1838 – Turkey
A recent graduate of England’s most exclusive—and unusual—boarding school, Lady Portia Blythe has been accepted into the Praetorienne—though not without reservations from those who head the queen’s all-female secret guard. Determined to prove herself as part of Queen Victoria’s protection detail on a diplomatic mission to Constantinople, Portia stumbles into a secret arms auction. She discovers Jack Harding working a case, and he joins her in uncovering the purveyors of this devastating weaponry as well as a sinister plot to assassinate the queen and start a war.
With trouble at every turn, Portia draws on her training, marvelous gadgets, and her courage. Though troubled by self-doubt, she protects the royal entourage, leads their flight across Europe, and thwarts assignation attempts. She must trust in allies—former and new—and her prayers for God’s help to escape the threats, prevent full-blown war, and safely escort the queen home for her coronation.