Nyree Dawn Porter

Fleur begs her father to go to Robin Hill and intercede on her behalf. Once in Irene's company, Soames becomes overcome with feelings about the past. Defending his mother, Jon turns against Soames and shuns Fleur. Heartsick and blaming her father, Fleur shuts herself away until her mother returns home and counsels her to be more practical about marriage.

Determined to be with Fleur, and furious at his parents' objections, Jon moves into a cottage near the farm. Fleur joins him for a few idyllic days, and they vow to elope to Scotland. The plan goes smoothly until Jolyon's illness and a chance encounter with Soames forces the families' ugly secret out into the open. Mont presses his suit with Fleur, but she remains steadfastly attached to Jon. As he grieves, Jon begins to feel torn between Fleur and his mother.

Having already declared their love for each other, Fleur and Jon wonder about the secret that divides their families. Soames arranges a house party to distract Fleur and pairs her with the dashing Michael Mont for tennis. To please his father, Jon reluctantly agrees to accompany his mother on a three-month holiday abroad, but Irene cuts the trip short when she realizes that the separation from Fleur has only strengthened Jon's feelings for her. Crushed to discover that the flirtatious Profond has turned his attentions to another married woman, Winifred berates Dartie for his years of drinking and gambling.

With their families bitterly estranged, Fleur Forsyte and her cousin Jon know nothing of each other until they accidentally meet as children and cause a puzzling uproar among the adults. By the next time they meet, at June's gallery, Fleur has grown into a spirited and ravishing young woman and Jon a sensitive and attractive young man. They are drawn to each other, though their families recoil at the idea of any contact between them. Accustomed to getting anything she wants, Fleur cleverly evades her father's dictate and pursues Jon to the country, where he is trying his hand at farming.