As the war breaks out the Rising family - on the surface so united, so serene - tries to hold down the secrets of the past. March, the eldest, is separated from her son. Albert has run from all of them on discovering the truth about his birth. Now he tries to drown his bitterness and anger in fighting the Luftwaffe in the skies over Britain. April's shy and gentle daughter, Davina, can never understand why Albert has left her without explanation, without saying goodbye. And Victor, the talented, ebullient soldier son of May, watches the two cousins - knowing their secret, loving them both, trusting that the strength of the family will pull them through.