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

by Marti Talbott

  *

  “What?” Sassy asked, rising up out of the rocking chair. “Mr. Hannish carried me up to bed because I was hurt. You remember, you were there!”

  “Of course I remember, but Charlotte neglected to explain that part. She let them think you...I mean he...”

  Sassy’s eyes widened. “He bedded me? Miss McKenna, he loves his wife. I saw how he kissed her when he sent her away.”

  McKenna took a deep breath. “Sassy, you and I both know nothing happened. That is not the problem. The problem is, others...the whole town in fact, believes otherwise.”

  “Then tell the whole town the truth.”

  “Sit down, Sassy, and calm yourself. It is precisely what I intend to do, but not without your permission.”

  She had not realized she was standing up, went back to the rocking chair, sat down and folded her hands in her lap. “I am listening.”

  “I must tell them you are the one Olivia hurt.”

  Sassy stared at the floor for a long moment. “Mr. Hannish said not to tell what happens here.”

  “I know, but this once he has given his permission. Sassy, once they know more about you, they will not listen to Charlotte’s lies. Is there anything you wish to keep secret?”

  “I am who I am, and what happened, happened. I see no reason to hide anything, do you?”

  “I do not.”

  “Tell them Miss McKenna and tell them Mr. Hannish would never do such a thing. He loves his wife still.”

  After Sassy was gone, McKenna closed her eyes. Twice, Sassy said Hannish loves his wife, as though she needed to remind herself. It was too late, Sassy was already in love and she suspected her brother was too.

  Abigail clung to every word as McKenna sipped tea in Abigail’s sitting room, with its yellow floral print wallpaper and white drapes. She explained how she found Sassy in a broom closet on the ship, and described the miserable condition she was in. “...and Sassy was so excited to take a bath in clean water. In the orphanage, the younger children are bathed first and the older ones get the dirty water. At first, she would not let me see her naked, but I finally coaxed her into taking off the filthy rags I found her in. She has hideous scars, Abigail, from beatings in the orphanage.”

  Abigail drew back in horror. “You don’t say.”

  “She’d not like the world to know that, of course.”

  “Oh, of course, I’ll not breathe a word.”

  “All along, or at least by the time I arrived, Hannish knew Charlotte fancied him, but he paid it no mind. He gave her no encouragement, but as you are well aware, some women easily imagine kindness means more than it does. My brother is a very caring man to all his employees, just as our father was.”

  “Yes, kindness is often mistaken for...”

  “Sassy needs so much more than most young women; it is easy for both of us to favor her just now. My brother and I are not alone in that respect, all of the servants adore her. Sarah especially makes certain Sassy is well cared for. Therefore, it is easy to see how Charlotte might have become jealous and conjured up such imaginings.”

  “Scars from beatings? How dare Charlotte think to malign the poor little thing? I found Sassy delightful, though she said very little, and now we know why. What can I do to help, McKenna? Tell me and I shall do it.”

  “I was hoping you might have a suggestion. Hannish and I discussed it at length this morning, and we cannae think of a way to protect her from such hurtful gossip. I had to tell Sassy what Charlotte said and she is horrified. The garden party is in three days and I fear...”

  “You fear she will be stared at, if not openly accused. Of course you do.”

  “I could ask Sassy to stay upstairs, I suppose.”

  “That would make people think she has something to hide. Tell me, was she the one Mrs. MacGreagor hurt?”

  “Oh Abigail, I have never been so distraught. Sassy neglected to call Olivia ‘My Lady,’ and Olivia repeatedly hit Sassy with her hairbrush. The damage was not severe, although her arms were bruised and a cut on her head did bleed for quite some time. My brother was beside himself with shame for what his wife had done, and when Sassy felt a bit lightheaded, he carried her to her bed so she would not fall on the stairs.”

  “My Claymore would have done the same...any good man would.”

