Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

go back to Scotland?” Hannish asked.
    “ Naturally. Is Olivia not about?”
    “ Do you mean Duchess MacGreagor?”
    Graham squirmed in his seat a little. “Aye, Duchess MacGreagor.”
    “ She is not here.”
    The unwelcome visitor sat up a little straighter. “Not here? But she said…”
    “ You were on the train with her?”
    “ Well yes. She invited me to come and I was more than happy to see she arrived safely.”
    “ Why did you not make yourself known at the train station?”
    “ Well, I thought…I mean,…I…you drove away before I could.”
    “ I suppose I did.” Hannish stopped talking when Brookton entered with a tea tray and set it on the desk. He watched Brookton pour a cup of tea, hand it to Graham and then pour a second cup for him. Still, he waited until Brookton left before he spoke again. “Mr. Graham, your services have been very expensive.”
    “ That is precisely what I have come to discuss, Your Grace. When might I be paid?”
    Hannish stared at the man. “You have not been paid?”
    “ Not this past year complete.”
    “ I see.” He took a slow sip of tea and considered what that meant. “I find I am confused. I sent the funds to my wife and she claims to have paid you in full.”
    “ You sent her the funds?”
    “ I had my banker in Scotland see that she got them on the first of every month, just as you were promised.”
    “ I assure you…I have not been paid.”
    Hannish was quiet for another long moment. “I believe my wife has swindled you.”
    “ See here, Olivia…Duchess MacGreagor would never do a thing like that.”
    “ You know her that well, do you?”
    “ I worked on her…your home daily. I know her quiet well.”
    “ Tell me, how much did your passage on the ship cost?”
    Graham thoughtfully sipped his tea. “I do not recall.”
    “ But you did pay for it yourself.”
    “ Of course I did, what kind of man do you think I am?”
    “‘ Tis odd, because my wife says she paid your passage. Surely you dinna have two tickets.” Hannish took another slow sip of tea, watched the increasingly agitated man and waited for Graham to ask the inevitable question. He did not have to wait long.
    “ Where might Duchess MacGreagor be?”
    “ On a train somewhere between Denver and St. Louis, I imagine.”
    “ She has gone back?”
    “ You look disturbed, Mr. Graham. Has she left you behind?”
    “ Well no…I mean I am quite capable of finding my own way home, I assure you.”
    “ I am glad to hear it, since my wife’s allowance has been cut off.”
    “ Cut off?” The color began to drain from Graham’s face.
    “ Mr. Graham, I believe you. If you say my wife has not paid you, then I must. However, my funds will not be available until the end of the week. I hope you dinna mind waiting.”
    “ But I cannot afford to stay a week.”
    “ You have no money at all?”
    Graham looked worried. “Not enough to pay for a weeks stay in a hotel.”
    “ That is a pity. Perhaps I might put in a good word with the hotel manager and you can pay him at the end of your stay.”
    “ Yes, that might do.”
    “ Naturally, I must deny some of your invoices.”
    George Graham set his cut of tea on a nearby table and stood up. “Mr. MacGreagor, you have no right!”
    Hannish put his cup down and slowly got up as well. “I have every right. I asked my brother to look over the place. You neglected several things I specifically put on my list, yet you invoiced me for them. Shall I show you the…”
    “ That won’t be necessary. I shall leave now.”
    “ Have a nice walk.”
    “ Walk? What have you done with my horse?”
    “ I fear he has thrown a shoe. Of course, if you wish to stay, I am certain we can make you more than comfortable here.”
    Graham fiddled with his hat rim. “Perhaps your man might take me to town?”
    “ I am afraid not, I keep everyone quite busy here. Have you met my sister? I am certain you have, she was on the ship…” Suddenly, a shot rang out. Hannish ran out of the study, across the parlor, through the foyer and out the front door.
    Shepard stood in the middle of the lawn with a still smoking Springfield musket in his hand, looking at something in the trees. “What is it, Shepard?”
    “ Charles Whitfield, Mr. Hannish. I missed.”
    Said Hannish, “Now there’s a pity.”
    “ He’ll not be coming back this time, Mr. Hannish.”
    “ Dinna count on it, Shepard. His kind always comes back.” When he turned around, Mr. Graham was