Marblestone Mansion, Book 3

by Marti Talbott

  Blair grabbed one end of a rag, the dog grabbed the other and the tug-a-war was making Blair laugh historically. Cameron couldn’t help but laugh and neither could Cathleen. “I must remember to get her a dog when we go home,” he said.

  “Aye you must.”

  “I am sorry I missed your picnic. I should like to meet this Mr. Swinton.”

  “Perhaps you shall. We are to celebrate Gold Rush Days soon. Everyone will be there, especially Pearl and Loretta. They think Mr. Swinton absolutely divine. Granted, he is a bit more handsome than most, but I would hardly call him divine. Do you suppose a handsome lad is just as cursed as a bonnie lass?”

  Cameron paused to think that over. “A handsome lad might find his conquests easier, I suppose.”

  “That is what I think too.”

  “You know about conquests?”

  She nearly blushed. “I read lots of books.”

  “I see. I believe I met Pearl and Loretta when last I came.”

  “I believe you did. They are quite eager to make your acquaintance again, so eager I’d not be surprised if they hid and watched you get off the train. They are in want of a husband, a wealthy husband if you please, and a duke would suit their fancy splendidly. But you need not worry, I shall protect you.”

  “I am greatly relieved.”

  She wrinkled her brow. “On the other hand, you might like them.”

  “Both of them?”

  “Stranger things have happened. They are pleasant enough, I suppose. They are in their twenties, and neither of them giggle constantly. Indeed, you might like them very well and I’d not wish to stand in the way.”

  “I would rather you protect me.”

  “As you wish, Your Grace.” She smiled, curtsied and then hurried back to the house.

  He watched her walk away and then spotted Blair running to him. He opened his arms, picked her up and swung her around.

  “Swing me in the swing, Mr. Greagor.”

  “Is it not time you called me father?”

  “It might be.”

  He happily carried her that direction. “When will you know for sure?” She only shrugged, which made him smile again. He eased her into the swing and then walked around behind her. “Hold on tight.”

  “I will…Father.”

  *

  It was like a dream.

  From the moment Jedediah slipped an engagement ring on the duchess’s finger, her wits seemed to leave her. She had clearly thrown caution to the wind, but justified her acceptance of his marriage offer, as simply gaining two more deliriously expensive, and much admired pieces of jewelry. Hannish MacGreagor seemed far, far away and thoughts of going home to England had faded as well.

  Husband number seven was the man of her dreams.

  She ignored the fact that she knew the wedding vows by heart, let Jedediah add a wedding band to her finger, and hesitated only a moment to be certain she remembered which name she was currently using. Dinner consisted of Colorado trout, which tasted divine even though she was not at all fond of fish. She clung to his every word as he walked her back to the hotel under a brilliant starlit sky, and those were nothing compared to the stars in her eyes. Like it or not, sensible or not, the duchess was completely in love.

  *

  The very next morning, her glorious world came crashing down.

  “Where are you taking me?” the duchess asked, as Jedediah helped her board a hired carriage.

  “You’ll see.” He put his traveling case, her satchel and her hatbox on the footboard in the back, secured them with ropes, checked to make sure his horse was tied to the back, and then got in beside her. He signaled the driver, took her hand and kissed her lightly on the lips.

  She braced herself as the carriage abruptly began to move. “Truly, where are we going?”

  “Truly, you will see. I have dreamed of settling down for a very long time, and you are just the excuse I need. Where we are going, there are all sorts of possibilities. The land is rich in coal, the town is rapidly growing and needs more housing, and the early morning mountain air takes my breath away.”

  “Early mountain air?” It was not exactly what she had in mind, nor was living in a town, no matter how much it was growing. She anticipated being at the top of Denver society, attending balls, sleeping late and taking afternoon walks in the park.

  “You will like it there, I promise.”

  “You want to build houses?”

  “That or mining coal. Either one would make me happy.”

  She forced herself to remember this was the man she loved, although she nearly choked on the words she was about to say, “Then I will be happy too.”

