February 1546.

Roger Ascham, tutor to the young and headstrong Princess Elizabeth, is called before the king during a royal visit to Cambridge. Henry has a pressing problem and he needs Ascham to investigate. His favourite girl, the beautiful Isabella, is missing and his best man, sent in pursuit of her, has met a grisly end.

Now it's up to Ascham to piece together the fragments of clues at his disposal and restore Isabella to the king. But as he delves deeper into the case, Ascham discovers that Isabella is just one of many missing women and the clock is ticking to save her life.