Marblestone Mansion, Book 9

by Marti Talbott

  We made our way through the forest and were nearly to the village when we heard an unearthly howling. Never had I heard such a sound and never do I wish to hear it again. Cameron and I were frightened beyond compare, but we pushed on. There, kneelin’ beside the river was Provost MacGreagor. He was soakin’ wet and held a dead child in his arms.”

  Ben lowered his eyes. “‘Twas he that howled?”

  “Aye. He was on his way to us, and was about to cross a footbridge, when he spotted five children playin’ on it. The bridge suddenly collapsed and all five fell in the river. Provost MacGreagor jumped in to recover them, and he got them all – save one.”

  “The child in his arms?”

  “Aye. The one he could not save… was his own son.”

  Ben caught his breath. “I can think of nothin’ worse.”

  “Nor can I.” Hannish picked up his glass again and took another sip of wine.

  “Had he no other children?”

  “Nay, and his wife was so grief stricken, she hung herself. Provost MacGreagor went daft the day she died, and ‘twas a high mountain he climbed to come back to us.”

  Ben shook his head. “I doubt I could climb that mountain.”

  “Nor could I.”

  “Why do you tell me this? How can I help?”

  “I came to give you charge of him when I cannae be here. See that he is warm in winter, cool as possible in summer, and has enough to eat. On the other hand, take care not to mother him.”

  “Perhaps we might invite him to dinner a time or two.”

  “Good.”

  “What should I do about Abigail?” Ben asked.

  “Do?”

  “Should I somehow dissuade her from annoying him?”

  Hannish finally smiled. “Abigail is the reason the Provost gets up of a mornin’. He delights in vexin’ her and I believe she enjoys it too. Nay, let them be.”

  When Hannish looked like he was going to leave, Ben was a little perplexed. “Are you not going to give me any fatherly marriage advice?”

  “Are you in need of it?”

  “I have no father, you are aware.”

  “Very well. I shall tell you this. A lad must protect his wife from harm, for it is protection she needs most. When anger rises up in him, he is to leave the house so he is not tempted to hurt her. And if he is wise, he will ask her advice. A lass sees life differently than a lad.”

  “And when Abigail interferes, as we both know she shall?”

  Hannish finished his drink, set his glass on the table, stood up and walked to the door. “That, I cannae say. I know this much though – when you marry one, you marry the whole clan. Perhaps you should back out before ‘tis too late.”

  Ben watched his laird walk out the door, down the sidewalk, and to his automobile. “‘Tis already too late. I cannae live without Gloria.”

  *

  The morning of the wedding, Abigail was still worried. “You heard what they said about me. Suppose no one comes?”

  “They will come, Abigail,” Claymore tried to soothe.

  “But what if…”

  “If they stay away, we shall cut the cake and eat the whole thing ourselves. My love, Ben and Gloria shall not care one dot or tittle if no one shows up.”

  She kissed his cheek and then went to her dressing table and sat down. “You are right, of course. I cannot think why you put up with me.”

  “I put up with you because I love you. I love everything about you, and mostly I love the thought that today is the last day I shall have to endure your endless wedding plans.”

  Abigail had been dressed for hours, but just now, she found a hair out of place and tucked it under a new pink hat with pink silk roses on the top. “I do hope Gloria is ready?”

  “I shall go see.”

  *

  Claymore softly knocked on the door to his daughter’s room, waited until she bid him come in, and then opened it. He found her standing in front of a window with the morning sunlight illuminating her magnificent white satin wedding dress. Her empire waist dress had a high neckline, was adorned with tiny pearls and layers of Chantilly lace that cumulated in her four-foot train.

  When she turned to look at him, her beauty was enough to bring a tear to her father’s eye. He went to her and took her hand. “How lovely you are.”

  She smiled. “Thank you, but are you not just a bit predisposed to think that?”

  “Of course, you are my daughter.” He kissed her hand and then looked into her eyes. “What were you thinking just now?”

