On the eve of the first World War, Maisie Kendall, a teacher at a girls school in a dockyard town where she lodges with the prim deputy headmistress, Miss Garrett. Maisie is befriended by Hattie and Rosie, who introduces her to a new and exciting life as an independent woman.

She thinks she has found love with the handsome naval officer, Lieutenant Edward Prescott and she hopes he will marry her, but Edward is posted away from the town. .

Meanwhile his friend, Lieutenant Peter Barnes becomes a a bigger part of Maisie's circle of friends, sharing her interests and assisting her with school. When Hattie and Maisie are involved in a suffragette mission, Peter covers for them.

Then at a cricket match, Edward returns and sweeps Maisie off her feet, taking her to all the local functions. Maisie spends less time with her friends and soon regrets agreeing to holiday abroad with them in case Edward is posted again whilst she is overseas.

. When war is declared Maisie is in Switzerland with Hattie and the prim Miss Garrett together with their friend Miss Ena Briggs.

Edward ignores Maisie's increasingly more desperate letters as she discovers she may be pregnant. A dramatic journey, outrunning the advancing Germans, makes her think again and consider her future.

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