American diplomat Payton Pleydell and his wife Sylvia are the most respected, brilliant couple in Washington. Theirs seems a perfect marriage but Kate Jerold begins to suspect that her cousin's husband is not as devoted as he seems. Then the unexpected arrival of a Czech official threatens to bring the fa ade crashing down. Even after six years apart, Sylvia has not forgotten Jan Brovic; during the war they had been deeply, secretly in love. But now there is a new war, and former allies have become bitter enemies. Jan is on the other side and his motives may not be pure.

Separated by the enmity of nations, Sylvia must decide whether to risk everything to be with the man she loves.