  “I was thinking about how I used to sit in this very window seat and dream of this day. Finally, it has arrived, and everything is more perfect than ever I could have imagined.”

  “I am pleased.” He was serious when he said, “Sweetheart, if you have even a moment of hesitation over this marriage, it is not too late to change your mind.”

  Gloria giggled. “And break mother’s heart?”

  “And mine, for I should have to endure yet the planning of another wedding.” He returned her smile and grew serious again. “Have you any hesitations?”

  “Oh, Father, I am deliriously happy. Ben loves me, he truly does, and I love him the way you love Mother.”

  “Well, then, I shall not worry. He is a good man, and I could not have chosen better for you myself.” Careful not to disturb her hair or wrinkle her dress, he hugged her and offered his arm. “Are you ready? Word is, Ben is already at the church waiting.”

  Gloria grabbed her veil off a nearby table, looked around, and then left the bedroom she grew up in.

  *

  To Abigail’s relief, nearly all the guests she invited, not to mention the entire MacGreagor clan, came to witness the wedding vows. The ends of the pews were decorated with satin and lace bows, and Abigail looked grand in her pink dress.

  The maid of honor was followed by the bridesmaids, and then Claymore walked Gloria down the aisle while the organist played Wagner's Here Comes the Bride.

  Reverend Abrams officiated by first putting Gloria’s hand in that of her future husband’s and a deliriously happy Ben couldn’t stop smiling.

  Provost MacGreagor sat directly behind her, but Abigail ignored him and when Claymore came to sit beside her, she smiled and took her husband’s hand. When the traditional nuptials were complete, the newlyweds left the altar and walked down the aisle to a selection from Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. It all went off exactly as planned, Abigail thought. Yet, the true test would come at the reception and she continued to hold her breath.

  Ben and Gloria sat in the backseat of the first automobile to leave the church, and when they turned down the street that led to the Antler Hotel, they were greeted by hundreds of people on both sides. In the second automobile, Abigail put her hand over her palpitating heart. They had not only come, they were applauding and shouting their congratulations. Nothing could have astonished or pleased her more.

  As soon as the last of the wedding party walked through the tall archway and entered the hotel, the celebration truly began. The wedding cake was enormous. It had seven tiers and lots of thick white icing. Everyone was served a glass of expensive wine, toasts were made and using their ‘his and hers’ knives, the bride and groom cut the cake.

  Standing beside his wife watching the happy couple, Claymore tried not to estimate just how much this was going to cost him, but he bet it would be plenty.

  “I am pleased to say I have but one daughter,” he whispered to Hannish.

  “I am hoping only to have two,” said Hannish.

  The truce between the Provost and Abigail was destined to continue, and she kept a pretty close eye on him. On a table against the wall, all of the wedding presents were displayed on red velvet amid colorful flowers, and she was watching when he walked to it, carefully examined each gift and then put it back.

  “What is that old goat doing?” Abigail asked Leesil.

  “He means no harm,” McKenna answered. “In Scotland, the couple is given
pigs and goats, not gold and silver.”

  “Pigs?” Abigail huffed. “What would Gloria do with a pig?”

  “Eat it,” Hannish answered as he took his wife’s hand. “My love, may I have the honor of the first dance?”

  “The pleasure is mine,” she answered just as the orchestra began to play a waltz.

  Everyone applauded when Ben walked his bride to the middle of the floor and began to dance with her. The crowd allowed them twice around the room alone, but everyone was eager to join in and soon the dance floor was full of couples.

  Yet, there was something odd going on and Abigail noticed. She still had not taken her eyes off that pesky Provost, not for one moment, and he seemed to be looking for someone. She followed his gaze, could not determine who it was, looked back at him, and then followed his gaze once more. He soon left the gift display table, walked around the dancing couples, and then bowed to someone she could not see.

  Provost MacGreagor reached out his hand. “Lady Bayington, will ye not dance with me?”

