Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

Hannish and then tipped his hat to McKenna, just as his father had, only Charles’ eyes remained on her longer than was proper and his crooked smile became a sickening grin. “A pleasure, indeed.”
    Full of exuberance, Abigail hugged McKenna, kissed her cheek, looped her arm through hers, and practically pulled her through the front door. “My dear, we heard you were in town and I demanded Claymore bring me straight away to welcome you. Oh my, but it is a magnificent display of Marble. We’ve not yet seen it completed and I do not mind saying I watched with envy as the wagons passed our home. Are all the rooms finished now? I want very much…”
    “ My dear, Mrs. Whitfield,” her husband interrupted, “let the woman speak.”
    “ And such divine window seats with a full view of town?” Abigail said, ignoring her husband. “If we had such a thing, which we do not I regret to say, I would have tea in this foyer each and every morning.”
    McKenna noticed the pride in her brother’s expression and smiled. “Aye, but you have not yet seen the upstairs sitting room. The view from there is breathtaking.” McKenna led the way into the parlor and then up the stairs. “Come, I shall show you.”
    Both Mr. Whitfields handed their hats to Keith, the first to be placed on the empty shelf in the coatroom.
    “ You’ll not likely get the two of them separated,” Claymore said, watching his wife disappear upstairs, “now that they’ve got on so famously. Did I not warn you, Hannish?”
    “ Aye, you did.”
    “ Of course, that is your sister and not your wife. A town this size has few secrets, you know. When can we expect your wife?”
    “ I am not certain. She stopped to shop in New York City.”
    Claymore raised an eyebrow, “A great mistake on your part, my boy. I should have warned you about that. It took me a week to get Mrs. Whitfield to leave last time we were there. Well, it is too late, I suppose and I can not think of a thing that would tempt your wife away, now that she has seen it.”

    Abigail ignored the mostly unfurnished room and walked to the window. “You are so right, my dear, a grand view indeed.” Colorado Springs looked small from there, but she could still see people, carriages, and carts going up and down the busy streets. The farms, divided by rows of trees, were beginning to green with the spring planting and beyond that, one could see forever across dry brush lands as flat as McKenna claimed Kansas to be. “Your brother is, of course, disappointed his wife has not yet arrived. He talked of little else when we came to call last.”
    “ He loves her very much.”
    “ I am certain he does. It is a great disappointment to a certain lady I shall not name.”
    “ Oh do tell, has my brother an admirer?”
    “ Not just one, but several. It is best he has a wife, for the place would be crawling with unmarried women if he did not. And look at you. Are you wanting an American husband, by any chance?”
    “ Nay, I left my heart in Scotland.”
    Abigail still had not taken her eyes off the view. “That is a pity. If you change your mind, I have a few gentlemen I can recommend, and each of them just as wealthy as my Clay.”
    “ I promise to alert you first, if I do.”
    “ I will count on that. I must say, with both you and your brother taken, the dinners will not be as lively as I had hoped, but we shall make due. Tell me, will Saturday next be too soon to come to dinner?”
    “ I cannae say? We must wait until his wife arrives.”
    “ Yes, of course you must. Another time then, but I hope we will not have to wait too long.”

    “ I am excited to hear all about the gold rush,” said McKenna as soon as she was seated at the dining room table. “We read a great deal about it in Scotland, but I would so like a first hand account to write home about.”
    Charles selected the chair across from McKenna and smiled. “My father will be pleased to bore you with it.”
    Claymore chuckled. “Admit it Charles, you never tire of the story.”
    Charles kept his eyes on McKenna as he answered, “I do admit it. Nothing pleases me more than glittering gold…except perhaps a beautiful woman. My, but you are splendid.”
    McKenna squirmed a little and lowered her eyes. “I thank you, Sir.” She glanced at Hannish and knew he was not pleased with the way Charles was gawking at her. “Mr. Whitfield, perhaps you have not heard; I am nearly engaged.” It came as a surprise to Hannish, but he