The war is over and Mrs Tim Christie, regimental CO's wife, reluctantly leaves her husband in Kenya and flies home to England. In the quiet backwater of Old Quinings, she faces a vindictive landlady and a maliciously gossiping neighbor, in addition to coping with postwar austerity (although rationing and the servant shortage don't seem to affect her greatly!) and the tribulations - romantic and otherwise - of friends and relations. Old friend Tony shows up to help Mrs. Tim out of her difficulties, inadvertently feeding the fires of scandal in the absence of Col Christie.

This is the last book in a series of 4 about Mrs Tim, though each can be read alone.