  “I am honored, but as you can see, I am in mourning,” said Laura.

  “Aye, but I knew yer husband and he would not be objectin’.”

  Laura looked into his kind eyes, drew back a little and then curtsied. “Indeed, he would not.” She took his hand, and then walked with him to the middle of the dance floor.

  “Well, I’ll be,” Abigail muttered. “Will you look at that? The old goat knows how to dance.”

  McKenna leaned closer. “In Glenartair, he taught many a young lad how to dance. He can also do the tango, the turkey trot, and the hesitation waltz, though I believed he had given most of those up.”

  “I pray he does not ask me to dance.”

  McKenna accepted the drink her husband brought to her and tried not to giggle. “I doubt you need worry.”

  “I hope not,” said Abigail. “It was kind of Laura to stay until after the wedding, but I shall miss her when she is gone.”

  McKenna nodded. “I shall miss her too.”

  “Well, we must keep ourselves happy this day. I cannae think…”

  The first dance had just finished, when there seemed to be some sort of disturbance in the crowd. As soon as she saw what it was, Abigail frowned. Someone had placed a chair on to the dance floor and Provost MacGreagor had climbed up on it.

  He held up his hand until the room quieted and then cleared his throat. “As the elder of the MacGreagor Clan, I shall now give my gift to the newly married couple.”

  “Oh, dear, now what is he up to,” Abigail moaned.

  “I do this,” the provost continued, “because the lad has no father and the lass has no mother…to speak of.” The crowd laughed.

  “I heard that,” Abigail shouted. It made the crowd laugh again and the provost flashed one of his rare smiles at her. She couldn’t help herself – she smiled back.

  “Love is like gold,” the Provost went on, turning to face the young couple, “ye must treasure it. Marriage is like silver; ye must see ‘tis never tarnished. Time is like a falling star, for it passes quickly. And, see that you allow no lad or lass to come between ye.” Amid the applause, he raised his glass, took a sip and then glared at Abigail. “Do ye call this…” Before he could finish, Hannish took hold of one arm, Cameron took the other and together they lifted the old man down off the chair.

  A few hours later, the newlyweds slipped away to begin their married life in a place where no one could find them…right upstairs.

  *

  In 1909, Americans speculated on exactly what an income tax would look like, now that the 16th Amendment had been approved. Meanwhile, the Wright Brothers delivered the first military plane to the United States Army, work began on the Panama Canal, and an Apache Indian Chief by the name of Geronimo died.

  Then came word that yet another passenger ship had disappeared, this time on a voyage from Sydney to England, and the number of lives lost totaled three hundred. Unfortunately, it was right before Laura and the twins were due to return by ship to England.

  “You have school to attend,” Laura reminded her children. “And I have much to do yet to see that your father’s affairs are settled.” She urged her son and daughter to get on the train and then turned to Leesil. “Disasters at sea are becoming far too common these days.”

  “Aye,” said Leesil, “but what choice have you?”

  “We could borrow the duchess’ broom,” Cathleen suggested.

  “Does it hold three?” Laura asked. She smiled, even though she did not feel like it.

  Cathleen hugged Laura once more. “I very much regret that we live so far apart.”

  “As do I.” Laura said. “Yet, now that Edward…is gone, we three can come to visit far more often.”

  “And when the little ones are older, we shall surely see Scotland again.” Cathleen struggled to keep from crying. “I shall miss you dearly.”

  “And I you.” Laura began to climb the steps to the passenger car and turned back halfway up. “Call more often if you can.”

  “We shall, we promise,” said Cathleen as she wrapped her arm around her sister. Together, they watched Laura join her children, and then kept an eye on her as the train slowly began to move.

  “How I detest saying goodbye. I always fear we shall never see them again,” said Leesil. She was still waving long after Laura could no longer see her.

  “It is the way of the world these days,” Cathleen soothed as she turned her sister around and started them toward the carriage. “They say we shall be able to fly from place to place someday.”

