Poppy is young, beautiful and clever – and working as a parlourmaid in the de Vere family's country house. Society, it seems, has already carved out her destiny.

But Poppy's life is about to be thrown dramatically off course. The first reason is love – with someone forbidden, who could never, ever marry a girl like her. The second reason is war.

As the lists of the dead and wounded grow longer, Poppy must do whatever she can to help the injured soldiers, knowing all the while that her own soldier may never return home . . .