  McKenna sipped her tea and let Abigail absorb it all. “I was there and saw everything. I remember Charlotte watching, but it was Sarah who showed us the way. We never go in the servant’s quarters.”

  “Neither do we.”

  “Sarah stayed with Sassy the whole night and nothing improper happened, nothing at all.”

  “Of course not.”

  “My dear, Abigail, you will weep when you hear what Sassy asked my brother.”

  “What?”

  “She asked if he would permit her to hide from his wife.”

  Abigail hung her head. “No wonder he sent his wife away. My Claymore would have had her horse whipped.”

  “I assure you, I thought to do that myself.”

  “I do hope his wife does not come back.”

  “So do I.” McKenna sipped a little more tea and then set her cup and saucer down on a side table. “Well, I must go home. Do telephone if you think of a way to manage our troubles. We are so very upset and we know not what to do.”

  “I will let you know the instant I think of something.”

  McKenna was not yet out the front door when she heard Abigail on the telephone. “Vivian, you will never guess. I have had it from McKenna’s very own lips...” McKenna smiled and went home.

  *

  Everything was set for the garden party, except the weather. Dark clouds threatened rain, so the tables were moved back inside. It was just as well, the garden was far from finished and their guests were eager to see inside the mansion anyway.

  The guest list included a select group of twenty people, including the Whitfields, Vivian Mabs, whose husband was a city councilman, Maude Goodwin and her banker husband, Wilma Miller and her husband, and the single ladies from McKenna’s sewing circle, Pearl and Loretta. The mayor and his wife came, the sheriff, two gold mine owners who were without wives and of course, Mr. Wells, whom Hannish had completely forgotten he invited.

  By then, Blanka and Donnel were tired. They hung a “do not enter” sign on their downstairs door and went to take a nap.

  The spread of food on the table included small, round roast beef pies, Jessie’s custards, Halen’s pear tarts, Jessie’s fried apples, and Halen’s cherry pies. The footmen filled cups with fruit punch and kept clean dishes handy on one of the sideboards.

  Cathleen helped in the kitchen, but Sassy was determined not to look like she had something to hide. She kept busy collecting dirty dishes and setting them on the tray Brookton held. She ignored the guests for the most part, and Sarah stood watching, just in case Sassy was questioned. It soon appeared most of the guests were not quite certain which servant Sassy was anyway. When he was not at the front door, Alistair kept a close eye on Sarah just in case one of the male guests got the wrong idea.

  Not a man in the place failed to admire Millie’s figure as she showed the ladies where the water closets were, or went to fetch this or that for them. Prescot happily served stronger drinks in the small sitting room, that is, when the men could slip away from their wives, and then pointed the way to the smoking room.

  Still, without the planned outside activities, there was little to do inside except eat and talk. Most didn’t seem to mind and McKenna was relived. She went from group to group, making sure her guests were happy. They might have been discussing it among themselves, but no one was bold enough to ask questions about either Charlotte or Sassy.

  Amos Wells knew exactly who Sassy was. She was ignoring him too, he realized, but he was not shy about watching her. Sooner or later, she would come to collect his plate and he could wait. When she at last came his way, he asked, “How are the dancing lessons going?”

  “We have been far t
oo busy to be dancing,” she answered.

  “You could let me teach you?”

  “I could let most anyone teach me, but I shall not. Alistair is a Scot, you see.”

  “What has that to do with it?”

  “Scots are better dancers.” She half smiled to let him know she was not completely serious, and went to collect the next discarded dish. She happened to glance at Hannish, who looked trapped between Pearl and Loretta, and when he looked at her pleadingly, she giggled. The next time she noticed him, his back was to her and he seemed in a heavy discussion with Mr. Whitfield and two other men.

  Abigail leaned closer to McKenna and asked, “Where is the other one?”

  “You mean Sassy’s sister? Cathleen is a bit shy, so she offered to help in the kitchen.”

  “You must bring them both to our next quilting party.”

  “I shall.”

