November 1920. Russia may have endured the Revolution, but a brutal war still rages. As even brothers are pitted against each other, thousands of Russians flee for their lives. Distant relatives of the Romanovs, the Kirilov family is never far from suspicion and closer to danger than most. When tragedy strikes, four–year–old Lydia is separated from her family. The only key to her identity is the opulent jewel concealed in her petticoat.

Struck by the child's plight, the benevolent diplomat, Sir Edward Stoneleigh, brings her to England, where she grows up well–educated, wealthy and surrounded by a loving family. Yet it is not enough. Unable to recall even her own birth date, Lydia yearns to know the truth about her heritage – then one day the charming Nikolay Andropov offers her the perfect opportunity to do so. Invited to join him on a trip to Russia, Lydia jumps at the chance to discover more about the past she find increasingly difficult to remember. But when reality sets in, is all as it seems? With the Second World War looming, Lydia's situation becomes desperate. Will she ever find a place to think of as home?