The remaining six girls this week had to face their toughest challenge yet - they were to prepare and serve afternoon tea to a group of aristocratic potential mothers-in-law. First it was time for a makeover, with the teachers hoping that an external transformation might somehow kick-start an internal one.
Nicole at first hated the idea of having her long hair cut off but in the end she was delighted with her pretty new hairstyle. She also revealed a bit about her past, telling how her elder sister had run away and her mother went to look for her leaving Nicole and her younger sister alone for two nights. Police and social workers came one morning and took the girls away, leaving a note for their mother, and after that Nicole would often wake up screaming for her mother. Mrs Harbord was visibly touched by this revelation.
When the transformation was complete the girls were taken to Betty's Tearooms where Liz Brewer tried to educate them in the etiquette of the tea ritual in polite society. Meanwhile Gill Harbord was shocked to find some rather revealing photographs while carrying out a dorm inspection. Bianca, the culprit, when called upon to explain, thought that the photographs were very tasteful and showed her personality. Mrs Harbord begged to differ and the photographs ended up on the fire.
Next came the cookery lessons and the girls had just a day to learn how to make an assortment of teatime treats including meringue swans, scones, fancy cakes and sandwiches. Rosemary Shrager was not impressed by their efforts but there was no time for any more practice, they would just have to do their best and serve it up anyway.
During a lesson on flower arranging Sarah seemed distant, and when Gill Harbord asked what flowers meant to people she said they meant death. Very upset, Sarah left the room to walk in the grounds, then she broke down in tears and explained that she had lost her only sister eighteen months ago, a lovely good person and the mother of two small children. Sarah had not yet been able to deal with it but now the emotion came flooding out.
The next day Skye and Bianca were the first pair to entertain the ladies with "Grey Earl" tea, and they had committed the unforgivable sin of cutting the scones in half before serving them. The next couple did not have a very good start when Kristyn managed to pour hot tea over Nicole's hand. Things got worse when Kristyn, asked what was the most important thing she had learnt so far, declared that it was "etiquette and deportation". The final straw was when Nicole told the ladies that she used to be a stripper. The final couple, Zoe and Sarah, served rock-hard scones, and Sarah said that for her the hardest challenge had been learning to wear a dress.
When it came to assessment day Skye thought she had done well, but the staff disagreed. Kristyn now looked like a young lady but appeared to have lost her personality. Nicole was too loud and boisterous. The staff were concerned about whether Sarah had the will or the strength to carry on, but she told them that she did, and said that she had learnt an extremely important lesson - that it's OK to show how she's feeling. Gill Harbord thought that Bianca was here to win, not to change. Zoe had kept her head down this week but her earlier drunkenness had not been forgotten.
The final verdict was that Zoe continued to abuse her chances, that with Kristyn the lights had gone out and no-one was at home, but Bianca's performance had convinced everyone that she had reached the end of her time at Eggleston Hall. Even then, Bianca still had to have the last word!
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