The Sign of the Red Cross: A Tale of Old London

In the crowded streets of late‑sixteenth‑century London, the hum of trade mixes with the clatter of horse‑drawn carts, and the city’s glittering fashions mask a restless undercurrent. Charles Mason, a master builder turned prosperous upholsterer, revels in his newfound wealth, flaunting exotic silks and French furnishings while his neighbors mutter about pride and impending ruin. Across the way, Rachel Harmer spins at her wheel, her quiet voice warning that the city’s excess may invite divine retribution, a sentiment echoed by her steadfast friend James Harmer, a tradesman of honest means.

The narrative follows the Harmer household as they navigate the clash between opulent ambition and the old warnings of plague and moral decay. As rumors of disease and fire swirl through taverns and workshops, James feels compelled to act, drawing together a circle of friends, neighbours, and the city’s “Sisters of Mercy” to confront a looming crisis. Their choices will test loyalty, faith, and the fragile bonds that hold a bustling metropolis together.