In 1749 feisty Saskia Klaassens sails from her abusive home in the Netherlands to work as nursemaid in Africa's Cape of Good Hope. At the wine estate, she is appalled by the slaves' lives even as love slowly burns for one, the stable master Titus. She struggles with the arrogant whims of her employers, all the while making lace and viewing life through its prism.

When secret intrigues come to light, a storm of fear sweeps through the estate, and Saskia must decide where her loyalties lie - with her violent Dutch kinsmen or her forbidden lover. All the while she weaves what beauty she can to the rhythm of her bobbins, as events move toward their thrilling and tragic climax.