Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

choose her words carefully. “You see, a boy and a girl, rather a lad and a lass…on their wedding night, of course, sleep in the same bed.”
    “ My parents always did, although in some societies, they have separate bedrooms.”
    Sassy turned around to face her. “Miss McKenna, please do not interrupt. We are getting to the important part.”
    “ Forgive me, Sassy.”
    “ James told me all about it, although he would not confess how he heard it. I threatened to kick him, but still he would not say. Never mind all that, though. He said, and this is very important, that a girl must never let a boy…or…or rather a lass must never let a lad touch her, you know, in that way until the wedding night. That is how babies are made.”
    “ I see. So you have never…”
    “ Of course not! James said I must be saved for my husband, or he will not love me the way a husband should.”
    “ I believe James is right. Thank you, Sassy, I understand now.”
    “ How do you suppose he knew that, Miss McKenna? He come to the orphanage just a year or two after me.”
    “ Well, I think whoever told him was very wise.”
    “ I think so too.” Sassy went to the table and picked up McKenna’s used tea tray. “Shall I bring fresh?”
    “ Would you?”
    “ Aye, Miss.” Sassy carried the tray out the door, turned down the hall, and couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

    While the MacGreagors planned to wait a day, Abigail Whitfield had other ideas and came by carriage to call at Marblestone Mansion, just in time for afternoon tea. To everyone’s relief, she did not bring her son, but she did bring her daughter, Gloria. Gloria was a bit more round than her mother was at the uncomfortable and awkward age of twelve, had a habit of twisting her hair and seemed a little shy and unfriendly. Prescot notified McKenna, and when she was ready, led her guests up the stairs to the second floor sitting room.
    McKenna was about to ring the bell for tea when Abigail said, “My dear, it is about to rain and we must not stay, but I came to see how you are. It is just as I suspected, you do look a little peaked,” said Abigail. She failed to notice the perplexed expression on McKenna’s face and instead of sitting down, she went to the window to admire the view of town. “It is altitude sickness and I should have mentioned that before. There is little you can do but wait it out.”
    McKenna was afraid to ask, but it was the polite thing to do. “How is everyone?”
    “ My husband and my son are well, although Charles seems a bit restless. He’s been in a fight again, but I hear he had it coming.” Abigail quickly sat down and leaned forward. “Have you heard? Mrs. Wilcox is expecting again and it is her twelfth.”
    “ Twelfth? My heavens, she is truly blessed.”
    “ Blessed? I thought two children were quite enough. Twelve would make me take leave of my senses. Charles was a sickly child, you see, and required nearly all my attention. My but you do look peaked. When you are feeling better, do attend our quilting parties.”
    “ I do not know how to quilt.”
    “ We will teach you. We make quilts for the poor, you see.” Abigail got up and went back to the window. “Oh dear, it begins to rain and here comes a telegram rider. Come Gloria.” With her daughter right behind her, Abigail hurried down the stairs and was out the door as quickly as she came.
    As soon as she was gone, McKenna took a relieved breath. Apparently, Abigail knew all about her son’s behavior and did not blame Hannish. Next, she went to Olivia’s looking glass to see if she did indeed look peaked. After careful examination, she dismissed the claim and went back to work on her embroidery in the sitting room.

    Alistair knocked on the study door, opened it, handed the cablegram to Hannish, and then waited to see if his employer required anything. He watched Hannish read it, bow his head, and close his eyes. It was clearly not good news. “Do you wish…?”
    “ Alistair, I arranged accommodations for my wife and twenty servants on the ship, but my wife only brought six with her. This cablegram from the captain says all twenty of the rooms were filled. Have you an explanation?”
    Alistair hesitated to answer but he had no choice. “I…I believe the duchess sold the tickets before we boarded, Sir.”
    “ All fourteen of them?”
    Alistair’s heart sank. Something in the cablegram made Hannish suspicious and he feared the questions were about to get even