. That proves easier said than done. Written by garykmcd

Rose is swept off her feet by a man she meet on a tram. He is Gregory Wilmot, an Australian sheep farmer who has returned to the UK to visit friends and see the sights. He and Rose spend a good deal of time together, eating out and even dancing one evening. When the others below stairs hear of him, there are mixed reactions with Hudson in particular quite dubious about the whole proposition. Gregory takes Rose to visit his friends and it becomes quite obvious that one of them thinks he's marrying below himself. When the big day arrives, Rose leaves 165 Eaton Place presumably forever. Only she returns a short time later, in tears, having learned something about Gregory just before their departure. Written by garykmcd

It's a particularly difficult time for Hazel who has just had a miscarriage. She and James had not been particularly close of late and the miscarriage has driven them even further apart. When she is most in need of love and understanding, James is at his most aloof acting as if Hazel was staying in her bed with a minor ailment. James is in a funk, not happy about anything in his life. He doesn't like his work and is searching for something new to interest him. He seems to be taken with his step-cousin, Georgina Worsley, taking her to a Regimental ball. Richard thinks James is treating Hazel very badly and they have an angry exchange, leading James to ask his father to move out of the house. The ill-feeling upstairs has it's effect on the servants as Rose and Hudson take sides leading Daisy to break down in tears. Written by garykmcd

Hazel and James marriage seems to have come to and end. She tells Richard that should James' expected appointment to his company's holdings in India come through, she will not accompany him. Richard is understanding and agrees with her that it's the best course of action. The political situation in Europe is unraveling and Richard is concerned that they could soon be at war. His own views seem at odds with the general population where war fever has taken hold. Richard is convinced that the war will last a long time - the general view is that it'll all be over by Christmas - and cost many lives. Below stairs, Hudson is all for a war against what he sees as the evil Hun. Mrs. Bridges is occupied by other things, particularly Albert Lyons who supplies them with game and fish. It's quite obvious he has his eye on her and she fully anticipates a proposal is forthcoming. On a trip to the seaside however, she sees a different side of him. War is soon declared and James is called up by his ... Written by garykmcd