With the echoes of war reverberating around London Cordelia Mavis and Jane are delighted to be blessed with some good news: the King and his Queen will be making a visit to the East End. As excitement builds so does their apprehension. With each passing day the threat of destruction from air raids increasingly plagues their worried minds. But with Christmas on the horizon their morale is at an all-time high and the girls are determined to display to their esteemed guests all they have done with the library - and with so little. For Mavis especially she is more focused on the library than ever - her beloved Joe is still fighting overseas and she is waiting for news on whether she might adopt young Joyce. But perhaps the royal visit will not be the only Christmas gift she will be surprised with this year. . . ?