Amid the English Civil War, the daughter of a royal courtier escapes her forced betrothal and takes refuge in the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam during the Golden Age when Dutch Masters painted, merchants grew rich trading in exotic luxuries, and modern medicine was born. Along the way, Susanna Worthington must risk taking help from the mysterious Captain David Winn, despite prophetic dreams that he will kill her some day. In Amsterdam she discovers her secret heritage, models for a Rembrandt portrait, and befriends the young philosopher Spinoza--all in the process of discovering that her prophetic dreams may hide as much as they reveal.