Lord of the Abbey Read Online Free PDF Page B

a very formal and enjoyable meal with intelligent and lively conversation centering around Rowena’s research. She was pleasantly surprised to find that both gentlemen knew an extensive amount of facts about the Abbey, the Tor, and most of the Glastonbury legends. She promised to show them some proof of her endeavors after dinner.
     
    “ I grew up playing in the abbey grounds. I know the stories, heard all the legends, but not once did I ponder the fact that the last Abbot had the time or the inclination to hide some of the wealth and treasures away. As you pointed out, Lady Rowena, and Lyon and I both know, Glastonbury Abbey is the oldest, holiest for a host of reasons, and was probably the wealthiest abbey in England, and was since the earliest times a site of pilgrimage. I knew of the rumored tunnels, swear I fell into the remains of one as a boy, still I never ventured to think about the fact that Glastonbury Abbey was the last to be dissolved in this area. The last Abbey standing in Somerset.” Harry shook his head in amazement.
     
    “ I must confess, sirs, I never thought seriously of treasure until I began researching. It came to me as I researched that Abbot Whiting must have known what was coming to Glastonbury, as evidenced by the fall of all the other abbeys nearby. Then I found a letter giving evidence to the fact that Abbot Whiting did indeed realize what was coming and did hide some of what he considered the holiest of treasures. Of course I have no way of knowing if some, or any of it, is still there.”
     
    Her audience fell silent. All eyes were upon her. She felt heat stain her cheeks as Glaston and Amesbury regarded her intently. She was not accustomed to male attention, other than Sir John’s, of course.
     
    “ A letter, Lady Rowena?” Harry asked, his curiosity obviously piqued.
     
    “ Yes. In my years of researching the Abbey, I looked for anything that might indicate some of the Abbey’s most venerated relics were hidden before Abbot Whiting was arrested. It seemed there was plenty of time, a year or longer, to hide some of the treasures while all over England abbeys were being destroyed or given to Henry VIII’s cronies as private residences. Of course, I did find evidence that some plate and chalices were found within the abbey walls before and after Abbot Whiting was hung.”
     
    Rowena continued, “There were the letters written to Thomas Cromwell by his men here at Glastonbury, who supervised the stripping of the Abbey before it was demolished. Their letters listed many of their finds. I looked to the older writings of Malmsbury and John of Glastonbury, as well as John Leland who visited just before the Abbey was destroyed, to see what was known to be at the Abbey before the Dissolution. Many of the most popular and well known treasures and relics were not mentioned again after the Abbey was dissolved.”
     
    Rowena took a deep breath to help ease her nerves. Both gentlemen were watching her, wide-eyed with interest. She fought to overcome her sudden shyness. She was not used to being the center of attention. Rowena went on, “I quite by accident found the letter several months ago sewn inside the cover of a book in the library at Stonedown Manor. It fell from the book cabinet I opened. When I picked it up I noticed the parchment protruding from the damaged corner. The book was copied by monks at the Abbey before the Dissolution. The book is called St. Augustine on the Trinity . I confess I never gave the book any consideration in all the years I’ve been at Stonedown.”
     
    She wavered as she realized the undivided attention of the company was still upon her. Was acutely aware Harry Bellingham’s dark brown gaze had not moved from her, it lingered still. His expression was pensive, and there was something more. Something she could not name.
     
    She admitted to herself again, he was a distractingly handsome man with his dark, coffee-colored hair, and rich brown eyes. His