On the eve of Sarah and George's engagement party at Ash Park, Sarah's Aunt Peg arrives for the event, full of wonder at how much Sarah's life has changed, it's like a fairy tale. However Sarah confides in her aunt, desperately needing to speak her most dark, shameful secret to someone. She believes she can't marry George without telling him. Intending to invite his son to the party, George attempts to visit James in the hospital but is fobbed off by Dr Milson. Left unsettled by the exchange, he expresses his unease to Elizabeth, who reassures him - she has absolute faith in the doctor and his treatment.

As Christmas approaches, the inhabitants of Ash Park are haunted by memories of Christmas' past, the repercussions continuing to cast a long shadow over the years. As Sarah feared, George is thrown into turmoil by the horrifying account of her concentration camp experiences at the hands of the Nazis. Elizabeth is heartened by the tension between George and Sarah, assuming it is caused by differing attitudes towards James' situation. But Sarah once again proves to be a formidable adversary. Aware that he'll never properly move forward unless he's honest about his true nature, James takes Olivia and George to the scene of his kiss with Harry, challenging them to acknowledge who James really is. Furious to learn that Andrew is coming to stay for Christmas, Anna brings Gino to dinner.