  “In Colorado Springs, there is a…”

  Her eyes bulged, her throat went dry and she couldn’t help but stiffen. “What?”

  “I said, in Colorado…”

  She could feel the color begin to drain out of her face. “Colorado Springs?”

  “You said you wanted to see it.”

  “I…I did, but now…”

  “Now what?”

  “Well, I had not expected we would go there now.” She turned her horrified face away, looked out the window and recognized the street they turned onto as one that would definitely take them south.

  “Sweetheart, what is wrong?” he asked.

  She tried to smile but did not quite manage it. “Nothing…I guess I thought we would live in Denver.”

  “We could, but Denver is so big, the opportunities are few and Colorado Springs is still small. The people are a lot friendlier and the nearest fistfight or shooting is in Colorado City.”

  “But I like the city. What shall I do in a small town while you are off finding opportunities?”

  “What did you do when you were married before?”

  She spent money, she thought, but she dared not confess that to him. Sheer panic was about to set in. Pleasantness had not worked, so the duchess narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. “I do not want to go to Colorado Springs.”

  He was completely astounded by her outburst. She sounded like a spoiled child and he was not about to let that sort of stubbornness simply pass. “You are my wife. You will live with me wherever I choose.”

  The very kind of command she admired that day during the train robbery was about to be her undoing. “I will live in Denver. You may come or you may go as you please. It matters not to me.” She pulled her hand free of his and folded her arms. The duchess expected him to argue, but he didn’t. Instead, he crossed his legs, folded his arms as well and stared out the window on his side of the carriage.

  Any other time, she could have managed a few tears to get her way, but she was in such a panic, the tears would not come. What had she done? Always before, her life was carefully planned out to the least detail. How had she let this happen? The unimaginable bliss of her wedding night crossed her mind, but only briefly.

  The duchess tried to consider what Hannish MacGreagor would do if he learned she was in town. He would have her arrested again – she was sure of it, which further panicked her. Yet, what was it Dugan said when he gave her the money to escape Charles Whitfield? That’s right; Hannish didn’t want Charles’ parents to know they had a stupid son. The idea that they didn’t already know almost made her smile. Maybe, just maybe, Hannish was still determined not to let them find out.

  But…what about Charles? The duchess closed her eyes and bowed her head. Charles would ruin everything. She suddenly felt a queasiness in her stomach.

  “Caroline, you are my wife, and…” he tried once more.

  “There it is again,” she interrupted, “you are my wife, therefore you shall do what I say. My dear husband, a wife is not property, she is her own person and I demand you take me back to Denver.”

  “Sweetheart, marriage is…”

  “I assure you, I know perfectly well what marriage is. Lads treat their horses better than their wives.”

  “Lads?”

  Her eyes nearly rolled back in her head.
Now Jedediah was scrutinizing every word she said. “I mean men.”

  “What the devil is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing!” She turned her head away again, and at length, so did he.

  *

  In Castle Rock, halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs, the driver stopped and there it stayed until the horses were watered and rested. Jedediah didn’t get out, nor did he offer to take her for a walk. He would have if she asked, but she didn’t. Instead, he remained just as silent as she did.

  If Jedediah Tanner was surprised Caroline Griffith agreed to marry him after only a few short weeks, he dismissed any feelings of doubt. She was charming, interesting and more than cooperative no matter what he wanted. This side of her was something he never expected. Nevertheless, he had waited a long time for his happiness, his mind was set and no matter what she said, they would live in Colorado Springs.

  Yet, when he glanced at her, she did not look at all well. Perhaps he was being a bit too harsh. “Sweetheart, are you ill?”

  She emphatically nodded. “Please take me back to Denver.”

  “But we are closer to Colorado Springs now. You can rest there. I have reserved a room.”

  “Must we live there?”

  “Caroline, tell me the truth. Why are you being so stubborn?”

  “There is someone there, someone I care not to see again.”

  “A…lover?”

  “What?” She immediately turned her glare on him. “Do you think so little of me as to suggest…”

  “Forgive me, that was unkind. Who is this man?”

