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

by Marti Talbott

“Good, write down the name of the place and I will see to it.”

  “Should I tell about another time Old Mrs. Forthright fell in the pond?”

  Keith frowned, “Did you push her?”

  “I might have; cannae say for sure, as we was all pushing and shoving. There she be, all wet with her hair hanging down, shaking her fist at us. We run fast as lightning and...”

  Hannish checked the pocket watch he kept on Scotland time, and left the room to make the first of many telephone calls to come.

  *

  All was set and the night before Olivia was scheduled to arrive, Hannish finally began to calm down a little. He ate a leisurely dinner with McKenna in the dining room and smiled far more often than he had in days. Behind them, Ronan clasped his hands behind his back, waited to clear their plates and then to serve a sweet custard for dessert. After that, his chores would be finished and once brother and sister went into the parlor, he hoped to find Sassy downstairs with the others telling more of her tall tales about the orphanage. Unfortunately, Hannish felt like talking and forgot to dismiss Ronan.

  “You shall meet General Palmer soon. He fought, and bravely so I am told, in the American Civil War. He was a railroad surveyor when he happened upon this valley, secured funding, and built the rail line from Denver. As for the town, he hoped to lure the English here and has been successful, I am happy to say. For a time, they called the place ‘Little London.’ When we are prepared, we will request to be notified of who is coming. That way, we can fill this place with dinner and tea guests.”

  “How delightful. I’ve a few friends I hope to invite to stay with us.”

  “Good, give me a list and I shall see to it.”

  “I would much rather write the invitations myself.”

  “Very well.”

  “How far is Cripple Creek, I would like to see it?” McKenna asked.

  “Not so very far, but it is up in the mountains and not a pleasant place for a lady to be, nor is Colorado City. I would rather you not go.”

  “Colorado City? Is that where the saloons are?”

  “So I have heard.”

  McKenna rolled her eyes, “I believe that is where you took Alistair and Prescot, and I wager you saw all the saloons long before that.”

  “Perhaps I did, but you’ll not hear me confess it. Colonel Palmer bought up all the land between Colorado City and here—to prevent the building of more saloons.” He believes alcohol makes a man unmanageable and has forbidden it in this county.”

  Finally finished with dessert, she watched Ronan clear the dishes away. “So you’ve not a drop in the house?”

  “My dear sister, a man must have his medicinal comforts.”

  “Medicinal, I see.” McKenna noticed Ronan was still waiting and got up from the table. “Shall we talk in the library? I’ve a hunger for reading lately and I wish to see what is available.”

  “Very well.” Hannish stood up, nodded to Ronan and followed his sister. “I suspect you mean you would rather read a book than spend time with my wife.”

  She waited while Shepard opened the door and then walked into the library. “Olivia and I have very different views.” McKenna walked to the sparse bookcase and began to read the titles allowed, “Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, such an ugly book...oh, you have Seven Brothers. There’s a book I have not yet read.”

  Hannish took a seat and thoughtfully touched his fingertips together. “Upon which things do you and Olivia disagree, other than which man you should marry?”

  With her back still to him, McKenna closed her eyes. She had said far too much and he already suspected she was not being honest with him. “Brother, two women always have their differences, it cannae be helped.”

  Still not getting a straight answer from her, he decided to change the subject, “Tell me about my brother’s wife. He wrote that she nearly ran him down with her horse and buggy.”

  McKenna giggled, “Twas the very best way to get his attention.”

  “She did it deliberately?”

  “Not at all, it was an accident, a very happy accident. It had just rained; her carriage hit a hole in the road and splashed our poor brother with mud. Flora stopped the buggy, climbed out, took her handkerchief, and tried to wipe it off his face. She managed only to smear it and the worse it got, the more she laughed. Oh brother, she has the most wonderful laughter in the world. It is like music.”

  “What did Cameron do?”

  “Can you not guess? He drew her to him, hugged her tight and got mud all over her.”

  “I can believe that,” he said.

  “They have not been apart since.”

  “She sounds perfect for him.”

