Freddie manages to put a cat among several pigeons; Harrison spots a further problem with Christine; Lily has invented a new sport, that of “skating on very thin ice.”

Radio Times: Elizabeth grows suspicious

Characters: Christine, Elizabeth, Freddie, Harrison, Lily, Shula

• While getting a lift to a college examination from Elizabeth, Freddie discovers himself on the receiving end of a heap of questions about his sister’s choice of revision partner. His mother clearly has significant doubts. He manages to fob her off for the moment, by explaining that Lily is an adult and is well capable of running her own life. But how long will his story carry the ring of truth?
• Christine has called on Shula at The Stables in order to collect an old box of correspondence. As it’s heavy, Shula offers to drop it off later. Christine empathises regarding Shula and Alistair but insists that her niece should do whatever she thinks best in the circumstances. Harrison drops by, looking glum at the prospect getting a team together for the match on Sunday; it conflicts with Open Farm Sunday and he’s very short of players. However, he offers to drop Christine and her weighty box back home.
• On the telephone, Freddie advises Lily to get back home sharpish as their mother is in the process of rumbling her. Lily doesn’t believe a word he says but as it happens she is planning to return tonight. He hangs up as Elizabeth walks in bearing flowers for Nigel’s grave and quizzes him again. As is Freddie’s habit, he somehow manages to give the impression that Lily and Meredith may be more than just friends. When his mother starts to probe further, he suggests that she should really be asking Lily, not him.
• Harrison drops Christine off at The Lodge. Before leaving, he enquires whether she’s over the frantic moment at the Tea Room the other day. She’s fine and thanks Harrison for showing her around her old cottage, wondering whether the new boiler was a terrible expense. Harrison gently points out that she replaced it during their tenancy. “Ah yes” recalls Christine, “silly me.”
• Shula is carrying on her work of tidying up the churchyard as Elizabeth approaches. There were too many flowers for Nigel so she has put some on their father’s grave. Talk turns to Shula’s current difficulties. She’s slowly beginning to untangle her life and put it back together, but it’s not easy, especially as Alistair isn’t available to play cricket on Sunday. Thoughts of Lavinia cross her mind. But she really was glad of his help over the weekend when she was so ill.
• Freddie finds his sister doing German revision and offers to help test her vocabulary. After a few words, he checks his phone and asks for a translation of “Eine Lesbe.” Lily can’t understand why he chose that particular phrase and is horrified when he explains that his mother believes that Lily’s relationship with Meredith may be developing along those lines. She is incandescent with anger…”Why didn’t he explain that it wasn’t true?” Freddie laughs it off saying that it’s the perfect excuse for her spending time away with her odious lecturer. Their mother would never dream of interfering. What’s more, he believes that it’s the funniest thing that’s happened at Lower Loxley for ages.