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

by Marti Talbott

  “We’ll have none of that between brothers.” Cameron tightly gripped his brother’s hand. “How I have missed you. You have met my lovely wife, I see.”

  He turned to her. “You are Flora? I have heard many wonderful things about you. Will your husband kill me if I hug you?”

  “Oh, never mind him.” She giggled and wrapped her arms around him.

  Cameron was too excited to continue the niceties. “Brother, come with me, I’ve a tale to tell you’ll not believe.” He grabbed his wife’s hand and led them both to a grinning McKenna. Have you a place where we can talk privately”

  “The study will do,” McKenna answered, heading that way.

  Sassy couldn’t help but see the four of them leave. “Who is that?”

  Alistair answered, “His brother. You will like him; he is not as...formal as Mr. Hannish.”

  Hannish urged them to sit down and sat in the chair next to his desk. “I hoped, but I did not think you would arrive in time.”

  “The ship stalled at sea for a day, but we managed. Brother, I...” Cameron tried.

  “Stalled? Did it no have sails?” Hannish asked.

  “Brother, I...”

  McKenna rolled her eyes. “Let him speak, Hannish, he apparently has something important to tell you.”

  “Very well, I am listening.”

  Cameron reached into his inside jacket, pulled out a letter and unfolded it. He put on his glasses and then cleared his throat. “I received this letter from Lady Bayington on the twenty-seventh of June, at which time I employed one D. L. Jackson, a Barrister, who in turn asked Scotland Yard to discern the truth of the matter. I read the letter to you now:

  Your Grace,

  Lord Bayington and I agree, as we are most fond of both you and your brother, and can maintain our silence no longer. There is something you should know about the woman Hannish married. Olivia and I were born in the Shetland Islands, more specifically Scalloway and played together as children. It was apparent early on, that Olivia intended to get what she could from the world in the way of riches and celebrity, and I, in my foolishness followed in her footsteps.”

  Her first husband...”

  “What?” Hannish gasped.

  Cameron looked over the rim of his glasses at his brother. “Aye, her first husband.”

  “She never said a word.”

  “Brother, if you will let me continue, you will soon see why.”

  “Please,” said Hannish.

  “Her first husband married her before she reached the age of fifteen and I married as well. Unfortunately, Olivia...perhaps this is a good time to explain that Olivia is not her real name. She was born Gormelia Carr. Realizing marriage to a simple man was not the life she envisioned, she convinced me to run away with her.

  We fled to London, where we got a glimpse of the finer side of life, and Olivia at once began to plot precisely how to get to the top of society. She took on the new name of Alexandra, an exotic name naturally and before long, her beauty attracted the attention of an English gentleman. She married him in the spring of 1885.”

  Cameron paused to turn the page.

  “Two husbands?” Hannish muttered.

  “There is more, do you wish to hear it?” Cameron asked.

  “Please.”

  “Even her new husband could not meet her insatiable appetite for wealth and glory, and she left him before the year was out. Olivia then married a Lord, whom I shall leave unnamed to preserve his reputation. He kept her for less than a month and quickly petitioned for a divorce, from the woman whose name was now Alice. It was well before that divorce was granted, that she, now Olivia, married Hannish MacGreagor and became the duchess she’d always wanted to be.

  Marriage to Hannish, however, was to be her greatest mistake.

  Seeing her wedding picture to a duke in a London newspaper, her first husband discovered his own path to riches, and has been blackmailing her for the past two years.

  Hannish leaned forward in his chair and put his head in his hands for a moment. “So that is why she needed so much money.”

  Cameron folded the letter back up and handed it to his brother. “It is all there, every ugly detail. Her first husband is a man by the name of George...something. I have forgotten his last name.”

  “Graham?” Hannish asked.

  “Aye, Graham.”

  Hannish rolled his eyes. “I should have shot him when I had the chance.”

  “Is he not the stonemason?” Cameron asked.

  “The same, he came here with Olivia.” Hannish took a moment to consider something. “They were in on it together. First, I gave her money for work he did not do, and then I paid him. How clever of them, but do continue, brother.”

