Newly weds Jack and Bea find their marital bliss is disturbed by the arrival of Jack's old girlfriend Clara Rhoades. Things are made worse by Clara's interference in the running of the House of Eliott when she manages to persuade Bea to employ Alice Bourgoyne, an ineffectual vendeuse. Evie arrives from Paris and is committed to making the House of Eliott as successful as Maison Gille. Sir Desmond suddenly dies. Tilly continues to experience difficulty working with Florence but when she meets Norman Foss things don't seem quite as bad.

When Evie is invited to spend the weekend at the Douglass family home, she becomes embroiled on their family conflicts. When she encourages Frances to go to art college, she succeeds in alienating nearly all the Douglass family. However, speed racing enthusiast James Douglass strikes up a friendship with her and is determined they be more than just friends. Jack's work commitments keep him away from Bea while she is concerned about the finances of the House of Eliott. Could Sir Desmond have been involved in fraud? In the workroom, Florence is perturbed when Tilly's old ali resumes her old post.

Following a head on collision with a herd of cows, James and Evie become close. However, his obsession with racing proves too much for her so soon after Sebastian's plane crash. Bea meets Jack's parents for the first time when they spend Christmas together. His mother, an artist, proves to be a design inspiration and Bea resolves to alter the artistic direction of the latest House of Eliott collection. Alice's husband dies and the sisters realize why she has been so inefficient. Tilly and Norman decide to get married.

When The House of Eliott agrees to design the costumes for a ballet, Jack becomes jealous of the amount of time Bea spends with David, the choreographer. Their already troubled marriage suffers another set back when they go to the cottage to spend their wedding anniversary and the conversation turns to having children. Joseph expresses concerns about The House of Eliott finances and Ralph Saroyan suggests that Joseph may not be as honest as he appears. Tilly and Norman get married in style.

Tilly and Norman's baby is born but the celebrations are short lived. Bea and Evie express concerns to Larry Cotter about the quality of the Ready To Wear collection and he does his best to reassure them. As Bea preparers for motherhood she worries about how it will impact on her life and Jack's. will he really take the responsibilities of being a father seriously? Evie's artist protege Daniel succeeds in having a gallery showing of his latest work but the exhibition is rocked by scandal when an old patron causes quite a scene.

Bea has a difficult pregnancy and is plagued by doubts about her ability to be a good mother. Evie has trouble tracking down Daniel. Tilly has difficulty coming to terms with the loss of her son William and her relationship with Norman suffers as a consequence. Meanwhile, Madge seeks solace in Charles. Jack is employed by the Communist Party to write a newspaper article on the living and working conditions of Glasgow laborers. Will he make it back in time for the birth of his baby?

When Daniel agrees to paint a portrait of Celia Romford to appease Bea, it creates conflict between him and Evie. Tilly becomes increasingly withdrawn and Norman enlists the help of her colleagues and finds in order to alleviate her suffering. Katya discovers that the 'Ready To Wear' collection at the Bayswater workshop is not quite to the House of Eliott specifications. Jack's political ambitions are realized when his policies on implementing a minimum wage are accepted by the Labour Party.

There is trouble at the Bayswater workshop when the seamstresses accuse the House Of Eliott of exploitation. This causes some considerable political embarrassment for Jack who has been campaigning ardently for the implementation of the living wage. Inferior copies of the Ready To Wear collection are seen on the shops and all fingers point towards Larry Cotter and Grace Keeble. However, as they are nowhere to be found, Bea and Evie have trouble in proving their own innocents. Betty is forced to come clean about her involvement in recent events but will she keep her job when the truth is exposed?

The extent of Larry and Grace's corruption is exposed, much to the relief of the Eliott sisters and Jack. Norman has one final attempt at saving his marriage to Tilly. Will she ever be able to recover from the death of William? When Bea, Evie, Jack and Daniel go away to a House Of Eliott client's for the weekend, Daniel has trouble adjusting to mingling with the upper classes. Despite their social differences, Evie and Daniel decide to marry and Jack discusses the possibility of running for Parliament with Bea.

As they prepare for their wedding, Evie discovers that Daniel has some old arguments to settle with his family. The House Of Eliott has a new client; the wife and mother in law of Jack's Conservative political adversary, Lady Crowborough and Lady Westlake. Tilly manages to befriend Lady Westlake but she is disturbed by the truth behind the social facade. Daniel is offered a scholarship in Paris and Norman and Tilly contemplate a radical change to their lives.

Jack's political ambitions are realized but at what expense to the Crowborough family? Daniel contemplates accepting the bursary to Paris and Evie considers going with him. When Miles' parents show an interest in The House Of Eliott, he finds himself promoted. However, not everyone is happy to have a new partner in the business. Bea re-evaluates her role as wife and mother and Evie is determined to keep the House Of Elliott couture.