Come Rack! Come Rope!

A cold, crystal‑clear morning finds a young rider, Robin, making his way through the bleak Derbyshire landscape on his horse Cecily. Dressed in green with gauntlets, a buckled leather belt, and a falcon perched on his wrist, he appears the picture of a gallant country gentleman, though his thoughts seem far from the romance of a simple rendezvous. The narrative paints the stark beauty of birch‑lined hills, the quiet Derwent river, and the frozen pools beneath his horse’s hooves, setting a mood that is both haunting and intimate.

Beyond the personal journey, the story opens onto a turbulent era of religious conflict. Hidden priests, secret Masses, and the relentless hunt for recusants define the world around Robin and his beloved Marjorie. As local families grapple with loyalty, betrayal, and the ever‑looming threat of the authorities, the novel weaves real historical figures and events into the lives of its fictional protagonists, offering a vivid portrait of faith and danger in late‑sixteenth‑century England.