Lanterna Rally

Author: Lori Bird

Publisher:

Published: 2018-05-14

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 9781981098262

The country is in turmoil! King Henry VIII wants a new queen, the Reformers are gaining in popularity, and most significantly, the illegal English Bible is being smuggled into the country and read by the common man! It is considered heresy to own or even read the Bible and the sentence is burning at the stake. Despite the turmoil, Kristina Monroe has the additional dilemma of finding her mother's ruby brooch that has been stolen. With the help of the very mysterious Patrick O'Niel she might be able to recover it, but will it be in time to save her family from the heretic hunters that secretly comb the country?EXERPT from Book:Patrick O'Niel was just rounding a corner on horseback when he spotted a carriage ahead of him down the street. He reigned in and watched as it pulled to a stop in front of The Black Boar and the only occupant disembarked. He smiled to himself and started his horse forward as he recognized Kristina. She was almost to the door of the shop when O'Niel caught up with her and called her name. Kristina turned and smiled immediately, "Mr. O'Niel! How do you do?" She looked up at him on his horse, "Are you on your way somewhere?" She really had a beautiful smile. "Hello, Miss Monroe. Actually, I was just going to ride over to Longbury Manor," he answered her. "Oh? Do you want to see my father about something?" Her voice was suspicious. Patrick dismounted as she spoke and walked the few steps to stand beside her, "Well, someday but today I just wanted to talk to his daughter." Kristina laughed and said, "You must mean Rochelle! But she is very busy today--she's expecting a visitor." Patrick's expression suddenly changed and his eyes darkened. He asked. "Is Rochelle's visitor John Drummond?" Kristina watched his face and answered slowly, "Yes, it is Mr. Drummond." Then she added, "Is there something you know about him that we don't know?" Patrick grimly thought that when Rochelle married John Drummond, he would be a member of the family which would affect Kristina as well as Rochelle. He thought a moment, and looking at Kristina's questioning face said, "Do you have the time to go for a walk?" Completely amazed and somewhat worried, Kristina said, "Of course!" She forgot about Thomas and her need to hurry back to him. Patrick turned in the direction of the road that led out of town and Kristina walked beside him. There were a few people close by and some of them glanced their way so Patrick talked about the lovely spring and that shipping demands would soon increase. They were walking away from the center of town which was a single long line of shops with houses and yards behind them. When there were no more people around Kristina waited expectantly for a change of subject and Patrick did not disappoint her. He asked rather solemnly, "Miss Monroe, does your sister really want to marry John Drummond?" Kristina was very surprised, "Yes, I think she does. She acts rather silly about it sometimes." She smiled as she thought of her elder sister. Patrick continued with his questions, "But does she want to marry Mr. Drummond or does she just want to get married?" Kristina stopped to stare at him, "What kind of a question is that?" She considered that he must know something and asked with worry, "What is it?" Patrick took Kristina's elbow so they could continue walking. He said, "I don't know how to tell you this other than to just tell you, but I believe that Mr. Drummond is not to be trusted." Kristina was trying to look at his face as they walked, "What do you mean?" She was getting more worried by the minute. Patrick answered her, "He's just not to be trusted. He does, well, secret things, and has bad friends." Kristina replied in a raised voice, "Secret things! You do secret things! And who are his bad friends?"Patrick eyed her warily and tried to explain, "Kristina, there are good secret things and bad secret things. I try to do good secret things..."