Marblestone Mansion, Book 1 (Scandalous Duchess Series, #1) Read online

  McKenna hesitated to say it, but truth among friends seemed to be called for in this case. “I am afraid I do not. As far as I know, there is no Duke of Ainsbury and I am sad to say, there is no such place as Ainsbury in either Scotland or England.”

  “Imposters?” Abigail cried out, putting her hand on her racing heart. “They stayed with us for nearly a month and we treated them like the royalty we thought they were. Claymore paid for everything, even their expenses home.”

  McKenna leaned to the side a little so the footman could set her cup of tea on the table. “I suspect there are plenty of British royalty imposters in America and how could you know? How could anyone know the difference? I must ask my brother, Cameron, to send me a list of all the real royalty, and...”

  “And post it in every hotel,” Abigail said. “My dear, I am so happy you are here. We’ll not be fooled again.”

  It was finally down to business for Abigail’s sewing circle, and Pearl patiently showed McKenna how to put the blocks and wedges together to make designs. While she did, Pearl managed to ask a few more questions, “You have another brother, you say. Is he as handsome as Hannish?”

  McKenna smiled. “I am hardly one to judge. He is married as well and I adore his wife. They hope to visit before the summer is out.”

  Loretta, the only other single woman in the room, had a definite glint of excitement in her eyes. “Your brother is a real duke, is he not?”

  “Aye, but it means nothing here in America,” McKenna said.

  “It would mean a great deal to the woman who secures him. It would mean a very great deal,” said Pearl.

  McKenna was not amused. “I caution you, my brother is not seeking a new wife, and certainly not one who is more interested in his title than in him.”

  “Of course not,” Abigail soothed. “But you, my dear, are quite without a husband, and I hope to introduce you to several of our gentlemen friends soon. Perhaps we might manage to make you forget the man you left in Scotland. When is the next ball, Vivian?”

  Vivian sighed. “The middle of next month and I’ve nothing to wear.”

  “You will come, won’t you, McKenna? And bring your handsome brother?” Pearl asked.

  “Oh yes, please do,” Loretta agreed.

  “I shall ask him.”

  Neither Pearl nor Loretta noticed Charlotte’s scowl.

  CHAPTER 8

  They spoke of little in the carriage on the way home, mostly because McKenna was livid. She tried not to let on and if Charlotte knew how upset McKenna was, she wasn’t letting on either. It was near dinner time when they arrived, and once inside, each went their separate ways.

  All through dinner, McKenna and Hannish talked about the prospects of attending their first Colorado ball together. She asked him several questions about the dancing and the refreshments, all the time feeling she should say something about Charlotte’s disclosure. In the end, she decided to let her brother have a good night’s rest, and tell him what happened in the morning.

  *

  “Our Charlotte is a teacher,” McKenna announced when she went to say goodnight to the servants in the kitchen.

  “Are you?” Sarah asked.

  “I am,” Charlotte admitted.

  “Why are you not teaching?” Keith asked.

  “They have no position for me just now, but I am hoping they will someday soon,” Charlotte answered.

  Sassy frowned. “If you be a teacher, why are you not correcting me instead of Keith?”

  Charlotte did not hide her contempt for Sassy. “If he gets it wrong, I will be happy to correct him.”

  “But he does not get it wrong, does he,” Sassy moaned.

  Jessie finished towel drying the last washed cup and put it in the cupboard. “Perhaps the time will come when we need a teacher right here in the mansion.”

  “Not much chance of that, now that Mr. Hannish has no wife,” Halen muttered.

  Charlotte said, “Unless he divorces her.”

  “What does it matter to you?” asked Sarah. “A teacher cannot marry anyway.”

  Just then, Hannish walked through the door and glared at Charlotte. “No MacGreagor has ever set a wife aside and I do not intend to be the first.”

  “But she committed adultery,” Charlotte dared to say.

  There was an intense, awkward moment during which no one spoke, but Sassy didn’t pay attention to it when she smiled at Prescot, “I told you he hears everything.” Seated across the table, Prescot did not return her smile and it confused her.

