Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

“She keeps ringing the bell for tea, Sir.”

    Hannish nodded and then opened the door without knocking. He intentionally left the door open, walked to the wall and ripped the bell cord off.
    “ What is the meaning of that?” Olivia shouted.
    “ I wish you to sleep and let the servants sleep as well. If you need anything, which I doubt, I will fetch it for you.”
    “ You? A duke doing the duties of a servant? What an outrage that will be when they hear about it in London.”
    Hannish walked to the bed and turned it down, just as he had seen the valets do a thousand times. “Will they hear of this in London, Olivia? They will never know unless you tell them.”
    “ Your sister will tell. She is probably already writing to that simpleton your brother married.” Olivia tightly folded her arms.
    “ My sister is attending the girl you hurt.”
    Olivia rolled her eyes and plopped down in a chair. “I hardly touched her and she deserved it. I require Millie to help me dress for bed, and where is my tea?”
    “ I suggest you dress yourself for bed.” Just then, Alistair appeared at the door holding a tray with a bottle of wine and one glass. “Thank you, Alistair,” he said, taking the tray from him. “Wait for me in the study.”
    “ Aye, Your Grace.”
    Hannish set the tray on the table, pulled the cork out of the bottle, filled the glass and offered it to Olivia.”
    “ Are you not joining me?”
    “ Not tonight, Olivia.”
    “ But…”
    “‘ Tis American wine and I doubt you will like the taste, but it will help you sleep.”
    She stared at him in disbelief. “You are not staying? You do not desire me? It has been three years.”
    “ For you, perhaps.”
    Her mouth dropped. “But not for you?”
    “ In a place such as this, there are always women who are willing.”
    “ You mean a prostitute?”
    “ Or two or three.”
    She looked shocked, but only for a moment. “I suppose I can forgive you, you are a man after all.”
    He was astonished; it was not the reaction he hoped for. “You can?”
    “ Of course I can, I love you that much and more.”
    She took the glass and sipped the wine, ignoring the bitter taste. “You are right, I do not like it.” Even so, she drank the glass empty and handed it back for a refill. It took a moment, but she finally saw the anger in her husband’s eyes. “Oh very well, I am sorry I hurt the child. I sometimes lose my temper, is all. Please allow me to tell her how sorry I am.”
    “ She is resting, perhaps in the morning.”
    “ In the morning then.” She glanced at the open door, got up and tried to close it, but Hannish put his hand out to stop the door. “Why do you let the servants intrude on our privacy? I wish to be alone with you.”
    “ I dinna wish to be alone with you.”
    “ Oh Hannish, I did not mean to hurt her. Can you not forgive me? I have forgiven you and I so want to be in your arms again.”
    “ Olivia, a MacGreagor does not harm a woman or a child. ‘Tis an old family edict and you knew that when you married me. I cannae just let it pass.” He refilled her glass, handed it to her and set the bottle back on the tray.
    “ I shall not do it again, I swear it.”
    “ Indeed, you shall not.”
    She set the glass on her dressing table and tried to wrap her arms around his neck, but he took hold of them and prevented her. “How long am I to be punished?”
    “ I have not yet decided.”
    “ You have not changed your mind about going back to Scotland, have you?”
    “ When I married, I married for life. If I am to have children, I must go with you.”
    She was relieved and when she heard the bell, her eyes quickly brightened. “Is that the telephone? I wager it is for me.”
    “ I will send for you if it is. Now, you best get ready for bed.”
    “ Will you be back?”
    He didn’t answer. Hannish simply walked out the door and closed it behind him.

    Alistair was already halfway up the stairs when Hannish started down.
    “ The telly for you, Sir,”
    “ I shall take it in the study. Come with me, Alistair, I want to talk to you.”
    “ Aye, Your Grace.”
    Hannish continued down the stairs, crossed the parlor and walked into the study. “Call me that again, and I will take it out of your pay.”
    “ Aye, Mr. Hannish.” No one was happier to hear that than Alistair. It confirmed Hannish was staying in American…and so were they all.
    Hannish quickly picked up the telephone earpiece. “MacGreagor here….Cameron, it