Janine grew up as an only child of desperately poor crofters. Escaping violence, she ran away from her job as a personal maid to an aristocratic lady and found shelter at Brech Woorlach, the grand stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Bo'Ness. There, it is revealed to her that she is somebody of great importance. She tries to explain that there has been a mistake but learns that her true past is not the one that she recalls.

Elsewhere, in the Scottish Highlands, Queen Annis of The Westlands, is recovering from a wound sustained on the battlefield,. Heading home to Fort Augustus, she encounters a Royal Courier from King James, travelling with two escorts who mean him harm. Should Annis intervene or ignore his plight? Whatever her choice, it will impact profoundly on the future of Scotland.

Janine receives a warning from a phantom apparition that appears to make no sense. She soon discovers that Brech Woorlach isn't quite the establishment that it appears to be. When a Royal Courier arrives from London with a document, for her eyes only, she is shocked by its contents.