Children's writer Brodie Nicol returns to her native New Zealand to visit her old friend Una Isbister. While driving out to Una's home Brodie finds herself in the middle of a snowstorm and seeks refuge at a nearby farmhouse - only to discover that the farm and its owner's children are being looked after by Guthrie Chisholm - her ex-fiance. Furthermore, Brodie discovers that she will not be able to leave immediately the snowstorm abates - because the farm is in quarantine. Clearly Una had known that Guthrie was staying nearby, and had planned a little matchmaking in inviting Brodie to stay. And it would appear that nature had helped her endeavours along immeasurably. But what Una doesn't know - and what no one except Brodie knows - is the true reason she had suddenly ended her engagement to Guthrie two years ago. In fact, even Guthrie does not know that two years ago, Brodie had overheard the conversation which took place in a pretty little English church, between himself and a woman called Anne.