  “She is. I cannae wait until you meet her. I believe they might come in August or perhaps September. He promised to come, I just do not know when.”

  *

  Excited to be excused finally, Ronan set the dinner dishes in the deep gray washing sink in the kitchen. Sassy sat wide-eyed at the table with the rest of the staff and it seemed tonight’s entertainment was to come from the cooks instead.

  Halen stood with her hands on her hips glaring at her adversary. “Say it again and you will regret it.”

  Jessie’s Scottish brogue became more pronounced as her anger rose. “I dinna say ye be a bad cook, but ye will be when the duchess comes a callin’. I dinna please that one in all the years I tended her, not one time, I’m a tellin ye.”

  “What’s this?” Prescot asked as he entered the room. Instantly, both cooks sat down and stopped talking. “Halen, are the two of you at it again? What is it this time...breakfast, lunch or dinner?”

  Sassy could be silent no longer. “Jessie is right. I only seed the duchess get upset once...”

  “Saw her get upset,” Keith corrected.

  “Aye, saw her and she’s a holy fright if ever I seen one.”

  “Saw one,” said Keith.

  Sassy glared at Keith. “Am I a lady’s maid or am I back in school? I hated school, I mean to warn you.”

  “Apparently so,” Keith muttered.

  “What did she do, Sassy?” Sarah asked.

  “Well, far be it for me to talk out of turn,” she answered, ignoring the giggles of the others, “but that one be having a mean streak wide enough to drive a team of horses through.” She glared at Keith, daring him to correct her English, but this time he said nothing.

  “What did she do exactly?” Sarah tried again.

  “Millie, that be her lady’s maid, was always in tears on the ship.” She quickly glanced at Keith, who had his lips puckered ready to speak. Just in time, she said, “I mean, she were always in tears.” Sassy rolled her eyes and continued. “I like Millie, she let me wear her frock and an apron, so as I’d not embarrass Miss McKenna with my...I was not so very clean when I got found, you understand. Then Millie got thrown on...scalded her good!” She nodded to emphasize her point.

  “Got thrown on?” asked Charlotte.

  Alistair decided he should stop this conversation before anyone said too much. “The Duchess accidentally spilled her tea on Millie.”

  Sassy looked at Alistair’s firm expression and decided not to contradict him. “Best be out of reach of that one, case she...spills...her tea on anyone else.” The point was made, she supposed.

  *

  Everyone was up early the next morning.

  Solving the problem between the cooks turned out to be easier than McKenna expected, and the first thing she did was hand each a sheet of paper. It was simply a matter of making a menu and giving each cook a different responsibility. For breakfast, Jessie would make the biscuits while Halen cooked oatmeal, bacon or ham and eggs. At lunch, Jessie was to make soup while Halen made the bread. The duties were again set out for the evening meal, and all of it was reversed for the following day. If the cooks could not decide, the decision had to be made for them. Not surprisingly, neither cook found the idea pleasing.

  That settled, there were baths to take, and the carriage and lug
gage wagon to prepare. Everyone tried to remain upbeat for Hannish MacGreagor’s sake, but a feeling of dread hung heavy in the air. Sassy wanted to hide and so did McKenna, but to keep from disappointing her brother, she managed to go downstairs to wait with the others. At least she was not required to go with him to the train, which would allow her an hour or two more of solitude without the calamity Olivia was sure to bring.

  *

  Duchess Olivia MacGreagor was indeed as beautiful as he remembered. For a moment, he felt just the way he had the day he first saw her. Her hair, nearly completely hidden under her outrageously large hat, was the same shade of black he remembered, her features were delicate and her blue eyes had not lost their sparkle. She took the conductor’s hand, stepped down and moved forward, letting the valet and her maid disembark behind her. Neither of them looked at Hannish and he noticed. Instead, they both hurried to get in the wagon he brought to transport them.

  Hannish opened his arms to his wife, as a husband ought, and smiled as if he was happy to finally see her. With her hat in the way, Olivia’s kiss was brief, but she returned his hug with a little more enthusiasm. “How are you, my love?” he asked.

