At the opening of this story, a group of farmers market traders a clothier have all survived the Peasant's Revolt, yet still feel threatened by the young king's revenge.

A poor widow lost her husband and son in the violence, a farmer's son from White Clyffe swept up in the excitement was arrested in Salisbury at the height of the rebellion and has not been seen since, a clothier abandoned his established business near Bridgewater fearing suspicion of involvement, conspiracy.

Their lives, loves and fears are explored among the villages and towns of the West of England. The story moves from rural Wiltshire to the rapidly industrialising city of Salisbury, commercial activity in the Severn Estuary and an escape to Honfleur in France.