Horrified at having witnessed her father's murder and fearing that the killers are agents of Queen Elizabeth I, eleven-year-old Alice Tuckfield hides in the Yorkshire cathedral by disguising herself as one of the choirboys.

Alice is on the run as her father's killers are still at large. She finds sanctuary with some choirboys. To stay hidden, she participates in the choir and pretends to be a boy. But when those who are after her find out, Alice ends up in some deep trouble.