  She turned her charm back on and bit her lip. “He…cheated my husband out of money. Before I met you, I thought to go there and demand the money back, but now I am your wife, I am blissfully happy and if he sees me again, he will…”

  “What, sweetheart, what will he do if he sees you again?”

  “He is not to be trusted, Jedediah. Once he sees me, he will surely cause trouble.”

  “What sort of trouble?”

  “Well, he might accuse me of something.”

  “Like what?”

  “Anything he likes, he is that sort of person. If you love me, you will not force me to go there.”

  “I do love you, but we are going to live in Colorado Springs, and I’ll hear no more of your objections.”

  “But…”

  “Caroline, enough!”

  The duchess bowed her head and closed her eyes.

  It was a long time before she began to think the problem through more thoroughly. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad. If Charles recognized her, she could always say he was mistaken. No one else in that dreary little town had seen Charles Whitfield’s wife, and it would be her word against his. Dugan saw her on the train, but he wouldn’t tell; Dugan would protect Hannish MacGreagor’s secret at all costs. A few people might remember her from the one night she spent in Marblestone Mansion as Hannish MacGreagor’s wife, but she could claim she was often mistaken for someone else.

  *

  As the carriage started to move again, the duchess breathed just a little easier. For the first time in weeks, she considered her daughter. The duchess had few motherly feelings for Blair, but she did love Mr. Sinclair, at least as much as she managed to love any man before Jedediah. Dugan threatened to tell Lord Bayington about Blair, but would he really do it? It would break Sinclair’s heart if Lord Bayington took Blair away – that was the worst that could happen. Then again, Dugan would never hurt a child and taking Blair away from Sinclair would surely rise to the level of hurting the child.

  At last, it was all settled in her mind. It would work out somehow; it just had to. The duchess took a deep breath and slipped her hand around her husband’s arm. It would be a pity to spoil the first honeymoon she actually enjoyed.

  *

  “Mind if I come along?” Cameron asked when Cathleen and Beverly walked into the marble foyer.

  “You wish to go to town?” Cathleen asked.

  “I do. Blair could use a few new things.”

  “Of course you may come,” said Cathleen. As soon as Alistair opened the door, she walked out to the waiting buggy. “Should we not take Blair with us? ‘Twill be easier to fit her.”

  “I’ll get her,” said Beverly, walking back inside.

  Cathleen smiled. “If she can get Blair away from the dog, or the dog away from Blair.”

  A few moments later, Beverly came back with Blair and just as Cathleen suspected, Traitor was right behind them. So was Hannish.

  “Sit, Traitor,” Cathleen commanded as she took Cameron’s hand and let him help her climb into the buggy.

  The dog sat, but he wasn’t happy about it and twice started to dash toward Blair. Each time, Cathleen ordered him to stay. Finally resigned, Traitor lay down and watched the buggy with his new playmate drive away. With very sad eyes, he looked up at Hannish.

  “Have they left you?” Hannish asked, patting the dog on the head. “I think cook has a bone for you in the kitchen. Come with me and I shall fetch it for you.”

  Traitor longingly looked once more down the lane, but when Alistair opened the door, he hopped up and followed Hannish back inside.

  *

  It was an ordinary general store where customers could buy nearly everything they needed. It offered a selection of foods from spices to bags of dried beans carefully weighed on a scale and marked with a price. A large coffee grinder sat on a table next to the cash register. Other shelves held household goods such as bars of soap, dishes, lanterns, socks, ribbons and bolts of cloth. Even bags of feed were at the ready should anyone wish to buy them. ‘If they make it, we sell it,’ the storeowner often bragged.

  More often than not, Cathleen spotted something right out of the Montgomery Ward Catalog with the price marked surprisingly high. Even so, until new mercantiles were built or unless the women went shopping in Denver, this was their only choice.

