In 1939 war clouds were gathering. Veronica Hallard, who had been happily married and living in Lagos with her husband Charles, was sent home alone. The ship in which Charles followed was torpedoed, and his loss was so great Veronica broke her heart. She suffered a complete nervous collapse, and her only consolation was the friendship of Boyd Mansell, who she had met on the voyage home. Two years later she had recovered enough to face normal life again, married again and had a son - then Charles returned from the dead