title: Death at the Priory
author: James Ruddick
description: Excellent, a triumphant feat of detective work... Ruddick's book is not only a gripping historical whodunit, but also a brilliant evocation of the sort of tribulations that had to be endured by many Victorian women who were doomed to disastrous marriages. Thanks to Ruddick and his meticulous research, I, for one, am utterly convinced that we now know who really murdered Charles Bravo. -- Val Hennessy * Daily Mail *
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  Lizzie Leigh
  
  
    
    
  [Chapter I  
    
  ](Lizzie%20Leigh_split_001.html#filepos1692)[Chapter II  
    
  ](Lizzie%20Leigh_split_001.html#filepos27855)[Chapter III  
    
  ](Lizzie%20Leigh_split_001.html#filepos46990)[Chapter IV
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
  # Lizzie Leigh
  
  
  ### Elizabeth Gaskell
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  * Chapter I
  
  
  * Chapter II
  
  
  * Chapter III
  
  
  * Chapter IV
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  ### Chapter I
  
  
  
  
  
  When Death is present in a household on a Christmas Day, the very
  
  
  contrast between the time as it now is, and the day as it has often
  
  
  been, gives a poignancy to sorrow, — a more utter blankness to the
  
  
  desolation. James Leigh died just as the far away bells of Rochdale
  
  
  Church were ringing for morning service on Christmas Day, 1836. A few
  
  
  minutes before his death, he opened his already glazing eyes, and made
  
  
  a sign to his wife, 