  While Beverly wandered over to the latest selection of new books, Cathleen went to look at hair ribbons, the first thing she always did in the store. The ribbons were neatly hung over a rod and the colors arranged to look like a rainbow. “Leesil gave me a blue ribbon for my hair when I first came. I had never had one before.”

  “It is the one you wear now?” Cameron asked, holding Blair in his arms.

  She touched the place where the ribbon held the sides of her long hair back and grinned. “I forgot I put it on this morning. Aye, this is the one. ‘Tis such a simple thing, a silk ribbon, but I’d never touched anything so grand. Now that I can spend what I want, I think to buy more ribbons…but I never do.”

  “Why not?”

  “‘Twould not be the same. Nothin’ is as splendid as the first.”

  “I disagree.”

  “You do?” Cathleen asked.

  “I do. My first taste of pecan pie was horrible. Someone put salt on my slice and I thought it was sugar.”

  Cathleen giggled. “Who would do a thing like that?”

  He leaned a little closer and whispered, “My brother.”

  “Hannish? I dinna believe it.”

  “‘Twas him alright and Cook Jessie nearly had his head. I tell you true, bein’ little brother to Hannish was no easy task. He was monstrous when we were laddies.” Cameron let Blair choose a pink and green ribbon, and then watched Cathleen pick out a bolt of cloth with delicate pink flowers printed on it. “Perfect.”

  Cathleen was so busy choosing material, she didn’t notice when Pearl and Loretta entered and headed straight for them. “Our seamstress will be pleased to have something different to make.”

  “Your Grace,” said Pearl. “It is good to see you have arrived finally.”

  He looked confused and Cathleen guessed he didn’t remember which she was. “Do you remember Miss Pearl Hughes?”

  “Miss Hughes, of course,” said he.

  “And this is her friend, Miss Loretta Collins.”

  “Miss Collins, ‘tis a pleasure to see each of you again.”
/>   “We heard you were coming, Your Grace,” said Loretta. “Who is that you have there?”

  “This is my daughter, Blair.”

  Loretta wrinkled her brow. “Your daughter? We had not heard you have a daughter.”

  “She is newly adopted. Please call me Mr. MacGreagor. ‘Your Grace’ sounds a bit too formal among friends.”

  Pearl grinned. “Mr. MacGreagor, how often do you go fox hunting?”

  Cathleen cringed, pretended not to be listening and concentrated on examining another bolt of cloth.

  “Fox hunting?” He looked totally confused. “I’ve not done it since I was a laddie. Why do you ask?”

  Pearl glared at the inattentive Cathleen. “I was just wondering. We hear the dukes in your country spend hours fox hunting.”

  “Some do, I suppose,” Cameron said. “If you will excuse me.” He nodded his approval of the second bolt of cloth Cathleen held in her arms and then went to find socks for Blair.

  Pearl was still glaring when Cathleen asked, “Pearl, have you seen Mr. Swinton since the picnic?”

  “I have not, have you?”

  “Nay, we have not seen him.” Cathleen relaxed a little. Changing the subject seemed to work, at least for now.

  Loretta picked up a dish, examined it for cracks and then put it back on the shelf. “Pearl and I might drive to Palmer Lake to see if the water is warm enough yet to swim in.”

  “Splendid idea,” Cathleen said. “Mr. Swinton is likely well-to-do, but doing what I wonder.”

  Pearl smiled at last, “We shall ask around when we go to Palmer Lake. Someone there must know.”

  “Do call and tell me what you find out. Did you think him handsome? I thought him the most handsome lad I ever did see.”

  “Except your Mr. MacGreagor,” Loretta reminded her, looking across the room at Cameron. She shifted her weight to her other foot and back again.

  “Except my Mr. MacGreagor, indeed.” Cathleen also looked at Cameron and was surprised to find him watching her. He probably overheard, but what did that matter? He was a handsome man, just not in the same way as Mr. Swinton.

  *

  Just seconds after the MacGreagor’s topless buggy carrying Cameron and Blair left the general store and headed out of town, the carriage with Jedediah Tanner and his bride drove down Main Street and stopped in front of the Antlers Hotel.