The North East Coast of England 1765 When ship owner Gabriel Reynolds meets flame haired serving wench Eleanor Barker in a Whitby tavern, little does he know it is a meeting that will change the course of his life. First she runs out on him leaving him frustrated in more ways than one, then the next time they meet, in more conventional circumstances, he finds she is engaged to be married.Undeterred and back in his home town of Alnmouth Gabriel knows he has to win the love of this beguiling, unconventional, woman and so sets about putting his house in order. But before he can declare himself fate deals Gabriel a cruel blow when his stable lad is abducted. Meanwhile back in Whitby, Eleanor who is in fact the daughter of a prominent ship builder,has troubles of her own. Learning that her fiance has been untrue, she ends her engagement. In revenge her spurned lover tells her about Gabriel's past, a past she finds difficult to accept. Forced to choose between love and loss a heart broken Eleanor flees to Amsterdam searching for answers. But will the course of their love ever be plain sailing?