Marblestone Mansion, Book 4 Page 3

  Organization was the key, but Prescot was not so sure organizing this lot would be that easy. Half an hour later, almost all the trunks were lined up in the hallway, the servants waited to do the unpacking, and the first bath was getting cold. Still, the new residents went from room to room and back again, debating which would be suitable for whom.

  “They’ve never had a choice before,” Moan admitted, leaning against the wall next to Prescot. “I learned long ago to let Elizabeth settle them, and she will when she’s had her fill of it.” He nodded toward the youngest girl. “That’s Mary. She dinna care which room, so long as Wade is not in it. She thinks her mother dinna hear her, but Elizabeth never misses a word.”

  “Mary is the shy one?” Prescot asked.

  “If you can call any of my children shy. She speaks up when ‘tis necessary.”

  “Paulette and Janna both want the green room,” Prescot muttered.

  Moan listened to his wife for a moment. “There, you see? Elizabeth has settled it by giving Mary the green room. My Elizabeth is a wonder at these sorts of things. I canna think what I would do without her.”

  When Mary realized she would not be sharing a room with her little brother, she smiled and so did Prescot. Elizabeth gave Wade the room next to the one she and Moan would share and soon after, the other rooms were assigned. Paulette and Janna were not pleased, but after they each glanced at the stern look on their father’s face, they complied with their mother’s wishes. Soon, Prescot nodded for the footmen to move the trunks in and the servants began the unpacking.

  “Do you have a billiard room?” David asked Prescot, ignoring the confusion around him.

  “Indeed we do,” Prescot answered. David had deep dimples in his rosy cheeks and was just finishing the exasperating circumstance that turned a boy into a man. He was fifteen and his facial hair was just beginning to grow. “Do you play?”

  “I’ve little opportunity in London, but I hope to learn.”

  “When you are settled in, seek out a footman by the name of Brookton. He is a master at billiards.”

  “I shall,” David said. The dimples in his cheeks showed as he smiled, and then went off to see about his bedroom.

  Next, Prescot noticed the special kindred between the eldest twins, Lenox and Paulette. Amid the chaos of shuffling this trunk and that, Lenox was more interested in seeing his sister happy than worrying about his own accommodations. Paulette had her heart set on the green room, and might have been far more upset had Lenox not been there to soothe her ruffled feathers.

  After the traffic in the hallway eased a little, Moan went into his bedroom, while Elizabeth joined Prescot in the hallway. “We left a good bit behind,” she admitted, finally taking a moment to confide in the butler. “A house full, I dinna mind tellin’. How are we to live without all our things? I fretted over it all the way across an ocean. We gave them to the poor, yet we were poor ourselves and I dinna see the sense in it.”

  “Now you do?” Prescot asked.

  “I confess I am a bit bothered still. I’ve not a pot to my name.”

  Prescot chuckled. “I am certain the cooks will have one to spare should you want a home of your own later.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “I hope so. Everything is so expensive these days, and with six children...”

  “Then you must live here until you manage to save up enough.”

  Her eyes finally brightened. “There’s a right brilliant idea. You do not think Mr. MacGreagor will mind our staying?”

  “He is a man who needs people to care for, and the more, the better. He would be saddened if you didn’t stay, and so would the rest of us.”

  “You are a good lad, Mr. Prescot. Thank you.” She heard Paulette and Janna squabbling down the hall and went to see what the fuss was about this time.

  By the time all the trunks were moved in and he checked to make sure the servants were busy with the unpacking, Prescot was well satisfied. Elizabeth easily spoke to him about her concerns and he was confident she would come to him if she had a need. There was only one problem. Young Mr. Wade had apparently gone exploring and Prescot decided he best go find him before the boy got lost.

