Dara Willcox, in New York for a weekend, meets Austin Clarke at an art gallery. The two are on different courses, Austin is British, temporarily in New York. Dara's from North Carolina, set on law school. They fall in love at first sight, and are determined to make their lives together. Days after their engagement dinner, Austin hears unsettling news from London that wrecks their plans. Dara abruptly cancels the wedding. She refuses to reveal why, not even to her best friends or her parents or grandmother, disrupting their family tradition of openness. Dara escapes by travelling east, while Austin, back in London, faces a major tragedy, the consequences of which are life-changing. And then an impulsive visit to London by Dara's mother alters their fate.