Small town life can be just as eventful as city life especially during World War Two. Polly Hardcastle lives in Barton upon Humber, Lincolnshire with her sister Laura, and Laura's overbearing and often violent husband, Sean. She leaves school at the end of 1935 and takes a job working for Sir Giles Beauchamp and his wife as a nursery maid. Polly is happy there except for the Nanny, Jane, who takes an instant dislike to her. Laura has her own problems with her bullying husband and needs all her strength to overcome the shocks and trauma destined for her in the future. Martin and Christopher Beauchamp, elder sons of Sir Giles, join the Army and RAF respectively and when the war begins Polly's friendship with Christopher strengthens. The difference in their backgrounds means heartache for Polly, but she refuses to give up on their love.