Still ignorant of her affair, Matt makes it harder and harder for Lilian to continue with it.

Radio Times: Lilian feels conflicted. Meanwhile, Ruth is determined to help.

Characters: David, Ed, Lilian, Matt, Paul, Ruth

• Elizabeth has invited all the family to Lower Loxley on Christmas Day; Ruth and David agree they would like to go. David thought Elizabeth sounded stressed.
• Lilian is looking over Joyce’s new flat; Matt is very proud of all features he has installed; the bathroom now has a walk-in shower. All very expensive additions and just what Joyce wanted. Lilian’s phone rings but it’s ‘Jenny’ and she will have to wait.
• As requested, Ed has brought his invoices to talk to Ruth and David about combining their purchase of fertilizer and concentrates. He is paying 20% more than they are so it makes a lot of sense to come in with them; they have plenty of storage space, so he would just take it to Grange Farm when he needs it. Ed takes a bit of persuading, he doesn’t want to sponge off them, but he agrees.
• Back home, Matt expresses disappointment that Lilian didn’t react to the wonderful job he has done on Joyce’s flat. He’s made mistakes but he is working hard to put things right; the business means everything to him and so does Lilian.
• David and Ruth chew over the meeting with Ed. He’s great with the stock but they suspect he hasn’t been keeping on top of his day to day business costs. Perhaps they could offer to help him sort it out – but would he agree to take any more help from them? Maybe Neil would be a good person to help him; they feel they must do something.
• Lilian rings Paul back. Things are complicated at both ends. Paul is planning to come up next week and is desperate to see her; Lilian prevaricates.