Arabella Twigg is a very ordinary girl living with her extraordinary family. She loves her Gran, but tries to avoid her brother, Tom, who is always trying to get her into trouble.

Her life is quite boring until strange things begin to happen to her.

Arabella is cooking with her Gran one day when she opens the pantry door and is suddenly standing in a huge, old kitchen. Across the room is an open fire where a full pig is roasting on an old-fashioned spit.

There she meets a kitchen boy who is preparing a big banquet for King Henry VIII and his guests.