John Hawkesworth and Alfred Shaughnessy wished an episode to revolve around Hannah Gordon's character Virginia, and Rosemary Anne Sisson wrote "Such A Lovely Man".
He thinks that Sir Guy Paynter, a wealthy and influential bachelor industrialist, would be able to use his influence with senior ministers to help Richard obtain the post.
However, the lunch ends abruptly when Sir Guy makes a remark about death by firing squad for cowardice, not knowing that Virginia's son Michael was court-martialled for such an offence, but only reprimanded, sent back into action, and killed (this is dealt with in the earlier episode Facing Fearful Odds).
Meanwhile, Ruby answers a newspaper advert for pen pals, and she chooses to write to Herbert Turner, a 35-year-old post office clerk who lives with his parents in Balham.
The Eaton Place servants speculate that Herbert Turner, who has shown a great interest in the aristocracy, may be the source, but it later emerges that one of the other Shelburne guests had told the newspapers.