Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

the grand Rocky Mountains. Had we no south bound train to catch, I would be staring at them still.”
    “ I never tire of seeing them either.” Hannish pointed to his mansion in the distance and then turned to watch her eyes light up. “Marblestone.”
    McKenna’s mouth dropped. “It is magnificent. If this does not please your wife, nothing will.”
    Situated on a plateau above the town, the enormous three-story mansion was white and glistened in the sunlight. As wide as it was long, it had a multitude of windows on each floor, decorative oval windows and saw tooth wedges above the top floor and several chimneys. Too soon, the carriage rounded a bend in the road and she could no longer see it. “How many rooms?”
    “ Sixty-seven, more than enough to seek your solitude, should you tire of me.”
    “ I am pleased to hear that,” she teased.
    “ I intend to fill it with at least ten happy, laughing children.”
    “ Why do you call it Marblestone?”
    “ It is not marble on the outside, but you shall see when you go inside. The Yule Marble query is in the mountains to the west. Marble is very expensive, but once it is polished, it is by far the most beautiful stone in the world.”
    “ Then you truly did make a fortune when you sold the mine.”
    “ More than even my wife could spend in a lifetime.”
    The gradual incline of the winding road kept her from seeing much more of the mansion through the trees, so she slumped back in her seat. “I have a complaint.”
    “ Why am I not surprised to hear that?”
    “ You build it facing the valley and not the mountains.”
    “ Aye, but there are windows facing the mountains as well, and there is afternoon tea to be had outside where you can see for miles. Just wait, you will not be disappointed.”
    “ And are the Americans you employ friendly? Some Americans were not so pleasant on the train.”
    “ I was quite fortunate to find these and you will find them most pleasing. You do intend to stay, do you not?”
    She defiantly lifted her chin. “I shall stay just as long as it takes to get my twenty pounds back, and not a minute more.”
    “ Then I must warn you, I’ve not a sixpence left to my name.”
    “ Squandered it, have you? I doubt Olivia…” She caught herself just in time.
    “ You were about to say, you doubt Olivia would be happy without the benefit of a fortune? I remind you she married me without the benefit of a fortune.”
    “ Aye, but you could make her a Duchess. What will she do when she learns the Americans are not fond of titles?”
    Hannish drew in a long breath, slowly let it out and stared out the window. This was not turning out the way he planned, and he was grateful when his sister stopped talking. Another two bends in the road and the vast lawn, unfinished gardens and the mansion came into view. At last, the carriage stopped in the front. Hannish stepped out and then offered his hand to his sister.

    As he expected, housekeepers, Sarah and Charlotte, and cook Halen stood in front of the mansion waiting to greet them. He walked McKenna up the marble stone walkway, and then stopped in front of the three American women he had grown very fond of. He tried not to notice Sarah’s disappointment when he introduced the woman on his arm as his sister and not his wife. “Mrs. MacGreagor stayed in New York to do some shopping. She will come later.”
    “ Very good, Sir.” Sarah watched the newly arrived Scots climb out of the wagon. They looked very tired, especially the two older women with gray hair and dark circles under their eyes.
    McKenna couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the enormous Mansion. Concerned, she looked over the staff and then looked up at the Mansion again. “Shall these be enough to tend such a large place?”
    “ If not, we shall find more. There are two more lads and their wives living in cottages in the back. The lads tend the horses and the grounds.” Hannish turned his attention to his American butler. “Prescot, see the Scots are settled and that they rest before dinner. We shall all eat together in the dining room this night.”
    Prescot was taken aback. “Servants in the dining room, Sir?”
    Hannish smiled, “Just this once. If you dinna tell, none will hear it from me.”
    Prescot returned his smile, hurried up the last step, and opened one of the large double doors. He did not see the look of great displeasure on the Scottish butler’s face. Prescot previously worked for a distinguished