  *

  It was in Cameron MacGreagor’s heart to marry Cathleen Covington, long before he set out from his home in Scotland and traveled to Colorado Springs. After the death of his first wife, he was a lost and lonely man. Six months later, he traveled to America to see his family, and could not help falling in love with Cathleen. He would have taken her back to Scotland with him then, but she was not ready. Now, nearly a year after his wife died, Cathleen finally confessed her love for him in a letter and even an ocean could not keep him from her.

  On the edge of the mansion’s spacious backyard, sat five cottages, one newly built, a fenced pasture, a horse corral, a stack of baled hay gathered for winter, and a shed where a new, black carriage waited to be hitched up. None of that mattered to Cameron. All he could see was Cathleen sitting in the tree swing with her long auburn hair gently swaying in the back and forth motion of the swing. Her blue eyes met his and the moment he took her in his arms, his heart was finally at peace.

  Cathleen didn’t want him to, but he stopped kissing her, pulled completely out of her arms, reached into his coat pocket and then got down on one knee. “Aye!” she said before he had a chance to ask. As soon as he stood up, she threw herself back in his arms.

  Cameron laughed. “Are you not going to let me put the ring on your finger?”

  “Nay, I would rather hold you.”

  He laughed. “‘Tis not official until you wear my ring.”

  “Oh, very well.” She let him take her hand, slip the diamond on her finger and then went back in his arms without even admiring it. “I cannae believe you came back.”

  “I love you too much to live another day without you.”

  “Say it again.”

  He wrapped his arms tighter around her and let her rest her head on his chest. “I love you, Cathleen, more than you shall ever know.”

  She closed her eyes and heard the words she spent weeks dreaming he would finally say. “I knew I loved you the day you danced with me in the ballroom.”

  “I knew long before that.”

  She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “When, when did you know?”

  “I think it was when I realized you tricked Mr. Swinton into buying the wrong lunch box.”

  “Oh that.” She blushed, and then relaxed against him again. “You look tired.”

  “I have slept little, but no matter how hard I wished it, I could not make the train go faster. All I could think of was getting to you before Swinton managed to steal you away.”

  “How you tease me. You know he could not tempt me away. I would have waited a lifetime for you.” She suddenly drew in a sharp breath. “Oh, poor Pearl. She fancies you, you know. I hope she will not be too brokenhearted.”

  “Who?” he mocked. At last, he remembered, dug in his jacket pocket a second time and withdrew the blue ribbon she gave him. “You made me promise to bring it back.”

  “I remember.”

  “You have no idea how I have cherished this ribbon. I have carried it with me everywhere. Once, I forgot it and had to go all the way back home to get it. I so desperately needed you with me and the ribbon was all I had of you.”

  “Then you shall have it always.”

  “Nay, you shall have the ribbon and I shall have you always.” Once more, he lowered his lips to hers and passionately kissed her.

  *

  Marblestone’s dining room, which normally only served three family members, held fourteen now that McKenna and her husband, Nicholas, had arrived. It was good to have most of the chairs filled for a change. This was the one room Leesil had not made any changes to, except for adding blue cords to tieback the white drapes. It still held a long oak table with sixteen matching tall back chairs, a buffet, two electric lamps and two sideboards. Even the gold-rimmed mantle clock remained right where it was on o
ne of the sideboards.

  Not long after the footmen began to offer their platters, Hannish noticed the new MacGreagors found being served uncomfortable. They intently watched every move McKenna made as she was being served, to see just what to do. Therefore, he decided to lighten the mood a little and stared at his brother, who was seated at the opposite end of the table with Cathleen next to him.

  “Brother, I believe you have an announcement to make,” said Hannish.

  Cameron looked up from his dinner and frowned. “I thought to make it later.”

  “I wish to hear it now?” Hannish insisted.

  “You may wish it, but I do not wish to tell you now,” Cameron shot back.

  It worked and Hannish was pleased. The new MacGreagors paid less attention to being served and instead turned their heads to look from one end of the table to the other. “You forget, I am your laird,” Hannish said.

  Cameron finished taking a serving of roast chicken off the platter, and putting it on his plate before he looked up. “You forget, I am a duke.”

