She thought she could control both other people, and her own emotions.

Meriel Gray wants to get away for a while. Away from her parents and fiancée. Spoiled, and single minded, she had it all organised. Whatever her parents said, whatever Hugh Barlow, her fiance said, she was going to go off on holiday in Germany - alone. Hugh; she thought of him with a certain light-hearted contempt. He'd make a good husband: rich, very rich, and quite infatuated with her. She'd do what she wanted. He'd give in finally. He'd have to because she certainly wasn't going to. Nobody told Meriel what to do. She was free, of age, had a little money to spend, knew she was attractive. It is inevitable she will get what she wants.

In choosing Germany as her destination, however, she lands in some considerable difficulty as Europe goes to war. Had anybody told her that one day she would find herself helplessly, and that the only person to whom she can turn for help is a man she loathes and wholeheartedly despises. But when she finds herself stranded in war torn, she hopelessly in love; in love with the despised man, that she would hate herself for giving in to him, yet always would five in to him; if anyone had told her that, she would have laughed the idea to scorn.

A traitor to his country? Would he betray their love?