For fans captivated by the romantic tension in Prime Video's Maxton Hall - A World Between Us, the burning question remains: do Ruby Bell and James Beaufort ultimately end up together? The answer lies within the original German book trilogy by Mona Kasten that inspired the television phenomenon.
The Maxton Hall Book Trilogy Explained
The television series is a direct adaptation of the bestselling Save Me book franchise. The first season faithfully covers the initial novel, Save Me, while the recently announced second season will delve into the plot of the second book, Save You. The saga concludes with a third and final instalment, Save Us, which provides the definitive conclusion to Ruby and James's tumultuous relationship.
What Happens in 'Save You'? The Second Book
Save You begins precisely where the first story concludes. Ruby and James are officially a couple, but their romance is immediately tested by the tragic death of James's mother, Claudelia. Struggling to process his grief, James makes a catastrophic mistake, drunkenly kissing another girl at a party. This betrayal causes Ruby to end their relationship.
Despite the breakup, their connection proves too powerful to ignore. James spends the majority of the book endeavouring to win back Ruby's trust and prove his commitment is genuine. Just as their relationship begins to heal, Ruby receives life-changing news: she has been accepted into Oxford University.
However, the celebration is short-lived. A massive cliffhanger erupts when someone anonymously sends the compromising photos James took of Ruby with Mr. Sutton—the very images from the start of their story—to the school principal. As a result, Ruby is expelled from Maxton Hall, jeopardising her entire future at Oxford, which is contingent on her completing her final year. In a devastating blow, James confesses that he was the one who originally took the photographs, throwing their freshly repaired relationship into peril once more. Meanwhile, a separate drama unfolds as Lydia, James's sister, discovers she is pregnant with Mr. Sutton's twins.
The Final Chapter: How 'Save Us' Concludes the Story
The trilogy's conclusion, Save Us, opens with immediate consequences from the photo scandal. Mr. Sutton is fired from his teaching position at Maxton Hall. The drama intensifies when James's formidable father, Mortimer, learns of Lydia's pregnancy and banishes her to live with his sister-in-law.
Initially, a heartbroken Ruby distances herself from James, unable to forgive him for his role in her expulsion. Yet, when she witnesses the profound toll his father's cruelty and his sister's situation is taking on him, her resolve weakens. She chooses to support him, and their bond rekindles. James even moves in with Ruby to escape his father's cold-hearted dominion, and romantic sparks inevitably fly again.
The mystery of the leaked photos is eventually solved by James, who uncovers that his friend, Cyril—Lydia's ex-boyfriend—was the culprit. Cyril orchestrated the leak in a misguided attempt to remove Mr. Sutton from the picture and win Lydia back. In a dramatic public confession, Cyril admits he not only sent the photos but also collaborated with James's father to digitally alter them, making the images appear more compromising than they were.
This revelation clears Ruby's name. Her expulsion is revoked, allowing her to finish school and go to Oxford as planned. James, finally breaking free from his father's control, quits the family company and embarks on a journey of self-discovery through travelling. Most importantly, Ruby and James officially reunite, solidifying their status as endgame. In a parallel happy ending, Lydia gives birth to her twins and reconciles with Mr. Sutton.
While the Prime Video series may choose to adapt certain elements, the core destiny of Ruby and James in Mona Kasten's books is unequivocal: they end up together.