  Elizabeth was beginning to look a little worried, so Hannish winked at her. “In Scotland, you are a duke. Here, you are simply a member of this clan.”

  “Might I remind you, I am your brother,” Cameron said.

  “Aye, my little brother,” Hannish returned. “Go on, what is your announcement?”

  “Very well, if you insist.” Cameron paused for a moment. “If you must know, I have decided to employ a private tutor for Blair.”

  Hannish glared at Cameron for a moment and then wrinkled his brow. “I see. Then you do not wish to marry Cathleen?”

  “Now you’ve done, it,” said Cameron. “You have spoiled the surprise.”

  “Some surprise, I saw you kissing her outside by the swing. Do you deny it?” Hannish asked.

  “I do not deny it…I rather enjoyed it.” Cameron tried not to notice when the girls giggled.

  “I see,” said Hannish, trying to hide his smile as well. “When you have decided to announce your intention to marry her, dinna forget you need my permission.”

  “Because you are my laird?” Cameron asked.

  “Aye, and because she is my wife’s sister. Come to think of it, you need Leesil’s permission as well.”

  Cameron huffed and slowly stood up. “Dearest Sister-in-law, may I have your permission to marry your sister?”

  Leesil looked up at the ceiling and thought about it for a moment. “Cathleen is quite a handful, you are aware. She cries occasionally for no reason at all and is most fond of children. Can you manage her?”

  “I can and I will,” Cameron answered.

  Leesil grinned. “Then I heartily approve.”

  Cameron sat back down and looked from Leesil to his brother. “There, are you satisfied?”

  Hannish glanced at all the faces waiting for his reply, and then leaned toward Moan. “I believe I can still take him.”

  Moan raised an eyebrow. “He is younger.”

  “True, we old married lads are not as spry as we once were.”

  “Indeed not,” Moan agreed.

  Cathleen finally spoke up. “Laird MacGreagor, should you give your permission, I would be pleased to have you walk me down the aisle.”

  Hannish’s eyes lit up. “Truly? Cathleen, I am humbled and am exceedingly honored you have asked me to give you away.”

  Cathleen quickly turned her attention to Cameron. “I’d say you have his permission now.” She watched Hannish’s smile turn to a glower and burst out laughing.

  “You have tricked me!” Hannish said.

  “And far more easily than usual.” Cathleen quickly stood up, hurried around the table and flew into her brother-in-law’s arms. “How I shall miss tricking you.”

  Hannish hugged her back, followed her with his eyes as she went back to her seat, and then noticed both of the footmen were grinning. “I suppose all the servants knew about this?”

  “We did,” Shepard admitted.

  “I shall deal with the lot of you later.”

  Both Brookton and Shepard rolled their eyes, which served to put all the new MacGreagors even more at ease. Hannish MacGreagor, it seemed, was all bark and no bite.

  “Moan, you shall meet Claymore Whitfield soon,” Hannish began as he cut his chicken. “He has agreed…”

  “I am surprised they are not here already,” Leesil interrupted.

  “She is right,” Hannish said. “We best warn you that the Whitfields regularly come unannounced, particularly when we are eating. As I was about to say, Mr. Whitfield has agreed to handle all the purchasing and office duties while I supervise the building of our new houses. It is for him you will work mostly. We looked everywhere for a suitable secretary and it seems they are harder to find than new gold veins in the Colorado mountains.”

  Moan quickly swallowed his mouthful. “I am looking forward to it.”

  “You will like Claymore. We have been friends since first I came to Colorado, but I warn you, his wife, Abigail, takes a bit of getting used to. She is…” Hannish stopped and looked to Leesil for help.

  “She is quite busy,” Leesil explained, “but harmless enough and fun to be around. She’ll be here once she hears you have arrived.”

  Moan nodded. “I assure you, any employer shall be refreshing after John Crisp, even a lad with a busy wife.”

