In this sequel to Matthew Dobbs, Esquire, much to his dismay, Matthew finds himself once again in His Majesty's service for WWII, running for a boat at Dunkirk. But it is a German torpedo boat Later in El Alamein he learns of his beloved wife's death in the Blitz. In anger he joins a suicide mission. Seriously wounded and heavily sedated, his mind wanders, filled with flashbacks of happier times with the family and their planned community project-Millwood Village. Once deemed fit, this valuable officer is sent "up the ladder" to keep him out of trouble. Promotion comes with perks like furloughs back to Millwood Village where he finds his sister-in-law newly widowed. The ice queen proves to have an inner fire for him.