  Hannish took his annoyed eyes off Charlotte finally, and looked at the man serving as his valet for the night. “Prescot, I shall have a glass of milk before bed.” With that, he turned and left the kitchen.

  “Very good, Sir,” Prescot frowned at Charlotte again, before he got up and began to prepare a tray.

  If Charlotte cared, she didn’t show it. “I only said what everyone suspects,” she muttered, as she too left the room.

  “What is the matter?” Sassy asked.

  McKenna smiled to reassure Sassy. “A servant should never comment on her employer’s private affairs. Charlotte broke that rule just now. Come, it is time for bed and I am exhausted.”

  *

  Sassy was getting pretty good at fixing McKenna’s hair in the mornings, with a little supervision still from Sarah. She had one side almost pinned up when she noticed how quiet McKenna was. She exchanged glances with Sarah and finally asked, “Are you ill, Miss McKenna?”

  “Aye, Sassy, I am ill at heart. A dreadful thing has happened and I must tell my brother this morning, but I do not know how.”

  “Just tell him, Miss McKenna, ‘tis the best way always.”

  At length, McKenna said, “You are right. Will you fetch him for me, Sassy?”

  Sassy handed the brush to Sarah and hurried away. A short time later, she came back and not long after that, Hannish knocked on the door and entered. “You wish to see me?” The puppy ran to Sarah and begged to be let up.

  “Come in, brother.” McKenna noticed Sarah was about to leave and stopped her. “Sarah, you will need to hear this too. Sassy, go to the kitchen and...” She couldn’t think of something fast enough and ended up saying, “ask Jessie how to make soup.”

  Incredulous, Sassy asked, “Cook soup? You wish me to cook soup for you?”

  “You best scoot, Sassy,” Sarah warned.

  She did as she was told, muttering all the way down the hall. “Soup? ‘Tis something very grave, if the Miss wants to eat my soup.”

  “Sister, what is it?” Hannish asked, not bothering to sit down.

  By the time McKenna finished telling Hannish and Sarah what had happened, Hannish decided to sit down and Sarah was shaking her head in disgust. “I fear Abigail has had time to tell everyone in town by now.”

  “What precisely did Charlotte tell them?” Hannish asked.

  “She told them you tricked Olivia into leaving by promising to join her in Scotland, and that you have no intention of going back.”

  “Did she say why I tricked Olivia into going back?”

  “Nay, but she would have, if Abigail had not wanted to ask about something else.”

  Said Hannish, “Charlotte must have been listening when I talked to the Scots. I have no choice but to send her away. What do you say, Sarah, can you make due until I hire more help?”

  Sarah nodded. “I can, but if you dismiss her, the gossip might become much worse.”

  McKenna agreed. “Still, ‘tis obvious Charlotte fancies my brother. Sooner or later Hannish must reject her and she will say it then anyway. The harm is done and I fear there is nothing we can do about it.”

  Hannish rubbed the back of his neck, the way he always did when he was irritated. “There is something we can do. You can tell Abigail the truth and Charlotte will have nothing left to tell.”

  “Tell Abigail what, precisely?” McKenna asked.

  “Tell her I discovered my wife and Mr. Graham shared a stateroom aboard sh
ip, and...”

  “You know?” McKenna gasped.

  “I got it in a cablegram from the captain.” Hannish took a deep breath and then continued; his voice rising as he spoke. “Tell Abigail that Olivia viciously hurt one of the servants, so I tricked her into leaving, cut off all her London accounts, and significantly lowered her allowance.” He abruptly stood up. “Furthermore, tell her Olivia did not beg for a divorce and in fact, did not even broach the subject.”

  Hannish walked out the door and instantly started shouting. “Prescot, gather all the servants in the parlor—now!” Behind him, McKenna and Sarah exchanged worried looks.

