Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

all this time?”
    “ They are trying to choose a last name. Sassy’s certificate of birth says parents unknown.”
    “ She will need her birth certificate when she decides to marry. They both will.”
    “ You are right, I had not thought of that.”

    Now that he was back in society somewhat, Hannish mounted his horse and went to town to see Amos Wells. The carpenter had recently moved from Denver and was temporarily housing his shop in a barn. He seemed to be a hard working, honorable man and the furniture he had to show were of good quality. Hannish bought several pieces, with a promise to place more orders later.
    “ My sister is holding a garden party soon. Would you like to come, Mr. Wells? You can have a look around the place and get an idea of what we need.”
    “ Will Leesil be there?”
    Hannish was not certain he liked that question, but he answered it anyway, “Aye.”
    “ I am surprised she is not yet married.”
    “ You fancy her?”
    “ Indeed I do. She is…well, I cannot seem to get her off my mind.”
    “ I see.” He did not know what else to say, so he simply tipped his hat and went back to his horse.
    “ I’ll bring the furniture around tomorrow, Mr. MacGreagor.”
    Hannish mounted, nodded and rode away.

    Hannish was not yet home when the telephone call came through. It rang so often now, most had grown accustomed to it and paid little attention. That is, until a call came for Miss Leesil. Sassy was so stunned when Alistair announced it in the kitchen, she could hardly move.
    “ You dinna suppose Old Mrs. Forthright found us, do you?” Cathleen whispered.
    Sassy slowly got up, accepted the earpiece Alistair handed to her and put her mouth near the transmitter. “Hello?”
    “ It is Amos Wells from the hayride, Miss Leesil. Do you remember me?”
    “ Aye.”
    “ I was wondering…I mean there is to be a ball next week and I hoped I might take you.”
    Sassy turned around and looked at McKenna. “You wish to take me to a ball?”
    “ I do,” Amos said.
    “ I dinna know how to dance. I thank you, Mr. Wells, but I cannae go. Good bye.” She heard him begin to say something more, but urgently hung up anyway. For the first time in days, she was speechless. She looked at Cathleen, at McKenna, at Alistair and then decided she best sit back down.
    “ I could teach you to dance, Sassy, it would not take but a few tries,” said Alistair.
    “ Do you wish to go, Sassy?” McKenna asked. “I could loan you a gown.” Still she did not answer and all anyone could do was watch Sassy get up and walk out of the kitchen.
    “ She is frightened,” Cathleen muttered. “She pretends nothing frightens her, but she is always quiet when it does.”
    “‘ Tis not yet time for her to be out in the world,” McKenna decided, “but it will be, and perhaps sooner than we thought.”
    “ She could marry me,” said Dugan. “I would protect her from the world.”
    “ Or me,” Brookton said.
    McKenna grinned, “You too?”
    Said Brookton, “Miss McKenna, we hardly see any others our age.”
    “ That is true,” McKenna admitted. “Perhaps we should send the two of you to town more often. Then, if you see a lass you prefer, we could…”
    “ Have another hayride?” Cathleen asked.
    “ Indeed we could, and this time we would tell everyone in advance.”
    An hour later, Sassy was back to her old self, dismissing any discussion of Mr. Wells or his stupid ball. She was quite content with the world just the way it was, and had no plans to change it. Dugan, Keith and Brookton were all relieved, especially Keith.
    After everyone had gone back to work, Cathleen giggled and whispered to Egan, “James would be surprised to hear this. He called Leesil a put-her all the time, and swore she would never catch a husband.” She covered her mouth and giggled again. “James fancied her sometimes and other times me.”
    “ How old is James,” Egan asked.
    “ He be thirteen now and him with a fine job in the mills of Scotland, makin’ his own pay and everything. But he’d never guess where we are, he’d never guess it in his wildest dreams.”

    The next afternoon, Amos Wells drove his wagon up the lane and stopped in front of Marblestone Mansion. He wound the reins around the wagon post, climbed down and was heading for the door when the footmen came out to help unload the new furniture. Eager to have a look inside, Amos grabbed an end table and followed the footmen inside. He was impressed