Troubled by her mother's recent death, sixteen-year-old Grace is forced to leave her beloved Canada to travel to England aboard the Empress of Ireland with her father and his new fiancée, Harriet. While aboard the ship, Grace is ignored by her father and befriends Paden, son of the ship's assistant chief steward. Grace soon discovers that Paden is part of a ship theft ring and is planning on stealing silver bars belonging to her father's employer. Paden seeks Grace's help, since the theft would send her and her father back home, benefiting her also. Should she help Paden, or consider her father? Meanwhile, Harriet hounds Grace, and Paden must avoid the suspicions of his father, his vigilant steward Mr. Steele, and an evil engine worker who manipulates Paden. Each person does not realize, however, that shortly after leaving port, the Empress will face a disaster that will undermine the plans of many.