17/11/2022

With an hour to go until the start of the Hunt Ball, Mia and Brad are scrambling to finish mixing up road signs to confuse the guests. When Brad wavers due to guilt about Oliver, Mia assures him that the greater cause is more worthy than the feelings of one man. Brad’s galvanised, and they complete the job. Elizabeth conducts her last minute checks, assisted by Ruairi. She can’t wait to meet Ruairi’s mystery plus-one. Paul arrives early and finds Ruairi puzzled by the lateness of the guests and reports of road closures. Elizabeth’s equally bamboozled. The caterers are late, there are no guests and the staff are becoming restless. Ruairi points out it’s still early – not time to panic yet. But Elizabeth’s mystified by reports of random road signs around Lower Loxley. En route to the Ball, Oliver’s in Eddie’s limo and they’re trying to negotiate the diversion signs. Encountering a huge traffic queue, Oliver calls Elizabeth and explains the situation; they’re going to be late. As they begin to go round in circles, Eddie smells a rat and removes some of the diversion signs, sustaining damage to the limo for his trouble. There’s no flood, or roadworks – it’s clearly a scam. The Ball is back on track at Lower Loxley, and Elizabeth releases Ruairi from his duties, wishing him an enjoyable evening with Paul. Anxious Brad locates Mia, having had a close shave earlier with Ruairi. Mia considers the minor disruption not bad for a first attempt – what should they do next?