1939. War has been declared and spymaster Fitzroy wastes no time in preparing his goddaughter Hope for a secret mission. Hope has the potential to be one of British Intelligence's greatest agents but when she is ousted from an all-male think tank and relegated to the typing pool even she starts to doubt herself. Meanwhile Hope's rebellious friend Bernie announces her engagement to a man Hope does not trust and Hope fears that her father is dying. Then comes Dunkirk and the threat of invasion intensifies. Hope is sent to a secret base where she joins a group of auxiliary units that are expected to fight to the death should invasion occur.

Part of the Hope Stapleford series.