Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

my troubles are small compared to what she has lived through. I would rather send myself away than see Sassy gone.”
    McKenna laughed. “I would rather give you up too.”
    He pretended to look pained. “I am deeply wounded. Alistair will be back tomorrow, she adores him and he will set the world right again for Sassy.”
    “ Indeed he will.”

    Olivia was tired of trains, tired of her small compartment aboard ship, and even more tired of dressing herself and doing her own hair, by the time the HMS Umbria docked in Liverpool, England. The voyage took all of six days, with half of the last day spent trying to dock the ship. After that, there was a train to catch to Glasgow, Scotland, but at least this ride was not across ten God forsaken American states.
    At last, she was back with her own kind, in a world far more familiar and comfortable. She expected her driver to pick her up at the train station, but it appeared that was not to be. At the bottom of the steps, Cameron MacGreagor stood waiting. He looked a great deal like his brother when he tipped his hat, and then offered his arm. “Hannish wished me to see you safely home,” Cameron explained.
    “ Did he? How kind of him.”
    He ignored the sarcastic tone in her voice. “Come, my dear, my driver will fetch the luggage and then we shall be off. I have much to show you.” Suspicion was in her expression, but he ignored that too. He had not liked Olivia from the moment he first met his brother’s wife, nor did she like him. That, at least, promised to lessen the small talk in the carriage, although he asked just enough questions to be polite. At last, they were moving and both of them were relieved.
    It was not until Olivia realized they had passed through Glasgow, and were heading the wrong way that she began to seethe. “Where might you be taking me?”
    “ I wish to show you something.”
    “ Now, when I am completely exhausted?”
    “ I fear there will be no better time.”
    The carriage turned up a country road and then stopped in front of a modest estate. In front of the door, a butler and a cook stood waiting and as soon as Cameron helped Olivia out of the coach, the butler bowed and the cook curtsied. “Your Grace,” said the butler.
    Olivia’s eyes widened and she turned to see Cameron’s expression. “Your Grace?”
    “ Did Hannish not tell you? He Abdicated, this is your new home.”
    “ He what?”
    “ Dinna upset yourself, my dear; you shall be quite comfortable here. I had all your things delivered and should anything more arrive, I shall send them over directly. Hannish asked me to handle all your expenses. Of course, you’ll not need the kind of allowance you once had, now that…oh well, we need not discuss it just now.”
    “ Hannish Abdicated?”
    “ I am afraid so. The title, the land and all the MacGreagor holdings in Scotland are now mine. It was that little matter of Mr. Graham and his failure to secure his own compartment on the voyage to New York.”
    “ But…”
    Cameron checked to make sure his driver had unloaded her luggage and then said, “Good day to you, Olivia. Oh and by the way, my wife is the duchess now.” He climbed back inside the carriage, closed the door and when it pulled away, Olivia was still standing in front of the cottage with her mouth open.
    “ You’ve not heard the last of me, Hannish MacGreagor, of that I promise.” Olivia turned to survey the outside of the ugliest cottage she had ever seen. Abruptly, she glared at the butler. “Well, get my luggage!”
    “ When I am ready, Mrs. MacGreagor.”
    Olivia clinched her fists. “What? Did you not hear me? Bring them in at once!”
    “ The duke warned us you would be unkind,” said the butler. “He said to say if you hurt either of us, we are to call the constable directly and he will side with us. Who will the constable believe you or the duke?”
    Olivia stomped up the steps, yanked the door open and disappeared inside.

    Everyone was excited to greet Alistair and Dugan. They could not wait to hear how much trouble was had getting the duchess on the ship, plus they were eager to greet the rest of the Scottish servants. Hannish insisted on taking the carriage to the station, claiming Alistair deserved an easy ride after so much time spent traveling in the last month. That left everyone except the carriage and the wagon driver at home to wait.
    The train was apparently late again, for it was midafternoon before Keith saw the carriage