  “McKenna, I have been thinking. Do you suppose orphanages are as bad here as they are in England?”

  “I do not believe all orphanages are deplorable in England, but...”

  “Quilting does not give me enough to do. If we could manage to establish one here, we could see that nothing bad ever happens to Colorado’s children.”

  McKenna’s eyes lit up. “You are so right. Is it possible, I mean, could we?”

  “Come, we shall ask them.” It took a moment to get Claymore’s attention and when she did, Abigail put on her sweetest smile. “My love, I have been thinking.”

  Claymore raised an eyebrow. “Hannish, it has been my experience that when Abigail says she has been thinking, it will likely cost me a fortune. Dare I ask her what she has been thinking about?”

  “It does sound a bit dangerous, but will she leave you be if you do not ask?”

  “You are right. My lovely, Abigail, what is it you want?”

  “We want to establish an orphanage. We could ask for donations, God knows the men in this town are wealthy enough to help and...”

  “An orphanage?” Hannish asked.

  “Why not?” asked McKenna. “We have little to do and...”

  “I think it is a wonderful idea,” said Hannish.

  “You do?” McKenna asked.

  Hannish was positively beaming. “I most certainly do. You know how I love children.”

  Claymore was not yet convinced and frowned instead. “Ladies, there is much to consider, people to hire, you’ll need an attorney, an adoption policy, a doctor on call, a place to house them, and...”

  “Children?” Abigail asked.

  Claymore finally smiled, took his wife in his arms and kissed her lips. “Do you promise not to bring them all home?”

  “Indeed I do. I don’t want to raise them. I only want to see they have a chance in the world.”

  “I may well regret this, but if it makes you happy, I am willing,” said Claymore. For that, he got an even longer kiss from his happy wife.

  McKenna glanced around to make sure her guests were well taken care of and noticed that Shepard, Prescot, Brookton and Egan had their heads together. “Abigail, I believe they are going to sing for us.”

  “How delightful,” said Claymore.

  The room quieted and people stopped to watch just as Shepard struck a chord on his violin and the four began to sing. This time, they sang a song familiar to both the Scots and the Americans: Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond. The applause had not yet stopped before they began to sing, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen. They finished with Battle Hymn of the Republic and that song took more than one breath away.

  Hannish said, “So that’s where they get off to, they’ve been practicing.”

  “They wanted to surprise us, it seems,” McKenna said.

  “They certainly have done that.”

  “MacGreagor,” the mayor interrupted, “We shall expect your boys to sing for us at the annual picnic next month.”

  Hannish shook the Mayor’s hand. “I shall ask them.”

  “Tell them if they do not come, I’ll send the sheriff to fetch them.” The mayor smiled, nodded and walked away.

  When the doorbell rang and Alistair opened it, the room abruptly quieted and several mouths dropped.

  “Alistair,” said Charlotte, nodding her greeting.

  Hannish hurried into the foyer with Claymore right behind him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was invited by my brother, Mr. Wells.”

  Hannish narrowed his eyes. “Please leave, I do not wish to...”

  “Charlotte,” Claymore interrupted. “I remind you, I have influence with the Office of Education. Do not make me recommend you find a position somewhere else.”

  Charlotte spotted Sassy, glared at her for a moment and then glanced at the stern look on Claymore’s face. “I will leave, though I find your threat terribly unfair, Mr. Whitfield. I was invited, the same as anyone.”

  “Please go,” Hannish said. “Dinna make me throw you out.”

  “It would not be the first time.” At last, she turned and walked back out the door.

  “Of all the audacity,” Claymore muttered, going back to his wife and McKenna.

  Hannish turned around and looked for Amos. “Alistair, I wish to have a word with Mr. Wells. Ask him to come speak to me.”

  Sassy saw Hannish send Charlotte away and a few minutes later, when the two men finished talking, it was obvious Mr. Wells was being sent away too. Hannish turned around and looked directly at her, but Sassy lowered her eyes and went back to work.

