Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

several of the ball guests were standing outside watching.
    They were halfway home before McKenna asked, “Is it true? Have you fallen in love with Sassy?”
    “ I already have a wife.”
    “ That is not what I asked.”
    “ McKenna, what sort of man lets himself love a woman who is not his wife? I cannae, indeed must not love again…ever. I am fond of Sassy, she is very easy to be fond of, but I still love the woman I thought I married.”
    “ That woman does not exist.”
    He sighed. “How well I know.”
    “ I would not blame you if you did fall in love with Sassy someday, yet I caution you – if you are convinced divorcing Olivia is the wrong thing to do, do not let Sassy love a man she can never have. It is too cruel and it would drive her away from us, perhaps into the arms of the wrong man.”
    “ I shall not let that happen.”
    He stared out the window into the darkness for a long time before he spoke again, “Do I know him?”
    “ Who?”
    “ The married man you fell in love with?”
    McKenna closed her eyes. “He was not married at the time.”
    “ But he is now?”
    “ Aye, he chose Mariam’s money instead, and he knew he would all along. He said all the words I longed to hear, but when love cannae be, those same words torture the very soul.”
    “ So you boarded a ship and fled to America.”
    “ What else could I do? I could not bear to be in the same world as he, let alone the same country.”
    “ I am glad you did. He is not the sort of man I would wish you to marry. Someday you shall find one who is worthy.”
    “ I fear there are no good men left in the world.”

    It was late, but not that late when the carriage pulled up to the front of the mansion. No butler waited to open the front door, and as they approached, they could hear music inside. Hannish and McKenna quietly entered, stayed in the shadows of the foyer and watched. The servants had moved all the new furniture in the parlor aside, and Alistair and Dugan were teaching the younger sisters how to waltz. Donnel and Blanka sat watching, Brookton looked as though he was trying to get up the nerve to ask Sassy to dance and surprisingly, Shepard was playing a violin.
    “ One, two, three, turn,” Alistair said, holding Cathleen just a bit closer than arms length. He was so tall, she could not put her hand on his shoulder, and had to settle for his upper arm instead. Furthermore, she could not get the rhythm of the waltz quite right. The turn seemed to be a problem and each time she got it wrong, she glared at Alistair. “‘Tis your fault,” she insisted.
    “ How have you come to that conclusion?” he asked.
    “ It just is, is all.”
    “ I see,” Alistair said, sticking his indignant nose in the air.
    Meanwhile, Dugan was holding Sassy too close for her comfort. She moved the arm he had around her twice, before she intentionally smashed his toe and walked away. Everyone roared with laughter.
    It fell to Millie to teach Ronan and he seemed to be catching on quickly. The cooks were also seated, preferring to watch rather than participate.
    “ I dinna even know Shepard had a violin,” Hannish whispered.
    “ He is very good,” McKenna agreed. “I have been meaning to ask him to sing for us again.”
    As soon as Hannish walked into the parlor, the music stopped and everyone turned to look. He boldly walked to Sarah, bowed and said, “Shall we show them how ‘tis done?”
    Sarah smiled and curtsied. “I am honored, Sir.”
    Hannish offered his arm, walked her to the center of the room and nodded for Shepard to play. Their dancing was impeccable, as though they had been practicing for weeks, and Alistair watched every move. Two turns around the room, he had had enough of that, tapped Hannish on the shoulder and took a grinning Sarah away from him.
    Hannish pretended to be quite insulted and went to stand next to Sassy. “I believe he likes her.”
    “ Just now you noticed?” she asked.
    “ How long has this been going on?”
    “ Since the day we came.”
    “ I see.” He returned her smile and then watched Prescot approach McKenna in the foyer.
    “ May I?” Prescot asked.
    McKenna nodded and took his hand. “I assure you, ’Tis the best offer I have had all night.”
    “ Truly?” he asked, walking her into the parlor. “You did not fall madly in love with one of Colorado’s finest?”
    “ Prescot, you cannae guess what a disaster this night was. Charlotte was there.”
    Prescot shook his head. “I