Catherine Tregenna, a young Cornish woman who excels at embroidery, is abducted and enslaved by Moorish pirates. The stories of seventeenth century Catherine Tregenna and modern day Julia Lovat entwine like the embroidery patterns about which they are both passionate.
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In London at the beginning of the 21st century Julia Lovat receives from her lover Michael a goodbye gift – after six years he is ending their affair to give his marriage with Julia's friend Anne another chance. The gift is one of two copies of a 17th century book called "The Needle-Woman's Glorie" and Michael has inadvertently given her the wrong one, a palimpsest – the journal of Catherine Anne Tregenna, or Cat, written in minute script in the margins and open spaces of the book. The stories of Julia and Cat are now told in parallel.
Cat is a servant girl of nineteen years old in Cornwall in 1625. She has aspirations of becoming a member of the Embroidery Guild, an impossible dream for a woman. For her birthday she is given a book with embroidery patterns by her cousin Robert Bolitho, who plans to marry her. He is supported in this by their employers, Sir Arthur and Lady Margaret Harris. Catherine is hoping for more in her life.
On a Sunday in July 1625 a band of Moorish pirates or corsairs attacks the church in the seaside town of Penzance and kidnaps sixty people, Cat among them. They are taken as slaves to Morocco under the most hideous circumstances and many die on the way. When a Spanish ship attacks the pirate's ship, the captain or raïs, Al-Andalusi, is severely wounded and his surgeon killed. He has heard about Cat's embroidery skills and employs her to sew his wounds and nurse him back to health.
In August they arrive in the Moroccon city of Salé, where they are sold as slaves. Catherine has to write a ransom letter to Sir Arthur in England, asking for an extraordinary sum of money for the prisoners' release.
Robert tries to collect money to pay at least for the release of Cat, whom he still loves. He is taken on board by an English trader, John Killigrew, who turns out to be Cat's father but who has no interest in her welfare. John is illegally trading English weapons with the Moors. Robert travels on John's ship to Salé, but in an attempt to rescue Cat, he insults an imminent Moor and is himself enslaved.
Catherine is sold to a mysterious rich Moor, Sidi Qasem, and employed to teach women embroidery skills. Later she discovers that the Moor is Al-Andalusi. When after nearly a year in his employment she by chance sees Robert as a slave in the streets, she begs Qasem to buy his freedom, which he grudgingly does, because he loves Cat himself. But when Robert comes to collect her to return with him to England, she refuses. She has come to enjoy her life as embroidery master, something she would never be able to do in England. Qasem asks her to marry him. Robert returns to England and marries Cat's friend Matty, but later commits suicide.
After their break-up, Michael realises his error in giving Julia the more valuable book and fanatically tries to contact her. Julia has gone to Cornwall to support her cousin and friend Alison, whose husband Andrew has just committed suicide. Julia tells her about her affair with Michael and shows her the old book. Alison recognises it as one of several books they had unearthed in the old house they renovated and had sent to Michael to sell on their behalf. Michael now follows Julia to Cornwall in pursuit of the book. He also tries to resurrect their relationship, but Julia puts him down.
Julia returns to London and sells her embroidery shop business. Intrigued by Cat's story, she flies to Morocco. In Rabat she gets accommodation with Madame Rachidi, whose handsome cousin Idriss, a taxi driver, is assigned as her guide. After a day of being shown around the city, she returns to find her room in chaos and a message from Michael, who has again followed her, looking for the book. She flees, to stay with Idriss and his family in their house.
Eventually she does meet up with Michael (and Anne, whom has come with him and who has always known of their affair), who shows her letters written by Robert, which fills in the other part of Cat's story. By now Julia and Idriss have fallen in love.
Julia, Michael and Anne comes to an agreement about the embroidery book and letters, to be exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She briefly returns to England, but goes back to Morocco to marry Idriss.
Best part of story, including ending:
Intriguing historical romance about little-known part of England's history.
Best scene in story:
Julia is tempted to return to her married lover after their break-up, but something he says makes her realize that he is more interested in her valuable book than in herself. She spurns him.
Opinion about the main character:
Catherine wants more out of life than a sedate marriage to someone she does not really love and a dull future. She knows her abilities and follows her dreams.
