18/12/2022

Adil comes across Lily in the grounds of Grey Gables, and warns her off the closed site. Lily explains she was checking it out for a uni project, and Adil’s curious. They discuss Lower Loxley and Adil gently winds her up. Lily’s not amused, but accepts his permission to continue wandering the grounds if it’s helpful. They discover they’re in the same choir – Jolene’s. Adil is a late joiner, and asks flippantly whether Jolene is the battleaxe she’s made out to be. Lily points out with satisfaction to blundering Adil that Jolene’s her aunt, and is brilliant. Adil’s suitably humbled.

Alice and Brian are sorting the last of their Christmas cards. Alice needs to think of some wording for her card to Chris’s parents. She’s pensive about her divorce, which is finally through. Chris hasn’t mentioned it. Brian thinks that’s for the best, but Alice feels it’s a big deal. It’s the end of an era, and Chris seems to feel nothing. Brian reckons feelings in these circumstances are overrated. Alice should focus on Martha, and what’s happening in the real world.

In the Bull, Harrison wants the lowdown from Rex on how strict a choirmaster Fallon is. Awkward, Rex avoids answering. When Ed joins them, Rex behaves even more oddly, freezing out Ed. When Harrison leaves, Rex confronts Ed – he knows what he’s been up to at night in the woods and has seen everything. Bewildered, Ed thinks Rex is overreacting as the misunderstanding deepens. But Rex demands Ed’s woodland activities stop, or he’ll tell Harrison.