In this, the first part of the second Village Tales novel, changes come to the Woolfonts, and a family tragedy to the duke. Teddy Gates has been the victim of a cross-party stitch-up on Council, which His Grace is determined to solve; the Rector is under increasing strain from the well-meaning; Snook the Sexton gets odder by the day; and the Free School is want of a new Maths master. And then the duke's scapegrace brother, Lord Crispin, turns up....