Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Ratcliffe is constantly at odds with her social climbing parents, Jonathan and Jane. She feels happier helping Emily their housekeeper at Brampton Hill, than entertaining the high society future in-laws of her sister Susan.

Angus is furious at Ratcliffe's allegations and decides to leave Affleck's to start out on his own.

Vanessa returns from hospital to a changed atmosphere in the Cotton household.