Venetia and Matthew carry on their love affair in secret. While Matthew has begun to chafe at the secrecy, Venetia insists that they must keep it that way: Her reputation is at stake, not his. After this discussion, a mix-up with one of her orders has her team in disarray, and she is unable to write her customary daily letter to Matthew.

Stella yearns to leave Highbury and leave Bobby behind, which causes her enormous guilt. With her sister’s death, she knows that her dreams of living in London are finished. She must accept the responsibility for her nephew. The two are shopping in town when Stella comes across Mrs. Symonds in the store. Stella thanks Mrs. Symonds for allowing Bobby to sleep in Robin’s room; it has helped him overcome some of his grief. As they are talking, Bobby knocks over a display of jam—an enormous waste of sugar in a time of rationing. Mrs. Symonds calmly steps in, asks Bobby to explain himself, and checks to see if he is injured. She promises to repay the shopkeeper for the lost goods.

As Mrs. Symonds and Stella walk back to the house, Mrs. Symonds admits that she wished for a girl, but now she loves Robin with all her heart.