Kingdom

Peter takes to surrogate fatherhood, assisting Honor with his nephew by learning to change nappies. He helps Cynthia from the Womens' Institute prevent the local light-house from closure, which involves objections from the elderly Tucker sisters. More sibling trouble occurs when he persuades the warring Smith brothers, who run rival fast food vans to stop throwing food at, and mooning, each other.

Peter has to hide Simon, who is shocked at the discovery that he is a father. Lyle strips in front of a group of naturists to solve the matter of an access path to a nudist beach which has offended some locals. Peter is drawn into a dispute at the retirement home where his aunt Auriel lives. Patricia Wright is incensed that her father, another resident, has developed a friendship with a nurse.

Simon is arrested and Peter feels unable to represent him as this would suggest partiality. He also refuses to respond to Simon's request that he re-mortgage his house for bail money, and puts Lyle on the case to defend Simon. In fact Simon gets bail after Lyle finds a bag stashed full of money which Simon has left in the house.

Simon is released on bail but continues to cause problems when he ends up involved in a case Peter is working: a dispute between his friend and a local sex-shop owner.

Lyle is left in charge of the office and cat-sits for Mrs. Compton, as well, in Gloria's absence on holiday with Sidney, getting himself into hot water when he and Gloria's enterprising little boy, Scott, inadvertently advertise a free will-making service and are inundated with clients. Peter has gone to Cambridge to help Professor Barkway clear up a matter.

Beatrice returns to Market Shipborough with her baby daughter whom she has named Petra, though Peter himself is still a trifle hurt that Simon was chosen as Beatrice's birthing partner rather than himself. However he is occupied with Simon's upcoming trial. Lyle is about to make his theatrical debut in an open air production at Aunt Auriel's home but it is interrupted by heavy rain.