Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

pleased to hear it, welcome to America.” Hannish motioned for the drivers to help his servants into the wagons and then turned his attention back to the train’s passenger car.
    The next to appear was a well-dressed woman, but her wide-rimmed hat with an abundance of large cloth flowers on top, hid her face as she stepped down. She wore a pastel green dress, with sleeves that were tight from her wrists to her elbows, and then ballooned to her shoulders. Her “V” shaped bodice was intended to make her waist appear smaller than it actually was, and the floor length skirt touched the top of her button-up shoes. Slowly, she lifted her head and let him see her face.
    “ McKenna?” Hannish gasped. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her completely off the ground. “I dinna think you would come.” He nearly knocked her hat off as he repeatedly kissed his sister’s cheek, and refused to let her down until she pounded on his arms and giggled. At last, he set her back on her feet, let go and grinned. “You bring a bit o Scotland to feed me starvin’ soul, you do.”
    With his same dark hair and blue eyes, McKenna straightened her skirt and glared at her older brother. “I come to collect my twenty pounds, and nothing more.” She removed the pins, took her hat off, and handed both to the girl standing beside her. “This is Sassy. ‘Tis not her real name, but I call her that for she easily speaks her mind.”
    Before he could finish nodding to the grinning girl, another familiar face stepped off the train. “Alistair?” Hannish asked, taking his long time friend and cherished butler’s hand in his.
    “ Your Grace, ‘tis a bit of bad news I bring.”
    Hannish caught his breath, “Tell me she dinna die on the voyage.”
    A prim and proper butler, Alistair was nearly as tall as Hannish but had a more slender build. “Nay, Your Grace, she stayed in New York. Shopping, she said it was.”
    He tried to hide his disappointment, but he was not very good at it. “I received no telegram.”
    Alistair wrinkled his brow. “Perhaps she has not had the time.”
    “ Aye, shopping. Did she say when she would come?”
    “ Nay, Your Grace.” Just as his butler began to bow, Hannish took hold of his arm. “Alistair, Americans are not fond of titles. There is no need to bow and perhaps you might address me as Sir, or even Mr. MacGreagor will do.” He waited for Alistair’s nod and then continued. “Are you the last?”
    “ I am,” Alistair answered.
    “ Then I am pleased to take all of you to your new home. I’ve much to tell and happy to have so many friendly Scots to tell it to.” He turned to McKenna. “Come sister, I shall let you ride in my new red carriage, but just this once.” He ignored her playful glare, took her elbow, guided her to the carriage, and helped her board. He waited until all the steamer trunks and travel suitcases were loaded on the last wagon, none of which he recognized as his, and as soon as the servants were seated, he joined his sister in the carriage. A tap on a window that separated them from the driver signaled he was ready, and with a slight jerk, the carriage began to move.
    “ Only seven came? Why is that?” he asked.
    McKenna looped her arm through her brother’s. “Eight, Olivia kept Brookton and Millie with her and I employed Sassy on the voyage. ‘Tis just the way it turned out for the others, but the ones who did come are very happy to see America. All but one left families behind, but not husbands, wives or children.”
    “ The way I did, you mean.”
    “ Hannish MacGreagor, dinna put words in my mouth.” She pushed a strand of hair away from her face and continued, “I only meant they are all unmarried.”
    “ I suppose Olivia needs Brookton to carry her new purchases. I am to expect more trunks than I thought, but we shall manage.” He noticed how quickly his sister turned to look out the window. “What?”
    McKenna turned back, snuggled closer and laid her head on his strong shoulder. “She has changed.”
    “ In what way?”
    “ There you be, temptin’ me to say more than I care to.”
    “ Have we secrets now? I dinna think that possible.”
    “ I was but a child then, now I am all grown up.”
    Hannish grinned. “So I see, and with a full set of wits. How cleverly you avoid answering my question.”
    “ Oh very well, if you must know, Olivia brings little with her.”
    This time it was Hannish who turned to look out the window. The