Alec agrees to take in his sister in laws niece Clothilde from France who has come to England to improve her English. In return Clothilde is to help Zoë with the housework etc. Zoë finds the whole thing very insensitive of Alec as it suggests she can't cope. Jamie on the other hand is delighted with the arrangement and takes Clothilde under his wing and against his father's wishes shows her how to have a good time in the Jamie Callender fashion. Gradually Zoë comes to appreciate Clothilde but Clothilde decides that Zoë can cope perfectly well on her own and so returns to France.