  “Very well. Her second husband claims she stole a fortune from him before she ran off, and has pressed both bigamy and theft charges against her. She was traced to Paris where she was discovered in the company of a Colorado gold mine owner by the name of Charles Whitfield. Do you know him?”

  McKenna moaned, “Oh no, poor Abigail.”

  “Aye,” said Hannish, “We know him. His parents are in the ballroom. McKenna, I see no reason to tell them, unless Charles has had the misfortune of marrying her.”

  “I agree,” said McKenna. “Abigail would be beside herself if she knew. She said Charles has gone to London to try to get Olivia, or whatever her name is now, out of jail.”

  “He’ll not succeed,” said Cameron, “not without a very clever and extremely expensive solicitor to help her.”

  Hannish stared at his brother. “Does this mean I was never married, or must I become a part of the action against Olivia to be free?”

  “I’d not like to see you tangled up in this mess and so far, they do not know about either you or Lord Bayington. According to the barrister, you married a woman who does not exist. Therefore, you need not divorce her.”

  Hannish could hardly get the words out... “I am free?”

  “I believe you are.”

  *

  Hannish wasted no time returning to the ballroom. He walked to the middle of the room and tapped the man dancing with Sassy on the shoulder. “Allow me.” The man nodded and walked away.

  “What are you doing, they will talk,” Sassy whispered.

  “Let them talk.” Slowly, he put his left hand on her back, took her hand in his and drew her close. Then he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Will you come with me? I have something I long to say to you.”

  Sassy pulled back to look in his eyes. “Where?”

  “Just outside.” He waited for her nod, led her through the dancing couples and then opened the door to the terrace. He let her go through first, and then followed her to the short stone wall, separating the terrace from the lawn.

  The half-moon was just peeking over the roof of the mansion when Sassy looked up at the stars. In the ballroom behind her, McKenna, Cameron and Flora moved to the window to watch. “What do you wish to say to me?”

  “Do you remember the night I carried you up the stairs? You put your arms around my neck, put your head on my shoulder and I knew then I never wanted to let you go.”

  She turned to see the sincerity in his eyes. “You did?”

  “I have thought of you every waking moment since. Until tonight, I thought I would go mad wanting you.”

  She quickly turned away. “‘Tis torture for me too.”

  He slowly put an arm around her. “I am sorry I put you through that.”

  “‘Tis my first time at being in love. I dinna know what to do.”

  “I hope ‘twill be your last time at being in love.”

  “Mr. Hannish...”

  “Just Hannish.”

  “Mr. Hannish, you forget, you are married.”

  He turned her toward him and wrapped his other arm around her. “I have just learned I am not married. Olivia tricked me and we were never married.”

  “She tricked you?”

  He pulled her closer. “Aye, and three
others before me.”

  “I dinna know a woman could do that?”

  “No honest woman would.”

  Behind Sassy, all the servants quietly came out on the terrace to watch. Inside, Abigail and Claymore, along with most of the other guests began to crowd near the ballroom windows.

  Hannish pulled her closer still, put his hand on the back of her head and urged her to lay it against his chest. “Leesil, I have so longed to hold you.” He kissed the top of her head and held her just a little bit tighter. “Will you be my wife?”

  For a moment, little Sassy with no last name, thought her heart was never going to start beating again. “I...I...”

  When she leaned back to look at him again, he kissed her cheek. “What, sweetheart, what troubles you?”

  “I am just now learning how to be an adult. I dinna know how to be a wife.”

  “I hardly know how to be a husband, but we can learn together. Say you will, Leesil. Just say you will.”

  She drew in a forgotten breath, finally put her arms around him and looked into his eyes. At last, she said, “I will.”

  The love was evident in his eyes when he leaned down and kissed her. McKenna brought a hand to her chest, Cameron took off his hat, Sarah kissed Alistair, Millie put her head on Prescot’s shoulder and the rest of them cheered – all except Keith who went back inside.

