Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

rather see…”
    “ Mr. Whitfield, I found your behavior last night unpardonable. I dinna wish to go anywhere with you, or ever see you again. Please leave.”
    “ You will change your mind, once you learn how much I am to inherit when my father dies.”
    She stared at him in disbelief. “Poor Mr. Whitfield, does he know you wish him dead?”
    “ I do not wish him dead.”
    “ But you shall not be wealthy until he is, am I right?”
    “ I…suppose not,” Charles stammered.
    “ Perhaps you might do a little of your own prospecting. I hear there are mountains a plenty between here and California. Surely, several have gold for the takin’. Then you shan’t have to wait until he dies.”
    “ Ah, but I could not deprive myself of your beauty for that long.”
    His grin was just as disgusting as it had been the night before, and she was tempted to throw her catalog at him. “Please leave.”
    “ You will change your mind about me, just you wait and see.” With that, he got up, grabbed his hat away from Alistair, and left the room.
    McKenna watched Alistair hurry after Charles and shook her head. “How does a despicable child come from such very fine parents?” She jumped when she heard the front door slam.
    By the time Alistair returned to the kitchen to finish his breakfast, every quizzical eye was on him and he might have made light of it, had he not been so incensed. “Charles Whitfield. When Mr. MacGreagor hears, he will…”
    “ Hears what?” Hannish asked, walking into the kitchen as he usually did in the mornings. “Who was at the door?”
    “ Mr. Charles Whitfield. I tried to prevent him, but he demanded to see Miss McKenna and followed me to the sitting room.”
    Hannish narrowed his eyes. “What did he want?”
    “ To take her to The Garden of the Gods, but she refused him. He vowed she would soon change her mind and left.”
    “‘ Tis not the first time I have had to save my sister from a wretch like that. We best be more alert. If he is that brazen, she might just shoot him.”
    “ I hope she does,” Dugan muttered.
    Hannish looked at Dugan and grinned. “From now on, I shall have my potatoes mashed just the way you did for Charles Whitfield.” He accepted the cup of tea from Jessie and went to find McKenna. Behind him, he could hear the servants laughing.

    It happened on the evening of the next day, and everyone was tired. A quick evening meal was in order and then rest. McKenna and her brother had just taken their places at the dinner table and Keith was about to serve, when Charles Whitfield walked into the dining room. “Good evening.” He pulled the chair opposite McKenna away from the table and sat down. “Dinner looks divine.”
    It took a moment for Hannish to grasp what had just happened, and as he slowly stood up, Prescot and Alistair rushed into the room.
    “ Forgive me, Mr. MacGreagor, he slipped past me,” said Prescot.
    Hannish raised his hand to silence the butler and glared at Charles. “If ever you enter my house again without an invitation, my lads have permission to shoot you on sight.”
    Charles stayed where he was and grinned at McKenna. “But I feel so at home here.”
    Hannish gritted his teeth. “Dinna make me throw you out.”
    Fearing what might happen; McKenna quickly got up and went to stand behind Alistair. She had seen her brother’s wrath before and it frightened even her. At the same time, Keith realized he best get out of the way and backed into one of the sideboards, knocking the clock over.
    Still undaunted, Charles tried to look around Alistair. “McKenna, tell him I am welcome here.”
    “ Miss MacGreagor to you!” In one swift movement, Hannish grabbed Charles by the coat, yanked him to his feet and with a fierce glare shouted, “Get out of my house, and dinna come back!” He was tempted to toss the smaller man across the room, but thought better of it. Just as abruptly, he let go, nearly causing Charles to lose his balance and fall over the chair. “Prescot, get him out of here afore I kill him.”
    Prescot hurried around the table, grabbed one arm just as Alistair took the other, and together they hauled a shocked Charles out of the dining room. “Wait until my father hears about this!” Charles shouted.
    Prescot released the man once they got him out the front door, but Alistair shoved as hard as he could, making Charles stumble, fall off the steps and land face first on the grass. “I am an excellent shot and I shall