1920s, Oxfordshire. On the brink of adulthood, Linda Radlett and her beloved cousin Fanny Logan are stuck in the countryside, impatiently waiting for life to begin so they can escape the confines of Alconleigh.

Fanny embraces motherhood, while Linda throws herself into a more glamorous lifestyle. But when Linda encounters an enigmatic stranger, will she make a drastic change to her life?

Fanny is put out to find that Linda has once again fallen head over heels in love, and is openly living as Fabrice de Sauveterre's mistress. However, when war breaks out and threatens to tear Europe apart, will Linda and Fanny be able to reconcile before it's too late?