  “All the way across the ocean? You’ll not get me on one of those flying machines.”

  “Nor me,” said Cathleen. She let Dugan help her into the carriage and held on when the horses began to move. After a time, she said, “I am rather looking forward to it.”

  “To what?” Leesil asked.

  “Well, the wedding was over and our guests are gone. Now we can happily go back to such mundane things as children, reading, and sewing.”

  “You are right. Do you suppose the book has already done all the damage it could possibly do to us?”

  “I do. ‘Tis all over and done with…so long as no one captures the duchess.”

  CHAPTER 13

  At the train station two days later, Cameron leaned against the side of the building near the Provost and waited. It promised to be another hot day, but for now that part of the building was still in the shade.

  “You expectin’ somethin’ important?” Provost MacGreagor asked.

  “Aye.”

  “‘Twould not be them bringing the duchess back, would it?”

  “I hope not. Nay, tis a surprise for Leesil and Cathleen.”

  “I have not heard of a surprise.”

  “Because I have told no one, save Alistair.”

  Provost MacGreagor took out his pocket watch, and as if right on cue, the distant train blew its whistle. “‘Tis a good day. The train is right on time.”

  Cameron chuckled. “Hopefully, ‘tis the best of days, old friend.” Finally, he could see the black smoke billowing high in the air, yet the town had grown so much, it would be a while before he could see the engine. When it arrived, Provost MacGreagor said something, but the noise smothered his words. That didn’t keep him from talking.

  Cameron stood up straight as soon as the passenger cars stopped. People were already standing in front of him, but his height helped him keep an eye on the doors. He wasn’t sure he would, but as soon as James stepped off the train, Cameron recognized him. He walked through the crowd, extended his right hand, and then excitedly shook James’ hand. “Welcome home.”

  James grinned. “Thank you, Your Grace. How are they?”

  “They are very well.” Cameron waited until they made their way through the crowd before he continued. “I dinna tell them you were comin’. I dinna want to get their hopes up if you decided not to come.”

  “Do they know about the ship sinkin’?”

  “A
ye.”

  “They think I am dead?”

  “Aye.”

  “Where are they now?” James asked as he climbed in the passenger side of Cameron’s automobile.

  “At Marblestone.”

  “Marblestone, the mansion of my dreams.”

  “You have dreamed of Marblestone?” Cameron asked as he started the engine.

  “You cannae know how often.”

  *

  Alistair closed the door and then shook James’ hand. “Welcome back.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Wait here and I shall fetch them,” said Cameron. He walked to the staircase, stopped at the bottom and looked up. “Mrs. MacGreagors, where are you?” It took a moment, but soon Leesil came to the top of the stairs from one direction and Cathleen from another.

  “What’s all the shoutin’?” Cathleen asked.

  “You have a visitor.”

  Leesil put her hand on her hips. “Is that all, I thought someone died.” She took hold of the handrail and started down the stairs. Halfway down, she spotted James and instead of going to him, she sat down on the stairs.

  “Good heavens, sister, what are you doing?” said Cathleen. “Get up.”

  “Cathleen,” said a voice from the foyer. “I know you took my red rock and I have come to get it back.”

  “JAMES!” Cathleen flew down the stairs, ran to the foyer and threw herself into his arms. She wasn’t surprised when he picked her up and swung her around. “Put me down, I am a married lady now.”

  “Oh, I forgot.” He kissed her cheek and then released her.

  Leesil still hadn’t come down the stairs, so he released Cathleen and when to the bottom of the stairs. Leesil was crying and her face was buried in her hands. “Leesil?”

  “What?” she sobbed.

  He slowly climbed the stairs, sat down, and put his arm around her.

  Leesil said, “I…I thought…I was certain you were dead.”

  “I nearly was a time or two.”

  She wiped the tears off her cheeks with both hands and laid her head on his shoulder. “Did you fall overboard and swim to Australia?”