James tries to get home for Christmas and Skeldale House prepares for a new arrival.

When Richard Alderson needs some help, Helen returns to Heston Grange…

Eliza is on the trail of a fugitive who is charged with murder. She must find him before the police do or risk losing everything.

With the war feeling closer to home, James desperately wants things in order and Carmody trained up to support Siegfried. Carmody and Mrs. Pumphrey clash because he can’t see her dogs the way she does. A dinner with Gerald leaves Mrs. Hall with a dilemma but watching James and Helen brace for their future gives her a new perspective.

Eliza and Nash are still struggling to work together when an explosive case takes them into a cutthroat industry where people will kill to keep their secrets.

Following a visit to the Crabtree’s Farm, Carmody is challenged with learning how to be a vet outside of his books. The new farmers have a worrying illness amongst their herd and James wants to help them in any way he can. Helen rallies the community to help the newcomers whilst she waits for some personal news.

Things are going well for Eliza until a familiar face shows up to question her role at Nash & Sons. Meanwhile, Duke receives an offer that brings their relationship to a crisis point.

Busy and exhausted, James and Helen can’t get any time together. James thinks he’s found a solution when he hires a new trainee vet, Richard Carmody, but things don’t quite work out as he expects. Mrs. Pumphrey also has a new canine member of her household who has an antisocial problem that she needs addressed urgently. Mrs. Hall takes a big step forward in her relationship with Gerald.

The story of how it all began. It’s twelve years earlier and Duke and Eliza meet for the very first time.

Siegfried has the bright idea of bringing in an experienced bookkeeper, Miss Harbottle, to bring method to their madness. James and Helen take inspiration from Siegfried’s ‘Carpe Diem’ approach and make a long-awaited decision