The Wicked Marquess (32 page)

Percy Pettigrew, under other circumstances, might have lived a long and remarkably malicious life. Instead, he put a bullet through his brain.

Baird’s Abbey today remains the favored residence of the Davenham family, who continue in the tradition of embellishing the eccentric structure, and recently have added solar panels and a tennis court. The Elizabethan kitchens have long since been remodeled. All these improvements have not rid the old place of its drafts. The gardens contain an unauthentic ruined tower, a gift from Sinbad to his bride.

The battlements remain the same, the chimeras and gargoyles, the parapet where tragedy was so narrowly averted once, if not before. The secret passageways are still in use.

As for the ghosts who are said to haunt the abbey–

For those with vision keen enough to see them, Lady Dulcibella and her Robin dance in the great hall still.

Copyright © 2009 by Maggie MacKeever

Originally published by Belgrave House/Regency Reads (9780982171783)

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.