The Haversham Legacy by Nickie
Fleming
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BLURB:
The sudden marriage of the Marquis of Haversham ignites a series
of events. The marquis is murdered, his wife and daughter suffer an accident.
The marchioness is dead, but where is baby Justine?
Young Nigel Denby is the only one who can name the culprit
of these murders. However, he has to flee the country on the accusation of high
treason. He swears revenge on the man who arranged this.
When he meets an highwayman and his daughter, a plan is
formed and at last he returns to England, to trick the murderer into
confession.
Little does he know that his mysterious companions have
secrets of their own…
EXCERPT:
October,
1668
A woman approached the group of courtiers around the King.
She looked very young and very innocent compared to most of the other women
present. Her delicate pink gown made her stand out even more.
Charles the Second smiled pleasantly when he saw her and
beckoned, "Ah, there you are, my dear! James, may I present Lady Claire De
Vere, eldest daughter of the Earl of St. Albans."
The man he addressed made a courtly bow.
"Lady Claire, this is one of my best friends, the
Marquis of Haversham."
A bit further away, a young man watched the scene. His name
was George Templeton and he was the cousin of the marquis. He was not dancing,
as one would expect of such a young and dashing young lad. With his fair hair,
blue eyes, and his sportsman’s body, he was the dream of every girl and her
mother--even more so because he was the sole heir of the Marquis of Haversham.
The marquis was already thirty-eight years old and had never married.
James faced the girl--and it was plain to George how this
pleased the older man. Of course the lady was pretty, with her black hair, blue
eyes, and cherry-like mouth. She could be his daughter though, and most
certainly she was too innocent for his cousin’s taste. Although James had never
looked for a wife, he did not object to taking the occasional damsel to his
bed. He once told his cousin that he preferred experienced women who knew how
to please a man and did not make demands.
Yet right now he seemed to be drowning in the eyes of this
girl who could only have sixteen or seventeen years of age. She said something
and he laughed at it. Then he offered her his arm and they moved to the dancing
floor.
George began to feel a bit unsure at that exact moment. It
was as if the center of his universe suddenly shifted out of focus. He had
built his life on the certainty of becoming the next Marquis. He could
not--would not--allow something to happen to his dreams of becoming a rich and
wealthy man.
The Haversham Legacy is a beautiful blend of the
lavish and the picaresque, combining courtly life with swashbuckling adventure.
Mindy McKay for Rogue's Angels
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