Kathleen Brady is evacuated during World War II and separated from her two stepbrothers and mother. She lives on Magpie Farm with the Spicer family and falls in loves with the enchanting Chris. However, Kathleen is embarrassed about her background and invents a much grander lifestyle in London than she actually had. She eventually hears that her mother has been killed and that she must return to live with her two stepbrothers. Kathy gets caught up in their money laundering and violent antics and afraid and isolated, she eventually manages to escape back to Magpie farm and settle there.