The London lives of Barbara and Crichie Dennison and their acquaintances Flora and Fred Peachley are juxtaposed with rural Rimton, where Barbara's long-time companion and village blacksmith Dave Reid resides with the pair's foster parents, Sarah and Dan Farmer. Book One introduces the Dennisons, who, despite being newly married are already aware of a widening chasm between them. Barely suppressed frictions are only exacerbated by the arrival of Dave in London, who is privately harbouring romantic feelings for Barbara. In Book Two, the reader meets the Peachleys, whose marriage is also in crisis following the loss of their savings in the collapse of Dinkermanns bank. At the behest of his wife, Fred takes on extra work as a translator to pay the rent on their house in the upmarket Hendon. When he leaves the house to post an advert for his services, the largely disparate lives of the Dennisons and Peachleys collide when Crichie calls by the house and is compelled by Flora's polished femininity and staunch conservatism. The pair begin having an affair ... - From the Introduction