Bella moves to Italy to set up a quintessentially British hotel in the town of Portofino.
Danioni worms his way into the Ainsworth’s affairs, helping Cecil arrange for a family heirloom to be sent from England.
The younger inhabitants of the hotel find ways to let their hair down, while Cecil and Jack shake on a shady deal for the sale of the Ainsworth family heirloom.
Bella finally stands up to Danioni, who hands over compromising correspondence to her husband, but before Cecil can confront her, the Ainsworth family heirloom goes missing.
As the local police search the Hotel for the missing heirloom and various guests and employees come under suspicion, Cecil finally confronts Bella over her compromising letter.
As the mystery of the missing heirloom is resolved, proposals and critical decisions are made, and Cecil attempts a reconciliation with Bella.
Bella’s plans to build a spa are running over budget and the Hotel is facing an anonymous inspection, while she deals with an unexpected return from someone closer to home.
As Cecil tries to buy his way back into Bella’s affections, and Lucian and Constance acknowledge their mutual attraction, Nish aims to strike a blow against Mussolini’s Fascists.
Cecil becomes embroiled with gangsters who have taken over the local casino. With Nish on the run and now being hunted by Danioni, Bella and Lucian must help him avoid arrest.
Rose and Alice spring surprises on their returns to Portofino, and Cecil schemes to take control of the Hotel, while Bella thinks she has discovered the inspector’s identity.
Bella schemes to thwart Cecil’s plans to take control of the Hotel, to help get Nish safe and to save Lucian and Rose’s marriage, while arranging an assignation with an old flame.
During the big casino night, as an act of masculine bravado threatens its future, Bella acts decisively to salvage her investment in the Hotel Portofino, but at what cost?