  “That bad, is he?” Hannish asked.

  “You have no idea. I have yet to meet someone he has not cheated. Once, Crisp took all the jewels in a woman’s possession, had them appraised, knew they were worth a fortune and still told her husband it was not enough for her defense.”

  Hannish smiled. “I had heard that about him.”

  “Ah, well, ‘tis all behind us now,” Moan said, squeezing his wife’s hand.

  “Are the schools very far away?” Elizabeth asked.

  “We have two very fine schools in town,” Leesil answered, “but our own teacher, Beverly, is looking forward to having new students. I am certain you will like her. She is a Scot the same as we.”

  “Good,” said Elizabeth. “Wade could use help with his reading.”

  “I can read,” seven-year-old Wade argued.

  “Not well enough,” his mother said.

  Hannish smiled at the boy. “Well, young Mr. Wade, how did you like the voyage?”

  “Not well,” Wade answered. “Not enough range land.”

  “Wade wants to be a cowboy,” Moan explained.

  “Or a constable,” Wade corrected.

  “We call them Sheriffs,” Leesil pointed out.

  Wade wrinkled his brow, “I mean Sheriff.”

  Cameron grinned. “He captured me twice on the ship.”

  “Very good, young Mr. Wade. I had a devil of a time capturing him when I was your age,” said Hannish.

  “Aye, and Cameron captured me often enough too,” said McKenna.

  “You are the youngest?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I am, and you must come to our house in town.” McKenna’s eyes twinkled as she looked first at Hannish and then Cameron. “I shall be pleased to tell you all sorts of stories about our persnickety laird and his unruly brother, the duke.”

  Cameron frowned. “Unruly? You need not say it like that. They shall think ill of me before I have opportunity of proving otherwise.”

  “I accept bribes,” McKenna said.

  Hannish waited for the laughter to die down and cleared his throat. “McKenna, we let you marry a judge against our better judgment. MacGreagors do not think kindly of the law. We have our own laws.”

  The judge pulled his napkin out of his lap and wiped his mouth. “Yet, laws, we must have in America just as they do in Scotland.”

  “I suppose we must,” Hannish admitted. “Still, we have one law neither country has.”

  “What law is that?” Moan asked.

  Hannish took a sip of tea to wash down the bite he quickly swallowed before he explained, “If a lad harms a lass or a child out of anger, he is to be pu
t to death.” He turned to look at McKenna’s husband. “Does America hold with such a law, Judge?”

  The whole table quieted while Nicholas considered his answer. “Would that it were that simple. I agree with your law, Hannish, but the courts do not. The man who breaks your law may well be sent to our new prison in Canon City, if the injuries are severe enough, but killing him is not seen as just.”

  Hannish finished another bite, put his fork in his plate and folded his arms. “According to our ancient stories, it was this edict that kept such things from happening in our clan.”

  “Aye, and the laird had the courage to carry out the sentence,” Cameron answered. “While I’d not mind killing a lad to defend my family, I’d not care to be an executioner. I am quite happy you are the laird, brother, and not me.”

  Leesil put her hand on her husband’s arm. “Dearest, you would likely go to prison. Therefore, I am happy such a thing cannae happen in this family. Shall we not change the subject?”

  “Of course, my love. Forgive me,” said Hannish. “Besides, ‘tis precisely why we let McKenna marry a judge. I might need him to keep me out of prison.” He winked at his sister and then turned to watch Nicholas roll his eyes.

  “Cousin Hannish,” Lenox asked. “When do you expect to have automobiles? I have read a great deal about them.”

  “I am looking forward to it myself. However, we have no way of obtaining petro, no suitable roads and from what I have heard, automobiles break down often. Perhaps we might have them in another three or four years.”

  As they ate, Elizabeth asked about the shops in town, Moan asked about buying horses and a buggy, and before long, Hannish noticed his guests had finished eating. “Unless I am mistaken, my wife and her sister would like to go off to plan a wedding.”