  “I am well enough. And you?”

  “Very well indeed, now that you are here. Come, I shall take you home.” He helped her into the carriage and then looked up at the sky. The afternoon was sure to bring rain and he hoped it would hold off until after he got them all home. He waited until the luggage was loaded, noticed only one steamer trunk, climbed into the carriage and tapped on the window. With a harsher jerk than he expected, the carriage started down the wide road.

  “Glory be!” Olivia nearly shouted, as her body slammed back against the seat, “What driver is this?”

  “‘Tis Dugan.”

  “I might have guessed, he was never a very good driver.”

  “I am certain he dinna mean to jerk the carriage.”

  “I am certain he did...but let us not argue about it.”

  “Agreed,” Hannish said, taking her hand in his. “Might you remove your hat? I have yet to clearly see your eyes.”

  “Not just now, I wish to look my best when I am greeted. I shall take it off after we arrive.”

  He puffed his cheeks and decided to change the subject. “How was your voyage?”

  “Long.”

  “And your stay in New York? Tell me you dinna spend my entire fortune.”

  “You said I could have anything I wanted, did you not?”

  “I believe I did say that...a year or so ago.”

  “Precisely how wealthy are we?” she asked.

  “Wealthy enough.”

  “How wealthy?”

  “My love, you must not bother yourself with such details. I will handle everything, just as I have these past three years.”

  “Dare you treat me like a child, Hannish? I wish to know how big our fortune is.”

  “I dinna wish to tell you.”

  She pulled her hand out of his, looked out the window and narrowed her eyes. “So that is how it is to be. I am dependent upon you for everything.”

  “‘Tis the way of husbands and wives. ‘Tis my place to make your life as unencumbered as possible, and yours to give me children.”

  “I wish at least the same allowance you afforded me in Scotland.”

  “Whatever for? You had a house to repair and servants to pay in Scotland, here I will handle everything.”

  “How much will I be allowed then?”

  “Olivia, I fail to see why money is your most important concern. Do you not want to hear about Colorado’s society?”

  She softened her demeanor and turned to face him. “Of course I do. Please tell me... Oh, is that it?”

  He followed her gaze out the window on his side of the carriage and then looked back to see her reaction. “Aye, ‘tis Marblestone.”

  “My goodness, it is every bit as big as you promised. Do not speak, Hannish, simply allow me to take it all in.”

  He was happy for the silence, and the time to think about his plans to trap his unfaithful wife. There was a price to pay and he aimed to see she paid in full.

  It was easy to intermittently spot the carriage and wagon through the trees, and waiting outside with the others, McKenna took a deep breath as though it might be her last. When the carriage pulled up in front, her brother did not look at all happy and she quickly lowered her eyes.

  “So here you are, my darling sister...in-law.” Olivia said, as she walked toward her. Olivia’s voice was just as sarcastic as McKenna remembered it to be.

  “And here you are, at last, Duchess,” McKenna shot back. She neglected to curtsy, just to annoy Olivia.

  “I see your good humor still has not returned. Well, never mind, we cannot all be pleasant. Life would be far too boring if we were, would it not?”

  “Precisely.” McKenna expected to see a look of disapproval on her brother’s face, but she did not. It was a hopeful sign, but far too little to get excited about just yet.

  Olivia quickly turned around and spotted Millie, just as Keith helped her out of the wagon. “Millie, I desire tea immediately and you will come to help me settle in, and Brookton, see that Wiggles is fed and watered.”

  “Wiggles?” Hannish asked, finally noticing the puppy Brookton held.

  “A boy at the station in Denver was giving puppies away, so I took one. He won’t be a bother and I do so adore him.” Without waiting, Olivia gathered her red skirt and began to climb the marble stairs to the front door. Alistair hurried to get in front of her, and prayed she had no harsh words for him just yet. Unfortunately, as soon as he opened the door, she spotted a fleck of lint on his jacket, brushed it off and clicked her mouth in disgust.

