Dr. Sophie Lennox is a brilliant Architectural Historian with a broken heart and loss of faith in her profession following a break up with one of her colleagues. Although being the premier historian in her specialty, her recent slump has found her resigning to taking on a teaching position and finding comfort in isolation. It isn't until she's called upon to restore a 15th century school, that she finds herself back in the field once more. The only caveat, she must now work hand in hand with her ex, the incredibly handsome Dr. Alan Spencer, to uncover one of the greatest architectural mysteries of the last five centuries. Working tirelessly, Sophie seeks answers to centuries old questions while struggling with the prospect of watching Alan moving on from their relationship.

Meanwhile, in 1600 AD Lady Adeliza Howard, the beautiful and strong willed daughter of the Duke of Norfolk has her own struggles to overcome, namely, King James Belléclair of Waleand. The King, whose cold and impervious nature precedes him, has just agreed to a courtship with Lady Adeliza. Using Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis as grounds to reveal the humanity in them both, she and the King work to overcome tumultuous first impressions while battling the heart-crippling sense of duty they each face.