In light of his wife Annette's behaviour, Soames takes steps to ensure she will pay for her affair with Profond. Jon and Fleur decide that they will elope to Scotland and start making arrangements.

Jon and Fleur are still children but a chance encounter at Aunt Hester's birthday sees tempers raised on both sides of the Forsyte divide. June has opened a new age gallery and is a firm supporter of the feminist movement.

While Fleur continues to keep Michael at bay, Jolyon and Irene finally tell John the truth about the family secret in an attempt to try and get him to break up with Fleur. Meanwhile, Annette is in for a surprise when Profond returns.

Irene consents to marry Soames on the proviso that he will make her happy. When it is apparent that she is not, he hires Phillip Bisonney to design them a unique country house.

Emotionally aloof Soames Forsyte, a well-to-do solicitor, becomes enamoured at first sight of Irene Heron, but she declines his marriage proposal,

Many years have passed since Irene left, and Soames has now decided that he wants a divorce. He's met attractive young Annette Lamotte, who, with her mother, runs a restaurant in Soho. Soames calls on Young Jolyon, trustee of the legacy his father left Irene, to ask if she can provide him with grounds for divorce.