The latest episode of Netflix’s House of Guinness sees the two central brothers, Arthur and Edward, navigating dangerous romantic entanglements that could destroy their family’s reputation and legacy. While Edward grapples with his feelings for a Irish Republican woman, Arthur’s secret relationship leads him directly into a trap set by his own uncle, ending the episode with a dramatic police raid.
Edward’s Forbidden Affair and a Brother’s Exile
The episode begins with immediate consequences for the Guinness family’s business dealings. British authorities conduct city-wide raids, arresting members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, including Patrick Cochrane. Patrick is the brother of Ellen Cochrane, Edward’s one-night stand and a key Fenian figure.
Upon learning of the arrest, Ellen sends a letter to Edward, calling in a favor for her previous help with the New York business situation. Edward devises a plan to free Patrick, but it comes with a heavy price. He arranges for Patrick to be among a group of Fenian prisoners exiled to New York. There, Patrick is forced to become a financial proxy for the Guinness family, funneling their money to the Brotherhood under the watchful eye of Byron Hedges. Ellen feels used by Edward, seeing the arrangement as a “tidy solution” for him that leaves her heartbroken and her brother in a form of gilded captivity.
Meanwhile, Edward’s sister, Anne Guinness, continues her own scheming to secure the family’s future. She orchestrates a trip for Edward and their cousin, Adelaide Guinness, to the family’s Ashford Castle estate in Connacht. Anne hopes the shared experience, focused on addressing rural poverty, will spark a romantic connection between them.
A Revealing Trip to Cloonboo
The trip to Ashford Castle proves to be a turning point for Edward and Adelaide’s relationship. Adelaide is shocked by the opulence of the castle, which even has ice shipped from Greenland, while the nearby village of Cloonboo suffers from extreme poverty and disease. She walks to the village herself to help the sick, shaming Edward with the harsh reality of his tenants’ lives.
Edward follows and is visibly moved. In a surprising act, he orders his guards to bring the castle’s resources—food, blankets, and ice—to the villagers. He even takes a shovel and helps dig a grave for a deceased local. When Adelaide accuses him of putting on an act to impress her, Edward confesses that his recent encounter with another woman has changed him.
He tells Adelaide, “I slept with a woman and she unlocked something in him. I’ve come to see things differently because of her.”
This moment of honesty breaks down barriers between them. They share a humble meal of potatoes and eel gravy, and Adelaide begins to see a new, more compassionate side of Edward.
Arthur’s Trap and a Family Betrayal
While Edward manages his complex love life, his older brother Arthur steps into a far more dangerous situation. At the brewery, Arthur is approached by Patrick, a young worker he previously spent the night with. In a bold move, Patrick kisses Arthur and suggests they attend a secret dance where they can be open with their affection. Arthur, yearning for connection, accepts the invitation.
However, this romantic rendezvous is a setup. Patrick is revealed to be working under duress for the brothers’ uncle, Reverend Henry Grattan. The reverend, who despises Arthur for his sexuality, has arranged for the police to raid the party. He promises Patrick that he will be let go when the police arrive, threatening to expose Patrick’s own secrets if he does not cooperate.
The episode ends on this tense cliffhanger. As Arthur waits for Patrick at the secret dance, blissfully unaware of the impending raid, Reverend Henry is shown waiting for the clock to strike 10, the signal for the police to move in and arrest his nephew.
Other Brewing Scandals
Elsewhere in the episode, other characters continue their own secret affairs. The family’s foreman, Sean Rafferty, is shown continuing his physical relationship with Arthur’s wife, Lady Olivia. In a moment that highlights the transactional nature of their marriage, Olivia assures Rafferty that she has “no intention of feeling anything for him,” even as they continue their liaisons.
The episode solidifies the central theme of the characters being torn between their public duties and their private desires, setting the stage for the major consequences that will unfold in the final two episodes of the season.
Also Read: Who Plays Ellen Cochrane in House of Guinness? The Actress and Character Explained