  Less than two steps inside and with Hannish right behind her, she stopped and began to slowly look all around the foyer. “I am reminded of a mausoleum I saw once.”

  “A mausoleum?” Hannish muttered.

  “Alistair?” she demanded, her voice booming in the marble room.

  Alistair quickly came inside and let the door close, leaving the men carrying Olivia’s luggage to wait outside. “Aye, My Lady?”

  “I wish to see the kitchen. Take me there at once!”

  “Aye, My Lady.” He cautiously stepped in front of her and led the way through the parlor, down a hallway, and then stepped aside so she could enter the kitchen.

  Olivia scanned the room until she found what she was looking for and narrowed her eyes. “Alistair, you shall dismiss Jessie immediately.”

  “Why?” Halen asked, quickly stepping between Jessie and Olivia.

  Olivia gritted her teeth. “She cannot cook is why, not that I need explain anything to you.”

  Halen was not the least bit intimidated. “She cooks the best I have yet to see.”

  Becoming increasingly annoyed, Olivia turned to face Alistair. “Dismiss her and be quick about it.”

  “I cannae.”

  “Why not?”

  “I am not the head butler,” Alistair proudly answered.

  “Then you will tell the head butler what I demand, and do it now. Jessie, you will pack your things and leave my house.”

  Standing out of sight in the hallway, Hannish had heard enough and rounded the corner into the kitchen. “She stays.”

  “She goes,” Olivia argued. “She betrayed me, I’ll have you know. Do you choose a servant over me?”

  “Olivia, dinna upset yourself. Come upstairs and rest, you are exhausted. What does it matter who does the cookin’?”

  “Am I not in charge of the household?”

  “Aye, but not today. You have only just arrived.” He took her elbow and started to guide her back out the door. “Keith, Mrs. MacGreagor wishes tea sent up to her room.”

  “Yes, Sir.” As soon as they were gone, Keith took a forgotten breath and pulled a silver tray out of the rack. “Sassy is right, she is mean.” When he turned around, Jessie had tears in her eyes and Halen, who just last night said she hated the wom
an, had her arms around her.

  “There, there now,” Halen said. “Mr. Hannish will not let her run you out.”

  “He cannae be here always to protect me.” Jessie pulled away, retrieved the handkerchief she kept in her pocket and dried her eyes. “You’ve yet to see the worst of it.”

  *

  Hannish sat on one of the marble window seats in the “mausoleum” and watched as the footmen finished bringing in the luggage. Just as McKenna warned, there was far less of it than a joyful wife would bring. His sister had mysteriously disappeared, Olivia was upstairs and he doubted there would be a happy face in the whole mansion, once they all heard what happened in the kitchen. It was as if someone put eggs on the floor and everyone was being careful not to step on them. He tried to think of something he could say to calm everyone, but after Olivia’s tantrum, his own nerves were on edge.

  Had he missed something when he courted Olivia and fell so madly in love? He did think she spoke a little too harshly to Millie once, but he thought Olivia was just tired. The woman he loved could never be vicious, or so he believed when he married her.

  Just then, he spotted a figure he had admired since he was an easily infatuated boy. Only a few years older than he, Millie had flaming red hair and green eyes that seemed to know exactly what he was thinking back then. Those days of young lust turned into a mutual fondness and when he asked Millie to tend his wife, she was honored.

  “Millie,” he said, quickly standing up. “How happy I am to see you.” He was surprised when she quickly curtsied, but refused to look him in the eye.

  Instead, Millie headed for the luggage. “I thought we would never get here, Your Grace. I dare say I have seen more of New York than I ever care to see again.” She heard a bell ring, cringed and picked up a small handbag. “She wants her necessities.”

  Hannish reached out and took hold of Millie’s arm. “You are tired, I will see to her. He looked back just in time to spot one of the butlers coming. “Prescot?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “See that Millie and Brookton are relieved, and send someone else to tend Mrs. MacGreagor.”

  “Bless you,” Millie breathed. “We’ve not had a bite to eat in two days.”

  Hannish could scarcely believe his ears. “What?”