Missing

In a remote Lakeland house perched beside a sparkling river, the quiet routine of domestic life is interrupted by the looming specter of war. Bridget Cookson, a sharp‑tongued woman in her thirties, watches the fading light over the lake while the household prepares for the arrival of a newlyweds couple—Nelly and her soon‑to‑be‑absent husband, George, who is due to head to the front within days. The house’s staff, from the irritable Miss Cookson to the nervous parlourmaid Milly, buzz with nervous anticipation, each carrying their own hopes and anxieties about the coming conflict.

Against this backdrop of looming loss, the story follows Bridget’s reluctant sense of duty toward her sister Nelly, whose marriage feels more a matter of circumstance than affection. As the wedding day approaches, the fragile peace of the lakeside refuge begins to crack, hinting at the emotional turmoil that war will bring to a family already strained by debt and uncertainty. The narrative offers a vivid portrait of wartime England, where personal responsibilities clash with the inexorable march of history.