Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

get Olivia, or whatever her name is now, out of Jail.”
    “ He’ll not succeed,” said Cameron, “not without a very clever and extremely expensive solicitor to help her.”
    Hannish stared at his brother. “Does this mean I was never married, or must I become a part of the action against Olivia to be free?”
    “ I’d not like to see you tangled up in this mess and so far, they do not know about either you or Lord Bayington. According to the barrister, you married a woman who does not exist. Therefore, you need not divorce her.”
    Hannish could hardly get the words out… “I am free?”
    “ I believe you are.”

    Hannish wasted no time returning to the ballroom. He walked to the middle of the room and tapping the man dancing with Sassy on the shoulder. “Allow me.” The man nodded and walked away.
    “ What are you doing, they will talk,” Sassy whispered.
    “ Let them talk.” Slowly, he put his left hand on her back, took her hand in his and drew her close. Then he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Will you come with me? I have something I long to say to you.”
    Sassy pulled back to look in his eyes. “Where?”
    “ Just outside.” He waited for her nod, led her through the dancing couples and then opened the door to the terrace. He let her go through first, and then followed her to the short stone wall, separating the terrace from the lawn.
    The half moon was just peeking over the roof of the mansion when Sassy looked up at the stars. In the ballroom behind her, McKenna, Cameron and Flora moved to the window to watch. “What do you wish to say to me?”
    “ Do you remember the night I carried you up the stairs? You put your arms around my neck, put your head on my shoulder and I knew then I never wanted to let you go.”
    She turned to see the sincerity in his eyes. “You did?”
    “ I have thought of you every waking moment since. Until tonight, I thought I would go mad wanting you.”
    She quickly turned away. “‘Tis torture for me too.”
    He slowly put an arm around her. “I am sorry I put you through that.”
    “‘ Tis my first time at being in love. I dinna know what to do.”
    “ I hope ‘twill be your last time at being in love.”
    “ Mr. Hannish…”
    “ Just Hannish.”
    “ Mr. Hannish, you forget, you are married.”
    He turned her toward him and wrapped his other arm around her. “I have just learned I am not married. Olivia tricked me and we were never married.”
    “ She tricked you?”
    He pulled her closer. “Aye, and three others before me.”
    “ I dinna know a woman could do that?”
    “ No honest woman would.”
    Behind Sassy, all the servants quietly came out on the terrace to watch. Inside, Abigail and Claymore, along with most of the other guests began to crowd near the ballroom windows.
    Hannish pulled her closer still, put his hand on the back of her head and urged her to lay it against his chest. “Leesil, I have so longed to hold you.” He kissed the top of her head and held her just a little bit tighter. “Will you be my wife?”
    For a moment, little Sassy with no last name, thought her heart was never going to start beating again. “I…I...”
    When she leaned back to look at him again, he kissed her cheek. “What, sweetheart, what troubles you?”
    “ I just learning to be an adult and I dinna know how to be a wife.”
    “ I hardly know how to be a husband, but we can learn together. Say you will, Leesil. Just say you will.”
    She drew in a forgotten breath, finally put her arms around him and looked into his eyes. At last, she said, “I will.”
    The love was evident in his eyes when he leaned down and kissed her. McKenna brought a hand to her chest, Cameron took off his hat, Sarah kissed Alistair, Millie put her head on Prescot’s shoulder and the rest of them cheered – all except Keith who went back inside.

    CHAPTER 13

    Leesil thought she would never tire of looking at the engagement ring on her finger. It was gold and had tiny diamonds and pearls set in a circle. She had her own bedroom now, the blue room next to McKenna’s on the second floor. She missed sharing a room with Cathleen and sometimes went back upstairs to be with her in the night. Mornings meant bacon and biscuits in the kitchen, and she was not about to give up that luxury for any man. Hannish laughed and sat down beside her.
    Getting used to having Millie do things for her was not easy, and more often than not, she and Millie reached for something