Anxious to impress the wealthy Schoonmakers, Connie hires Baxter, a personal secretary, to put a shine on Blandings. But a freshly fertilized rose bed and Freddie's attempts to sell dog food to the guests make the visit anything but sophisticated.

Clarence hopes to avoid dancing with his niece Gertrude by inviting a convenient blockhead to keep her company. Meanwhile, Freddie must keep his new Portuguese wife a secret from Connie.

Notoriously uptight Baxter is trying to weasel his way into permanent employment at Blandings, but Clarence has bigger problems. His grandson George is terrorizing the estate with an air rifle, and Freddie is being pursued by East End gangsters.

With the help of Freddie and some mischievous schoolchildren, Clarence hopes to dodge the double ordeal of having to wear a top hat and make a speech at the Blandings fete.

Connie insists Clarence spruce himself up for a visit by the sophisticated Lady Daphne and her spoiled brat, Huxley. But when Daphne takes an unusual interest in Clarence (and his prize pig), Connie becomes suspicious.