  *

  “Mr. Wells wanted to take her to the ball?” Hannish asked after he finished seeing the last of their guests out. “Why did no one tell me?”

  McKenna was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. “It was her place to tell you if she wanted you to know, not mine or anyone else’s.” She walked with him back into the parlor and stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Sassy refused him because she has not yet learned how to dance, but she might not have, the next time he asked.”

  “He is not right for her.”

  “True, but she is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions...and her own mistakes. You cannae protect her and you must not interfere in the lives of your employees.” She kissed his cheek, lifted the hem of her skirt and climbed the stairs.

  He stared after her for a long moment, before he too went up to bed.

  *

  “Mr. Wells is Charlotte’s brother?” Cathleen asked, exchanging her uniform for her nightshirt in the bedroom they shared on the third floor.

  “Aye, Alistair told me so,” Sassy answered.

  “Do you prefer Mr. Wells?”

  “I do not prefer him, but it was pleasant to think he preferred me for a little while.” Sassy slipped her nightshirt over her head and pulled it down. “I wager he will not ask me to a ball again.”

  “I’d not let you go with him at any rate. He is Charlotte’s brother and probably believes her. He most likely thinks you are willing.”

  Sassy was shocked. “Willing?” She crawled into bed and then sighed. “You are right; I shall have nothing more to do with Mr. Wells. I did want to see what a ball was like, though.”

  As soon as Cathleen was in her own bed and the dog made himself comfortable at the foot of it, Sassy turned off their new table lamp and tried to go to sleep. Yet, she kept thinking about the way Hannish looked right at her after he sent Mr. Wells away, and sleep was a long time coming. What did that look mean exactly?

  CHAPTER 11

  Several days passed before Hannish went to talk to Sassy. He found her in the newly furnished library admiring the porcelain figurine he left there for her to find. Intentionally leaving the door open, he leaned against the side and just watched her. Sassy tucked her feather duster under her arm, gently picked the figurine up and turned it over so she could admire the other side. At length, she realized he was there and set it back on the shelf.

  “Was it not you who marked it in my catalogue?” he asked.

  A
little defiantly, she answered, “I was much younger then.”

  He smiled, “Much younger, indeed. Are you sorry everyone knows how old you are now?”

  “Not so very sorry. I am forced to grow up, I suppose.”

  “Your growing up is coming along splendidly.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “I do.”

  “Mr. Hannish, I have not thanked you properly for bringing Cathleen to America. I would be pleased to pay her passage.”

  “You wish to pay me?”

  “Would a dollar a month do?”

  “Sassy, I paid the fare for all the Scottish servants and they are not required to pay me back. If I allow you to, the others would feel beholden to pay me also. Besides, we need Cathleen to help keep the place clean, just as McKenna needs you to see to her needs. I am sorry you are asked to help with the cleaning as well.”

  “Miss McKenna requires little and I do not mind. I like staying busy and it keeps Donnel and Blanka from working too hard.” She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “How then do I repay your kindness? There must be something I can do.”

  “You can keep being Sassy. Do you not know what a delight you are to everyone? You brighten our days, especially mine...” He realized his mistake and quickly added, “And McKenna’s.”

  Sassy pulled the duster out from under her arm and began running it across a shelf still empty of books. “Cathleen and I are very happy here, Mr. Hannish. We both thank you.”

  “You are both welcome.” He watched her for a moment more before he said, “Sassy, I believe I owe you an apology.”

  She stopped dusting and looked at him. “For what?”

  “I dinna know Mr. Wells asked you to the ball. If you fancy him, I shall...”

  “Fancy him? I could never fancy him, Mr. Hannish. I confess I want to see a ball and even go to one someday, but not with Charlotte’s brother.” She paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Cathleen says Mr. Wells only cares for me because he thinks I am willing. Is she right?”

  He was not prepared for that question at all, and it took him a moment to answer. “‘Tis possible.”