Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

surprisingly, neither cook found the idea pleasing.
    That settled, there were baths to take, and the carriage and luggage wagon to prepare. Everyone tried to remain upbeat for Hannish MacGreagor’s sake, but a feeling of dread hung heavy in the air. Sassy wanted to hide and so did McKenna, but to keep from disappointing her brother, she managed to go downstairs to wait with the others. At least she was not required to go with him to the train, which would allow her an hour or two more of solitude without the calamity Olivia was sure to bring.

    Duchess Olivia MacGreagor was indeed as beautiful as he remembered. For a moment, he felt just the way he had the day he first saw her. Her hair, nearly completely hidden under her outrageously large hat, was the same shade of black he remembered, her features were delicate and her blue eyes had not lost their sparkle. She took the conductor’s hand, stepped down and moved forward, letting the valet and her maid disembark behind her. Neither of them looked at Hannish and he noticed. Instead, they both hurried to get in the wagon he brought to transport them.
    Hannish opened his arms to his wife, as a husband ought, and smiled as if he was happy to finally see her. With her hat in the way, Olivia’s kiss was brief, but she returned his hug with a little more enthusiasm. “How are you, my love?” he asked.
    “ I am well enough. And you?”
    “ Very well indeed, now that you are here. Come, I shall take you home.” He helped her into the carriage and then looked up at the sky. The afternoon was sure to bring rain and he hoped it would hold off until after he got them all home. He waited until the luggage was loaded, noticed only one steamer trunk, climbed into the carriage and tapped on the window. With a harsher jerk than he expected, the carriage started down the wide road.
    “ Glory be!” Olivia nearly shouted, as her body slammed back against the seat, “What driver is this?”
    “‘ Tis Dugan.”
    “ I might have guessed, he was never a very good driver.”
    “ I am certain he dinna mean to jerk the carriage.”
    “ I am certain he did…but let us not argue about it.”
    “ Agreed,” Hannish said, taking her hand in his. “Might you remove your hat? I have yet to clearly see your eyes.”
    “ Not just now, I wish to look my best when I am greeted. I shall take it off after we arrive.”
    He puffed his cheeks and decided to change the subject. “How was your voyage?”
    “ Long.”
    “ And your stay in New York? Tell me you dinna spend my entire fortune.”
    “ You said I could have anything I wanted, did you not?”
    “ I believe I did say that…a year or so ago.”
    “ Precisely how wealthy are we?” she asked.
    “ Wealthy enough.”
    “ How wealthy?”
    “ My love, you must not bother yourself with such details. I will handle everything, just as I have these past three years.”
    “ Dare you treat me like a child, Hannish? I wish to know how big our fortune is.”
    “ I dinna wish to tell you.”
    She pulled her hand out of his, looked out the window and narrowed her eyes. “So that is how it is to be. I am dependent upon you for everything.”
    “‘ Tis the way of husbands and wives. ‘Tis my place to make your life as unencumbered as possible, and yours to give me children.”
    “ I wish at least the same allowance you afforded me in Scotland.”
    “ Whatever for? You had a house to repair and servants to pay in Scotland, here I will handle everything.”
    “ How much will I be allowed then?”
    “ Olivia, I fail to see why money is your most important concern. Do you not want to hear about Colorado’s society?”
    She softened her demeanor and turned to face him. “Of course I do. Please tell me… Oh, is that it?”
    He followed her gaze out the window on his side of the carriage and then looked back to see her reaction. “Aye, ‘tis Marblestone.”
    “ My goodness, it is every bit as big as you promised. Do not speak, Hannish, simply allow me to take it all in.”
    He was happy for the silence, and the time to think about his plans to trap his unfaithful wife. There was a price to pay and he aimed to see she paid in full.
    It was easy to intermittently spot the carriage and wagon through the trees, and waiting outside with the others, McKenna took a deep breath as though it might be her last. When the carriage pulled up in front, her brother did not look at all happy and she quickly lowered her eyes.
    “ So here you are,