Lucy Montague is desperate to start a family. When she agrees to be interviewed about her experience of infertility, she discovers that the journalist is Vita Valentine, whom she knew long ago when they were both young girls. This chance encounter with Vita revives strong memories for Lucy. She recalls the vast and glamorous Valentine family, with the kind parents and many children. As she tries to recall more about that summer of 1968 she is aware of memories which remain beyond her grasp. She remembers the cold housekeeper , Olwyn, and that a child died but she cannot remember how or why. And why does she feel uneasy when meeting the adult Vita and Perdita? Lucy has to acknowledge that, pushed by Vita and Perdita, she once did something terrible which profoundly affected both families. This novel is about the power of adults, the vulnerability of children and what happens if children's voices are ignored.
