October, 1912 James is secretly dating Miss Forrest - his fathers Secretary, who has since become their Housekeeper. At the time of his proposal to Hazel, his father is also learning of another secret; namely, that his late wife of six months Lady Marjorie had confided in her dearest friend Lady Prudence Fairfax, that she would hope Richard in the event of her death would 're-marry'. At the time of airing, it is unclear whether or not this was a hint at plans of the character Richard Bellamy marrying Lady Prudence - at least this is intimated by words from the staff below stairs. (even if a red herring)
However; James' secret gets out, and because Hazel Forrest has a deeper guarded secret of her own concerning her past, has to turn him down. In doing so, James blames his father, and assumes wrongly that he has 'deterred' Hazel from marrying him - probably on the basis of his flippant 'philandering with Phyllis Kingman, and the affair with one-time underhouse maid Sarah.
This is an interesting episode and shows how difficult it was for differing classes to accept and tolerate various situations. Hazel marrying into the upper classes, being middle class herself, whilst one might feel this a good thing, was in fact viewed by many as 'inappropriate'. But what really makes things awkward is the discovery that Hazel Forrest has been married before...
This episode brings the great Meg Wynn Owen permanently into the series as 'Hazel Bellamy' for the next two seasons. She would turn out to be one of the most tragic figures from the outset...
However; James' secret gets out, and because Hazel Forrest has a deeper guarded secret of her own concerning her past, has to turn him down. In doing so, James blames his father, and assumes wrongly that he has 'deterred' Hazel from marrying him - probably on the basis of his flippant 'philandering with Phyllis Kingman, and the affair with one-time underhouse maid Sarah.
This is an interesting episode and shows how difficult it was for differing classes to accept and tolerate various situations. Hazel marrying into the upper classes, being middle class herself, whilst one might feel this a good thing, was in fact viewed by many as 'inappropriate'. But what really makes things awkward is the discovery that Hazel Forrest has been married before...
This episode brings the great Meg Wynn Owen permanently into the series as 'Hazel Bellamy' for the next two seasons. She would turn out to be one of the most tragic figures from the outset...