Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

ball. He simply did not want to endure condolences and McKenna agreed. She sent their regrets and passed their excuses to Abigail, who was happy to explain it to the rest of the town. Telephones, it seems, had changed the speed of gossip forever.
    There were letters to write home, which kept McKenna quite busy. With her brother’s permission, she sent the same information concerning his marriage to their brother’s wife and anyone else she could think of. She was so delighted to ruin Olivia’s reputation, she almost felt guilty doing it – almost, but not quite. She was glad Hannish knew Graham had impersonated him on the voyage to America. That was the one secret she found most difficult to keep.
    Some days Hannish was upbeat and others, he seemed to be at loose ends. He kept himself busy, and his disappointment would pass with time, McKenna hoped. Alistair and Dugan would be coming home soon and Alistair always had a way of cheering Hannish up. Perhaps she would not object to seeing them make another trip to Colorado City, if that’s what it took to make her brother feel better.

    An outside garden party, when Hannish was ready to face the world, seemed the best remedy for controlling who would be the first visitors to Marblestone Mansion. Knowing whom to invite without knowing most of them was not easily, so McKenna asked for guidance from her sewing circle. This time she took Sassy, who was more than willing to learn how to sew.
    “ The date has not yet been decided,” McKenna said, setting her sewing down and taking a sip of tea in Abigail’s dining room.
    Pearl was overjoyed. “I understand your brother’s reluctance, but nearly everyone wants to see inside Marblestone Mansion. I would go just for that alone.”
    “ Then you shall,” said McKenna. “You are all invited, naturally and your husbands if you have one.”
    Loretta giggled, “And a brother for you to meet if we have no husband?”
    McKenna rolled her eyes. “If you insist. I warn you, the place is not yet finished. There is much to do still.”
    “ Have you heard?” Abigail could not wait to ask. “Charlotte secured a teaching position in town. I do hope you do not mind, McKenna.”
    “ Of course I do not mind, I wish her every happiness. Which school? I read that a new one is being built north of town.”
    “ I believe it is the new school,” Abigail answered.
    McKenna nodded. “How fortunate for her, I hope she will be very happy.”
    Maude Goodwin eyed Sassy for a moment. “Does this one not speak at all?”
    McKenna patted Sassy’s hand. “Constantly. She is a bit shy at first, but once she starts, we’ll not be able to stop her.”
    “ McKenna, you did get an invitation to the ball, did you not?” Vivian asked. “It is in less than a week and we do so hope you will come.”
    “ Aye, we are coming. My brother is hesitant still, but…”
    “ We will tell everyone not to mention his wife,” Abigail interrupted. “I myself am on the decorating committee and it will be the best ball Colorado Springs has ever seen, especially if the MacGreagors are there.”
    “ I am looking forward to it. Vivian, did you find a gown to wear?” McKenna asked.
    The conversation soon turned to other things and while Sassy concentrated on learning to sew, she never missed a word. She found talk of husbands and wives fascinating and wondered what a normal family was truly like. They all seemed so happy and it made her miss Cathleen that much more. Someday, when she had enough saved up, she fully intended to try her hand at a normal life.

    McKenna and Hannish were alone in the dining room, and they were just finishing dinner when Hannish asked, “How was your sewing circle?”
    “ I enjoy these women very much and you will like them too, but brother, Sassy said little more than ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ On the way home, she wanted to know what other rules there are. I think you may have frightened her when you sent Charlotte away.”
    “ So that is why she has been so quiet lately. It was not my intention to frighten anyone. What can I do?”
    “ I am not certain.”
    “ What rules did you give her?”
    “ I could only think of lying and stealing,” McKenna answered.
    “ I can think of nothing else either. Perhaps we might plan something fun for them to do -- an outing of some sort to let them all know I adore them still.”
    “ Especially Sassy?”
    “ Sister, she warms my cold heart somehow. I look at her and realize