The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Hazel receives a letter saying her mother will come visit shortly. While they wait, she and Flora grow accustomed to their days with Bridie and Harry. One day, Flora calls Hazel in a panic; she has put her gas mask on because she heard a police car. Another day, Hazel and Harry work on their homework together; Hazel struggles with math. When Harry tries to help, Hazel becomes irritable and defensive. At night, Kelty comes to tell Hazel she’s running away back home to London. Hazel promises not to reveal Kelty’s secret, but later she breaks her promise and tells Bridie because she’s worried.

Soon after, Hazel’s mother arrives at Bridie’s cottage. Hazel and Flora regale her with stories of their stay, but they notice their mother seems frightened and withdrawn. Their mother returns to London, and the girls stay in Binsey.

Hazel and Kelty prepare to head to St. Ives to find Harry in hopes that he will lead them to Flora. Hazel frets about her upcoming trip to Paris and her relationship with Barnaby. The phone rings, and Hazel answers Lord Dickinson, her new employer at Sotheby’s. He reveals that he has heard about Hazel’s theft and wants to confirm it with her. When Hazel admits the truth, Lord Dickinson tells her they need time to reconsider her job offer. As Hazel considers her impending trip to St. Ives, she reflects that although she has not seen Harry in two decades, she has communicated with him.

Hazel is a student at Cambridge following the events of the war. Flora has not been found. Hazel receives an unexpected letter from Harry and reads about his life. She writes him back, and they communicate by post for several years. One day, Harry asks if he can come visit her. Mindful of a vow she made in childhood not to see him again, Hazel stops answering his letters. Instead, she moves to London and applies for a bookshop job.

Hazel and Kelty arrive in St. Ives. They reminisce about Hazel’s stories and their time in Binsey. While gathering their strength in a local pub, Kelty learns of Harry’s whereabouts from a waitress: He has a studio in an artists’ neighborhood nearby.

The women arrive at Harry’s studio, where he’s painting alongside three other artists. Harry is enthusiastic to see them and introduces them to his friends; one is his childhood friend Ethan, who bullied Kelty during the evacuation. However, he is friendly toward them both now. The four of them go to the pub together, and Kelty interrogates the men about their lives. Ethan reveals that Harry is involved with one of the other artists. Ethan says that his brother Adam moved to America, and Hazel wonders if that might be the link to Peggy Andrews. Hazel and Harry separate from the others and walk along the seaside. Harry admits that he feels Hazel blames him for Flora’s disappearance. When questioned, Harry explains that he never heard anything about the Whisperwood stories. Hazel realizes they’ve both been carrying the same guilt.

Bridie holds a celebration for Imbolc, also known as St. Brigid’s Day. The village comes together around a bonfire, eating and listening to music. The four nurses who live nearby are also present: Maeve, Imogene, Frances, and Lilly. Kelty isn’t there because she made it back to her mother in London, but she and Hazel communicate by letters. Bridie tells Hazel that Oxford is safe because Hitler wants to keep it preserved. Hazel remembers her mother’s visits over the past few months. Her mother is growing increasingly frightened of the bombing in the city. At the party, Bridie explains the significance of St. Brigid and teaches the crowd how to make Brigid’s crosses. She secretly tells Hazel that although Brigid is a Christian saint, she was first a goddess. Hazel overhears the nurses talking about some of the horrible injuries they saw in the hospitals. Later, Hazel hears them talking about whether Bridie is a witch. After everyone leaves, Hazel asks Bridie about paganism; Bridie explains that it’s simply a spiritual perspective. Together they talk about the power of storytelling.

In St. Ives, Hazel dances with Harry at the pub. They go outside, and Hazel struggles with her feelings for him. The next day, she and Kelty head home, and Hazel wrestles with her guilt. Once she is home, she and Barnaby argue about Harry. Barnaby thinks Harry and Bridie were responsible for Flora’s disappearance. Hazel insists that she hasn’t seen Harry since she left Binsey, and Barnaby reveals that he discovered Hazel’s letters. They argue about Hazel’s obsession with the Whisperwood story. While Barnaby wants to be supportive, Hazel doesn’t believe he can understand her experience.

Peggy shows Wren the telegram she received from Kelty. Wren encourages Peggy to see the telegram as a call to adventure so she can help Hazel. They agree to meet in secret and leave for England. Just as they’re about to kiss, Peggy’s mother arrives and separates them. She tells Peggy that Wren was once arrested. Peggy grows irritable with her mother and goes home. After dinner, Peggy questions her mother about Whisperwood. Her mother becomes defensive and reveals Hazel’s number, which she found under Peggy’s mattress. Later, Peggy secretly packs her suitcase for her journey with Wren.

Hazel visits a gallery where Harry’s art is being featured. She sees sketches of herself and Flora as children. Kelty and Midge arrive, and Kelty analyzes Hazel and Harry’s unresolved feelings. Harry arrives, and they talk about the past. He tells Hazel that he tried to visit her, but her mother wouldn’t let him. They admit that they loved each other, and Harry regrets not trying harder to find her. Just as they’re about to kiss, Barnaby’s parents arrive and confront Hazel. Hazel introduces Harry as one of the gallery’s artists, but she knows Barnaby’s parents aren’t convinced.

When Hazel returns home, she finds Barnaby waiting for her. He accosts Hazel about Harry, having heard of the encounter from his mother. He tells Hazel his parents also inquired about the stolen book, which they heard of from Lord Dickinson, and admits that his father secretly helped Hazel secure the job at Sotheby’s. Hazel adamantly denies having feelings for Harry. Later, Hazel looks at one of the articles by Dorothy Bellamy and reconsiders enlisting her help. However, the melodrama of the article puts her off, and she throws it away. She also receives a letter from Aiden with information on the four nurses; Imogene lives near Binsey with a daughter named Iris.