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Maggie stepped out from the stairs.
“Funny how no one mentioned Wollscombe Hall disappearing either,” Emile said.
“Would somebody please explain what’s happening here? You claim to have been ghosts who returned to life. Frankly, that’s unbelievable. You say something about your homes being alive. There is far too much-unexplained stuff here, and this inn and Lucian are mine!” Maggie declared firmly.
“Yours?” Lucian asked.
“My inn, my ghost!” Maggie reiterated.
“You can keep your damn Lucifer. He always was cantankerous,” Nicholas grumbled. Lucian began squabbling with Nicholas, and the others joined in.
“You!” Maggie cried, pointing to Harcourt. “You’re not arguing, so please explain what is going on!”
“It is a long story, Miss Maggie. Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll send Jeremy and Emile for food. You’ll need substance once you hear what happened to the Rakehell Six,” Harcourt said, offering a patient smile. Lucian’s head turned towards him.
“Are you all honestly alive? Because I can appear solid, too,” Lucian asked.
“Someone brought us back to life after much sacrifice and many obstacles, Lucifer, my dear.”
Lucian
Many hours passed before Lucian felt he finally had the Rakehell Six’s stories accurate and embedded in his mind. Of course, Lucian’s situation was different from theirs. They had all been murdered and had to discover their killer. Lucian, however, was the barrier preventing a terrible evil from being let loose in the world. Daniel could emphasise a little, as he was slain, and the evil he’d locked up was his maniac brother. Daniel and the rest of the Rakehell Six hadn’t been trying to stop a witch from opening a portal to hell.
Like Maggie, they, too, had been incredulous when confronted with witches, vampires, and werewolves. But then Emile pointed out about Zombie Emile and being chased by hellhounds. Lavinia recalled the ghouls they’d fought at DeLacy Park, and most of their doubts were squashed. To Lucian’s surprise, once their stories had all been swapped, his included, the Rakehell Six and their spouses demanded to know how to help. As much as Lucian appreciated their offer, there was nothing they could do.
They were human and had a life. Hell, they had babies at home. Lucian wasn’t prepared to risk them. Even though jealousy stung a little. His family had served God their whole lives, yet he’d been left to waste. And where were his siblings? Lucian felt he’d been mistreated. But he hoped they’d return, and Lavinia told him something in private.
Lavinia had been informed by an archangel that the Rakehell destinies were heading in the direction fate had declared for them. But the archangel said that the Rakehell Six would change the world, but they wouldn’t do it alone. There would be others they needed to discover. Lavinia, alongside the women, was convinced it was the Nortons they were meant to find and help rescue.
Lucian marvelled at how they’d adapted to modern-day living while keeping their ethics, morals, and graces around them. They used what they wanted from today’s era. Nicholas and Lavinia had struggled the most with adapting, and still instilled respect, loyalty, faith, and many other good qualities. Instead of worshipping greed and money, the Rakehell Six led the way in showing how to live with honour and helping your fellow man. Lucian had listened intently as Sabine explained how they had employed hundreds of new staff at Oakwood Manor with the attractions they’d opened to the public.
Lucian’s estate had few interests, nor did it have a village attached to it. But it was set in beautiful landscaping and boasted a robust fishing lake. He’d purchased several farms and a few factories. He imagined the warehouses were derelict now. Lucian had also owned two bottle-making workshops alongside three breweries and a paper factory. Lucian was unaware of what had happened to his businesses or staff. He missed his home, with its rolling landscapes, valleys, rivers, and numerous small woods.
Could he, too, return to life and help society by tracking the evil residing there today? Those from his era had displayed a high distaste for the loutish behaviour surrounding them. Lucian reminded them that such manners had existed in their time and in their level of civilisation, too. But Harcourt, the most conservative of the men, informed Lucian that the behaviour was widespread and accepted nowadays.
Lucian pushed aside his thoughts as he stared at Maggie, who was asking questions to Henrietta, Emile, and Lavinia. They’d stunned her when they admitted to wearing their Georgian clothing to this day. And the Lords did, including Jeremy, who’d been born in this era. When Maggie questioned them about people making fun of them or teasing them cruelly, Henrietta grinned wickedly. Lucian knew the sharp-tongued woman had set many down.
Somehow, Henrietta had talked Lucian into agreeing to a washing machine and tumble dryer. She informed Lucian Mr Evans had worked at Oakwood Manor, Courtenay House, Waverley Hall, and Corelle Abbey. Eléonore Castle and DeLacy Park had remained occupied and therefore cared for. Lucian had been saddened to hear how the beautiful Waverley Hall had fallen into significant disrepair and yet was gladdened to learn she’d been restored to her former glory.
With a sideways glance at St John, Henrietta had asked to view the upstairs. Lucian warily regarded her husband, who had a hair trigger and was pleasantly surprised to see his agreement.
“What do you plan to do?” Henrietta urged as they walked along the corridor, peeking into the bedrooms.
“Keep Margery locked away from the public.”
“For the rest of your existence?” Henrietta challenged.
“Henrietta, you’ve no idea of the level of evil within Margery’s heart. I cannot allow that to escape onto untold numbers of innocents.”
“But Lucian, you have Maggie,” Henrietta commented, pausing in a bedroom. Lucian stopped and stared at her, confused. “Oh, Lucifer! Always the charmer with women but never truly seeing. Maggie is your St John. Daniel’s Sabine, Nicholas’s Melisandre, I don’t need to carry on, surely. All those years alone, and now she comes into your life, and her friend is at the Black Cat. That is no coincidence, Lucifer, nor is our arrival.”
“You arrived because Melisandre instructed you to,” Lucian said.
“And who told Melisandre to come here? She rarely takes on commissions, two or three a year. She is busy with Waverley Hall and their village. Yet Melisandre ended up here and somehow knew we were meant to help you. That is your call to destiny, Lucian, and we both know that is a word we don’t bandy about freely. Maggie is the catalyst for whatever is to happen. Do you care for her, Lucian? When you look at her, I see the light in your eyes, and it’s not just the enjoyment of tangling with her.”
“I cherish Maggie, but she’s stubborn and annoying. Maggie completely refuses to listen!”
“Lucian, you’ve met your match. When we sparred in our day, there was never the twinkle you own now. You thoroughly enjoy your battles with Maggie, and the fact you’re so protective of her speaks volumes,” Henrietta pried.
