Set in Britain in 1900, young inventor Jonathan Cook has created a machine that he believes will consign war to the history books. He needs to get it to the attention of the British government, but doesn't know how. He meets Lady Evelyn Rothmere, the young wife of the ageing Admiral Rothmere. She says she will use her husband's connections to get the machine to the attention of the authorities. However, there is an attraction between Jonathan and Evelyn and they start an affair, and all the time, spies are trying to get the plans for the machine. Admiral Rothmere has a dark secret, one he has held all his life. It is discovered by a newspaper reporter, and if made public, it would destroy the admiral and remove all chance of the machine being accepted.