  CHAPTER 13

  Leesil thought she would never tire of looking at the engagement ring on her finger. It was gold and had tiny diamonds and pearls set in a circle. She had her own bedroom now, the blue room next to McKenna’s on the second floor. She missed sharing a room with Cathleen and sometimes went back upstairs to be with her in the night. Mornings meant bacon and biscuits in the kitchen, and she was not about to give up that luxury for any man. Hannish laughed and sat down beside her.

  Getting used to having Millie do things for her was not easy, and more often than not, she and Millie reached for something at the same time. Cathleen was thrilled to be asked to take care of McKenna, now that her lady’s maid was otherwise occupied. She did not yet know that, as a family member, she too would have a room on the second floor and would never be a servant again.

  The past two weeks had been a flurry of activity with plans to make and constant clothing fittings. Sassy was grateful to have a seamstress right in the mansion, so she did not have to go to town each day. Yet there were shoes and hats to buy, and she was welcome to anything she could find. In the end, the future Mrs. Hannish MacGreagor had four new traveling outfits and one wedding dress. It was thrilling as well as overwhelming.

  Halen and Jessie spent all of the day before, baking the wedding cake and decorating it with frosting bows and flowers. Real flowers were delivered, and at last, everything was set.

  That night, Leesil took a long walk with Hannish. She had a thousand questions still, and he answered them as best he could. She was so in love, she didn’t care if he got the answers wrong. Finally, he took her back inside, passionately kissed her goodnight and watched her climb the formal stairs. Half way up, she turned around, ran back down and into his arms.

  *

  Sassy did not mind all the fuss over her by nearly everyone in the mansion. She found it kept her from getting too nervous. Today was her wedding day and part of her wanted nothing more than to have it over with. The other part wanted it to last forever. Her dress was a glorious white, with three graduating lengths of lace over satin, beginning at her waist and ending in a two-foot train in the back. The bodice was made of satin with a high neck, lace collar and short lace-over satin sleeves. She had never seen anything so glorious, let alone imagined she would be wearing it. Satin slippers, gloves and a white lace veil complemented the dress perfectly.

  “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe,” said McKenna.

  “Something old? You’ve not found Old Mrs. Forthright, have you?” Sassy asked.

  “Nay, but I did find this.” McKenna opened her hand and let Sassy see the simple gold locket. “‘Twas my mother’s and she would want you to have it. I believe it belonged to her mother.”

  “I cannae, McKenna. You must wear it on your wedding day.”

  “When I marry, you can give it back and then it will be something old for me to wear.”

  “And I have this for you,” said Flora. “‘Tis a silver sixpence for your shoe, from Cameron and I.” She opened her arms and hugged her new sister-in-law to be, whom she was becoming very fond of.

  McKenna frowned. “Now, the dress and the flowers are new...let me see, something is missing. Ah yes, something borrowed.”

  “I suppose she could borrow my ribbon,” Cathleen said. “She must give it back though, ‘tis the first ribbon I ever did have.”

  Millie smiled, “‘Tis blue too, as I recall. We shall weave it in her hair with the veil.”

  “Perfect,” McKenna said.

  Sarah abruptly opened the door to Sassy’s bedroom and came in, holding a piece of paper out to her. “Mr. Hannish said to bring it to you. Judge Martin signed it and you are officially Miss Leesil Covington. Your marriage will be perfectly legal now.”

  Sassy slowly unfolded the document, read her name and smiled. “And Cathleen?”

  “There is one for her too,” Sarah answered.

  “I wish Donnel were here to see it.” Sassy quickly stood up. “I must show it to Blanka.”

  “You must not,” McKenna warned. “Hannish might see you and ‘tis bad luck.”

  “I will take it to her if you like,” said Sarah.

  Sassy grinned. “Thank you, please do and give her a hug from me.”

  Hannish was nearly dressed when someone knocked on his bedroom door. Alistair quickly answered it and let Cameron in. Cameron handed his brother a bundle wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.

  “What’s this?” Hannish asked.

