It is 1950, just five years after the end of the Second World War, and ordinary people are still trying to pick up the pieces of their broken lives. London is a changed place, struggling on despite the destruction wrought by relentless bombing and now the seemingly endless privations of rationing. Only in such circumstances could two women from completely different walks of life become friends. For Catherine, meeting Lady Thornton offers the prospect of a new life, a way to heal and move forward, while for Lady Thornton, Catherine provides much needed and unexpected support as she looks for ways to deal with the difficulties of family and loss.