  His employer’s voice was so loud and angry, Prescot’s eyes widened. Shepard came running, as did Keith, and the three of them went to round everyone up. They needn’t have bothered, for everyone heard and rushed to the parlor.”

  Sassy hurried out of the kitchen behind Jessie and Halen, got to the parlor and went to stand near Prescot. “What is it?”

  “I do not know,” Prescot answered.

  Just the same, Sassy made sure she was standing a little bit behind Prescot when Hannish came down the stairs. There was no mistaking the rage in his eyes and that was something Sassy had not seen before.

  Hannish waited for his sister and Sarah to come down the stairs and then looked at each member of his household until his eyes met Charlotte’s. “Charlotte is leaving us today.”

  “Mr. Hannish, you cannot...”

  “Silence!” he yelled. His eyes bore into hers leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that the subject was not up for discussion. “You will pack your things, collect your pay and Prescot will take you to town. The rest of you, hear me well—what is said in this house is not to be discussed with strangers. Is that clear?” He watched carefully until each of them nodded. “A private conversation overheard in my dining room or any other room in this house is not to be repeated. Am I understood?”

  “Yes, Mr. Hannish,” each of them said.

  “Good. See that it never happens again. Prescot, call for the wagon – now!”

  Prescot was already moving toward the back door when he said, “Yes, Sir.”

  “Shepard, come to the study to collect Charlotte’s pay. I wish never to set eyes on her again.” He marched to the study, opened the door, waited for the footman to pass through and then slammed it.

  No one seemed able to move, especially Sassy who looked from face to face, to see if they were as surprised by what just happened as she was. With Prescot gone, she was not standing behind anyone, and she was not certain the upset was over. When she looked, McKenna nodded to her. “Shall we finish your hair now, miss?”

  “Aye,” McKenna said, “As soon as I make a telephone call.” She turned and went back upstairs to the second floor sitting room.

  Charlotte had tears in her eyes and Sarah didn’t care. “You best collect your things before he sees you again.”

  “He cannot send me away, who will do the sewing?” Charlotte asked, slowly walking toward the back stairs.

  “We will find another seamstress,” Sarah answered.

  *

  The Antler Hotel in Colorado Springs was an impressive structure, having been rebuilt after a horrendous fire just two years earlier. It stood at the end of Main Street and was a favorite place for the rich and famous to gather. Three archways marked the entrance to the four-story building and the furniture, as well as the lobby walls were covered in red velvet with gold trim. Matching curtains hung on each side of the tall windows and massive chandeliers hung from the high ceiling.

  A regular in the place before the mansion offered a warm room for him to sleep in, Hannish MacGreagor entered and was warmly greeted by the manager. Mr. Goodwin, the man with him was also easily recognizable as the owner of the New National Bank.

  “I wish a private meeting room and would you tell Mr. Graham I am here.”

  “Very good, Sir,” the manager said. He asked a second man to find George Graham, and then showed Hannish to a small private room reserved for important guests. “May I bring you a drink, gentlemen?”

  “Nay, but I thank you. We will not be here long.”

  George Graham looked relieved to finally see Hannish, but Hannish was not pleased to see him, and did not bother to introduce the man with him. “You will sign this release first.”

  Immediately suspicious, Graham took the papers Hannish handed him. “What is this?”

  “It says that what I pay you today is the full amount owed.”

  Graham looked at the bank note and laughed. “‘Tis less than a forth of what you owe me.”

  “It would have been more, but I subtracted your expenses on the voyage, your two week stay in the most expensive hotel in New York City, shoes, clothing, the watch my wife bought you and naturally, your stay at this hotel, which I shall gladly pay to be rid of you.”

  “But this is hardly enough to get home.”

  Hannish snatched the bank note back out of Graham’s hand. “Very well, then you shall have to sue me for the full amount. I daresay, I can easily outlast you in such a legal contest, and the hotel will most likely not let you stay.”

  Graham was had and he knew it. Reluctantly, he took the pen Hannish offered him and signed the document. He watched the stranger sign as witness and then gave the document back.

