It is London 1663 and science flourishes in a mini-Renaissance. Celia Barber shares her father's shop; he barbers, and she heals during a time when women are not allowed to practice medicine. As a licensed barber, Celia longs to visit the Royal Society or Surgeon's Hall to see a dissection, but women are not allowed. She befriends a viscount who sneaks her into the Royal Society, where she sees an experiment and meets Robert Hooke, the great scientist of the day. Celia's sister works as a domestic in Whitehall Palace, who finds an ancient coin. Will it lead to hidden treasure?