Episode 6 of Maxton Hall begins with Ruby awakening with a sparkle in her eyes, eagerly anticipating her maiden day at Oxford. She diligently prepares for the day, doing her utmost to steer clear of James, all while harboring an excited anticipation of stepping into the future she's always dreamed of.
As fate would have it, Ruby happens upon Lin and bumps into Jude, and the trio embarks on their journey to the next crucial application meeting. Meanwhile, James and his compatriots are also gearing up for their offers, but James's thoughts are incessantly drawn to Ruby, stealing glances at her whenever possible. He even summons the courage to offer her his well-wishes.
Throughout the majority of the day, Ruby navigates her application processes with unwavering proficiency, dazzling the professors with her intelligence and charm. That evening, she joins Lin and Jude for a casual gathering over drinks at the local bar, and much to her surprise, James and his friends are also in attendance.
Ruby, seeking a breath of fresh air, abruptly made her exit and stumbled upon Lydia, vomiting helplessly outdoors. Filled with concern, Ruby quickly approached her friend. Lydia, with a hint of embarrassment, confessed in a low voice that she was expecting a child. Ruby, seeing the situation, gently encouraged her to cherish the new life within her.
Lydia sighed and said, "Now I finally understand why James fell for you and why he can't seem to get over you." Ruby was baffled, thinking that James had merely been playing with her emotions, which was why he had ended their relationship. Lydia shook her head, noting that James was suffering deeply and sometimes, ending a relationship was the ultimate testament of love.
The words of Lydia echoed in Ruby's mind, keeping her from finding restful sleep. For a fleeting moment, she considered confronting James, but she ultimately decided against it. Meanwhile, James himself pondered approaching her, but he too hesitated, unable to bring himself to take that step.
The next day, the tension between James and Ruby comes to a peak when James lets his jealousy get the best of him during the question session. They go off at each other, with Ruby calling James a coward and likening him to his dad. After lashing out, Ruby runs out, and James follows her. They head back to the dorm while arguing. Ruby calls him out for pushing her away without an explanation. James struggles to tell her the truth about his dad’s threats but admits he wants her. The two passionately kiss and head into the room. They are about to make love when Ruby remembers every harsh thing James has said to her.
James, overcome with emotion, lost his composure and lunged at his father, landing blow after blow until Percy intervened and pulled him away. James wept all the way to Ruby's house, where he peered through the window at her joyful family and pondered his uncertain future. Meanwhile, Ruby's hopeful narrative floated in the background, reassuring him that, somehow, everything would work out in the end.
James notices the change in her mood and pulls back. He sincerely apologises and explains the situation. Ruby says she is not scared of his dad, and James should fight for the future he wants. They finally make love and spend the day taking walks and talking about their plans. Even though they are uncertain about what it holds, they know they want to be together. After the weekend, Ruby gets on the bus back home, and Lydia and James are picked up by their chauffeur.
Ruby returned home with a spring in her step, feeling as if she were floating on a sea of clouds. Her joy was multiplied when she discovered that her family had installed the brand-new stairlift. However, James and Lydia's arrival was a stark contrast to Ruby's blissful mood. They found only their father waiting for them, and he sat them down to deliver the shocking news of their mother's demise.
He quickly relayed the details, explaining that Cordelia had suffered a stroke and passed away the previous day. The children were bewildered that he had kept their mother's death a secret from them. Mortimer ignored their questions and pressed on with his business, answering a phone call and voicing his concerns about keeping the investors satisfied as his primary priority.