  “Open it and see.” Cameron winked at Alistair and grinned when his brother opened the package and caught his breath. “I wore it at my wedding and now ‘tis your turn.”

  “Father’s kilt?”

  “And his father’s before him and his father’s, and so on and so forth. I had it cleaned just before we sailed, although I did not think you would need it quite so soon. If Alistair will accommodate us, perhaps he might quickly iron the wrinkles out.” Alistair happily nodded, took the kilt and the extra measure of cloth, and hurried out of the room.

  “How old do you think this is?” Hannish asked, examining the leather shoes and the laces that crisscrossed up to the knee.

  “I have no idea, but the kilt wears well and the shoes are quite comfortable. I hope the belt fits.” He unrolled it, reached around Hannish and smiled when it fit. “I could not find the dagger and I looked everywhere in the cottage for it. I suppose it is lost to us.”

  “What time is it? I do not wish to be late.”

  Cameron laughed. “Fret not brother, they’ll not start without you.”

  “Has my bride run off yet?”

  “The last I heard, she was calmly getting dressed. I like her by the way. If any woman can keep you in line, I believe she can.”

  Hannish took off his jacket, laid it on the back of a chair and then sat down to take his shoes off. “I do not deserve her.” Next, he took off his trousers, tried on the shoes and was surprised that they fit so well. “Is it possible we are the same size as our ancestors?”

  “It appears so, not a runt in the bunch.” Cameron helped him lace the shoes up and then there was nothing left to do but wait. It seemed like it took an hour, but in just a few minutes, Alistair was back with the pressed kilt carefully laid across his arm. After they put the extra length of green with light blue plaid cloth over Hannish’s heart and the shoulder of his white shirt, he tied the wide leather belt around his waist. It took all three of them two complete tries before they got the pleats tucked under the belt right.

  At last, the groom was ready, and the three of them went downst
airs.

  *

  The ballroom was the perfect place to hold the wedding and at first Hannish thought they should have a much more lavish affair to celebrate properly. However, preparations for big weddings usually took a couple of months, and Cameron and Flora needed to get back to his business in Scotland. Naturally, everyone on the orphanage committee was invited, but those were the only ones, other than the MacGreagor staff.

  As the time neared, everyone left Sassy and Cathleen alone, and went downstairs. “You can still change your mind,” Cathleen said.

  “Why would I do that?”

  “I always thought you loved James.”

  Sassy giggled. “I think of him still, but I do not love him the way I love Hannish. James is more like a brother to me.”

  “Me too. I hope to marry someday?”

  “Truly? Do you fancy someone?”

  Cathleen twirled around in her new summer gown. “Brookton is very handsome?”

  “Sister, you do remember what James taught us, do you not?”

  “I remember; I will not go willingly.”

  “I am happy to hear that. Men can be very tempting, I am learning.”

  Cathleen caught her breath. “Leesil, I think I hear the music starting.”

  Sassy put her hand on her chest just the way Abigail always did. She’d been practicing. “Alistair will come for me when...” She heard the knock on the door, watched it open and remembered to breathe. She hugged her sister, took Alistair’s arm and walked with him down the hall, down the magnificent marble stone stairs, across the parlor and into the ballroom. Alistair walked her down the aisle and proudly delivered her to a smiling Hannish dressed in his Scottish tradition.

  *

  Mrs. Leesil MacGreagor would never remember what was said, only that Hannish said, “I do,” and so did she. He kissed her and later, even that was a blur. What she thought about was the wonder of it all.

  She remembered the day the woman told her to carry Cathleen through the front door of the orphanage. Leesil was five, and when they tried to take her baby from her, she put up quite a fight. After they succeeded, she ran back out of the orphanage, but the woman was gone. Each day she prayed for her to come back and get them, but her prayers were never answered. Even now, Leesil wondered who she was – an aunt, an older sister perhaps. Yet, years later, Leesil went from being a frightened little girl hiding in a broom closet, to a grown woman in love with a man who was in love with her. What were the chances of becoming a member of the best of all families?