Summary

In the introduction, Hitler’s advance in 1939 is backed up by Enigma machines which Germany wrongly believes cannot be cracked by the Allies.

The Prologue opens on November 8th, 1947 as Osla Kendall receives the enigma. She is sour about an article she wrote for the Tatler where a man she loves is marrying someone else. Osla reminds herself that she has an invitation to Westminster Abbey and should be grateful. The marriage of Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is meant to change the future and relax the ration laws. Osla served in secret during the war and has her own fiancé, but still wishes she could leave London. She sees a letter with a Vigenére cipher and realizes that the key is lassies from a clue on the back. She calls another woman and says the cipher is...