Laura and Sophie are growing up. Feeling that they are now too old for more time travel adventures they are looking forward to the long summer holiday at their parents hotel, Monks Tarrant, the ancient home of the Cranbourne family. Without warning, however, they suddenly find themselves transported back to the year 1609. There they find the Cranbourne family separated by vast oceans and torn by internal strife over who will inherit the riches and house of Monks Tarrant. To save the legitimate heir, and their own future, they must face the ordeal of a voyage to the New World of the Americas, the threat of poison and that of black magic. If they survive they may finally come to understand what a dark and finely balanced battle they are part of.