"I shall marry no man who cannot match me pound for pound and acre for acre,” vowed Cleo Mortimer. But as the beautiful and unprotected heiress to Happenstance Hall, her choice of suitors was limited.

There was the new minister, Huw Clwyd, who stirred up hatred and mistrust with his sermons — and the mysterious stranger, Rintoul Knaresborough, who showed a disturbing interest in Cleo's affairs.

Rintoul had accused the preacher of fortune hunting, but what was he after — especially if he were indeed Cromwell's witchfinder?