Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

He considered having her committed, but from what he had heard, places for the mentally dangerous were as bad as Sassy’s orphanage. Thankfully, the weeks it would take her to get back to Scotland gave him time to think the possibilities through.
    At last, the pounding stopped and he heard the thud of a bottle fall to the floor. He waited for a while longer, and then went to see if Olivia managed to get into bed or was lying on the floor. Prescot looked haggard, but he was still sitting in a chair next to the door so Olivia could not get out. Quietly, Hannish opened the door and looked in. His wife was sound asleep in her bed and for a moment, he gazed upon the face he still loved in spite of himself. Just as quietly, he closed the door, dismissed Prescot and went back to his room.

    CHAPTER 7

    Olivia had a well deserved raging headache when Hannish carried her breakfast in on a tray, yet she wasn’t about to let that stop her. “Are you not the most handsome maid I have yet to see? She sat up, stretched and let her sleeping gown expose the upper half of her bosom. “I need a maid to dress me, or shall you do it?” Before he could answer, Olivia slipped out of bed, untied the strings to her gown, lifted it over her head and tossed it away.
    He tried not to look upon her nakedness as he set the tray on the table. “You are leaving this morning.”
    “ Am I never to be forgiven?” she pouted.
    He ignored her, picked up her sleeping gown and handed it to her. “It may take a week or two, but I will forgive you in time.”
    Her eyes instantly lit up. “Truly?”
    “ Truly. I wish you to go back to Scotland and prepare for my return. I shall come in time for the rest of the season. You do still have my formal clothing, do you not?”
    “ Of course I do. They will need cleaning and you are right. I shall need time for the alterations on my new gowns.” She dropped the sleeping gown and tried to go into his arms. Again, he stopped her. “There is no time for that now. I reserved a seat for you on the afternoon train.”
    “ I hoped we might start our family.”
    “ We will, when we are both in Scotland. I do not wish to miss a moment of it.”
    “ Very well then, I shall need money for my expenses.”
    “ Alistair is going with you and he will pay your expenses.”
    “ Alistair? I would rather pay my own expenses.”
    “ Have you no money left? I have given you a very generous allowance.”
    “ Well yes, but everything was very expensive in New York.”
    He was having trouble holding back his anger and decided he best leave, before he said what he desperately wanted to. “Get dressed, Olivia. If you are not dressed in an hour, I shall be forced to dress you myself in the first garment I find.” He walked out and closed the door, leaving a naked Olivia alone to stare after him.
    When Hannish went back to the kitchen, it was clear by their smiles that the Scots had spread the word to the Americans - the duchess was going and Hannish was staying. He was surprised to find Sassy at the table eating everything in sight and it made him feel a little better, but not much. It didn’t appear as though her eye was going to blacken after all, but she had her hair loosely piled on top of her head as though it still hurt where Olivia had ahold of it. “Where might my sister be?”
    “ Still in bed,” Sassy answered. “That awful banging kept her awake.”
    “ I am sorry, I dinna consider how it was keeping everyone else awake. Sassy, you need not work today. I would rather see you outside in the sunshine or perhaps you might read a book. There are a few in the library you might enjoy.” Before she could argue, he turned to Prescot. “We are to receive a visitor from Scotland this afternoon, a Mr. George Graham. Take him to the study and then notify me of his arrival.
    “ What do you mean to do to him?” McKenna asked, walking to the table and sitting down.
    “ I mean to delay his return to Scotland, nothing more.”
    She wasn’t certain she believed him, but did not pursue the matter. She did give Prescot a pleading look as if to beg him to stay close at hand when Graham came. “Brother, will you be needin’ me to do anything this morning? I am hoping we might set a date for the ball today and I’ve invitations to order.”
    Sassy joyfully clasped her hands together. “A ball?”
    “ Aye, Sassy, and I shall need you to help me. Are you willing?” McKenna asked.
    Sassy thought about it and