Stranded in England without money or a ticket home, Mercy Starling takes a job working for a medieval reenactment company. After all, who wouldn't want to pretend to live in the past, wield swords and long bows, and dress up in armor? And the best part of her summer job is Bestwood Hall--or rather, its intriguing new owner. The painfully shy Alden Ainslie is overwhelmed by the medieval reenactors who invade the Tudor house he's renovating, but he's drawn to the bubbly Mercy and valiantly joins in the fun, dodging not just arrows, lances, and the odd sword thrust, but also some pretty suspicious and potentially deadly attacks on himself. Someone wants him to give up on the house.