  Just before Hannish gave him the check, he smiled. “I have decided to expose your treachery anyway. I sent a letter to several of my friends and have advised them not to secure your services in the future. I also notified Scotland Yard. Good day, Mr. Graham.” Hannish left the room, nodded to the hotel manager and walked out the front door.

  Mr. Goodwin, a man with shorter legs than he, had to run to catch up. “Did you really notify Scotland Yard?”

  Hannish stopped and grinned. “Nay, but he’s a good two weeks to worry about it before his ship lands in England.”

  The bank manager laughed. “Remind me not to cross you, Mr. MacGreagor.”

  Hannish tipped his hat and went to see how many packages his sister needed him to carry.

  *

  With Olivia, George Graham, Charlotte and Charles Whitfield no longer a problem...they hoped life at Marblestone Mansion would begin to settle down. It was a very large home, with too few servants and far too many things arriving each day to see anyone idle for long.

  Millie was a lady’s maid without a lady to tend, so she gladly took on some of the second floor housecleaning duties. Anything was better than the duchess. The elders, Donnel and Blanka, could fully enjoy their servant’s day room, now that Olivia was not there to complain, and both believed the high Colorado altitude helped with many of their ailments. No one expected either of them to work very hard. McKenna required little, so Sassy helped Sarah too. The five of them would simply have to do and everyone, including the men, helped carry laundry to the clothesline and kept the third floor clean.

  With their pay in hand now, Jessie and Millie were excited to see the town seamstress and order new clothes. Soon, Jessie could turn her worn-out clothing into rags. Halen went with them, and they enjoyed a whole day of shopping, leaving enough sandwich makings to keep those at home happy. A few days later, they returned to town for the final fittings.

  Meanwhile, everyone tried to agree on a new name for the puppy. It wasn’t easy since the Scots thought the Americans had terribly odd names for dogs, such as Spot and Pooch. Likewise, the Americans thought the more formal names, like Berkeley and Ballard given to dogs in Scotland, ridiculous. One thing was for certain, everywhere Hannish went, the dog followed; that is, unless he was hungry and then cook Halen was his favorite.

  Abigail wasted no time repeating every word McKenna told her about the failed marriage of poor Hannish MacGreagor, and invitations to this function or that soon began to arrive. Hannish decided it was not yet time for him to make public appearances, although he did agree to take McKenna to the next ball. He simply did not want to endure condolences and McKenna agreed. She sent their regrets a
nd passed their excuses to Abigail, who was happy to explain it to the rest of the town. Telephones, it seems, had changed the speed of gossip forever.

  There were letters to write home, which kept McKenna quite busy. With her brother’s permission, she sent the same information concerning his marriage to their brother’s wife and anyone else she could think of. She was so delighted to ruin Olivia’s reputation, she almost felt guilty doing it – almost, but not quite. She was glad Hannish knew Graham had impersonated him on the voyage to America. That was the one secret she found most difficult to keep.

  Some days, Hannish was upbeat and others, he seemed to be at loose ends. He kept himself busy, and his disappointment would pass with time, McKenna hoped. Alistair and Dugan would be coming home soon and Alistair always had a way of cheering Hannish up. Perhaps she would not object to seeing them make another trip to Colorado City, if that’s what it took to make her brother feel better.

  *

  An outside garden party, when Hannish was ready to face the world, seemed the best remedy for controlling who would be the first visitors to Marblestone Mansion. Knowing whom to invite without knowing most of them was not easy, so McKenna asked for guidance from her sewing circle. This time, she took Sassy, who was more than willing to learn how to sew.

  “The date has not yet been decided,” McKenna said, setting her sewing aside and taking a sip of tea in Abigail’s dining room.

  Pearl was overjoyed. “I understand your brother’s reluctance, but nearly everyone wants to see inside Marblestone Mansion. I would go just for that alone.”

  “Then you shall,” said McKenna. “You are all invited, naturally and your husbands if you have one.”

  Loretta giggled, “And a brother for you to meet if we have no husband?”