Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

Aye, but they already have fine homes.”
    “ But surely this is the finest.”
    “ I am glad you think so. Yet, it might take a while to sell it.”
    “ But we will be home in time for the rest of the season. Oh, please promise we will. You left so suddenly, I have not yet been properly presented at court.”
    He didn’t think anything could further surprise him, but that statement just did. “Forgive me, my dear, I dinna realized you held being presented in such high esteem.”
    “ Of course I do. We’ve only four months left in this season, that is, if we leave right away. If not, we are forced to wait for the next, and dearest, I do so want to see our daughters presented. As you know, it is the very best place to find a husband. It is where I found you.”
    “ Indeed.” He was finding it harder and harder to keep smiling. “I have greatly wronged you, I see that now.”
    “ Then you will come home?” If his nod was reluctant, she didn’t notice. “Oh Hannish, I am so happy. I knew you would come once we talked face to face. The retched journey was worth it then.” With a sparkle in her eyes, she put her hand on the side of his face. “I shall reward you properly later.”
    She didn’t notice the sarcasm in his voice either. “I am counting on it.”
    “ The shopping was worth it too. Never have I seen such glorious shops, even in London. I simply could not refuse.” Her grin suddenly faded. “Precisely how poor are we?”
    “ How much have you spent these last two weeks?”
    “ Not too terribly much. You might have warned me.”
    “ I tried before you left Scotland. I called from the hotel in town three times, and each time you were not at home, though it was very late in Scotland at the time.” He could tell she was searching for an excuse, so he decided to drop it. “Let the past be the past.”
    “ I agree. Let us plan our future instead, though it would be helpful if you would tell me just how much money we have.”
    “ Not in front of the servant,” he whispered.
    She had not realized anyone else was there. “You are excused.”
    Ronan bowed and quickly left the room.
    “ How much?” Olivia asked again.
    “ A little over twenty thousand pounds.”
    “ Plus the house?”
    “ Aye, plus the house,” he answered. She seemed a little upset and he was not surprised.
    “ Well, we can manage for a time, at least,” she said.
    “ We will have to.”
    “ Perhaps we might invest.”
    “ Perhaps so. I have been offered part ownership in a gold mine.”
    Her eyes instantly lit up. “Gold? How wonderful.”

    Ronan looked positively flushed when he rushed into the kitchen. “He has agreed to go back to Scotland!”
    “ No,” said McKenna.
    “ What?” Alistair asked, his head jutting forward.
    “ He intends to sell Marblestone and go with her.” Half the servants put their heads in their hands and the other half closed their eyes.
    Finally, Sarah muttered, “What is to become of us?”
    None of the servants knew what to say and even Sassy was quiet. For a long moment, they tried to imagine what might lay ahead for each of them. Abruptly, the silence was interrupted when Olivia’s bell rang. “She has gone up to bed already?” McKenna asked.
    “ She is exhausted,” Jessie guessed. She went to the kitchen, reached for a tray and began to make the tea Olivia always demanded before bed.
    McKenna frowned. “Keith, bring up a bottle from the wine cellar, make it two. If she thinks he will go home with her, she might deny him and perhaps he will drink enough to sleep through this night.”
    “ He’ll not want to bed her if he suspects she has taken a lover,” said Blanka. “Does he suspect it, Keith?”
    “ I would, but I cannot say for certain.” Keith lowered his voice. “At first, she said they should visit each other once a year. If they have children, she would keep them in Scotland.”
    “ He’ll not put up with that,” said McKenna.
    “ He cannot make her stay,” Prescot said.
    McKenna stood up and put her hands on her hips. “And she cannae make him go. If I know my brother, she will regret the day she demanded such a thing.”
    “ I hope so,” Charlotte muttered. Everyone was looking at her, but she didn’t care.
    Sassy listened, but she still kept quiet. Her heart was breaking for the man she admired most in the world, and a thousand ways to get even with Olivia were running through her mind. Yet, she could not think of a one that Mr. Hannish would