Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

at the same time. Cathleen was thrilled to be asked to take care of McKenna, now that her lady’s maid was otherwise occupied. She did not yet know that, as a family member, she too would have a room on the second floor and would never be a servant again.
    The past two weeks had been a flurry of activity with plans to make and constant clothing fittings. Sassy was grateful to have a seamstress right in the mansion, so she did not have to go to town each day. Yet there were shoes and hats to buy, and she was welcome to anything she could find. In the end, the future Mrs. Hannish MacGreagor had four new traveling outfits and one wedding dress. It was thrilling as well as overwhelming.
    Halen and Jessie spent all of the day before, baking the wedding cake and decorating it with frosting bows and flowers. Real flowers were delivered and at last, everything was set.
    That night, Leesil took a long walk with Hannish. She had a thousand questions still, and he answered them as best he could. She was so in love, she didn’t care if he got the answers wrong. Finally, he took her back inside, passionately kissed her goodnight and watched her climb the formal stairs. Half way up, she turned around and ran back down into his arms.

    Sassy did not mind all the fuss over her by nearly everyone in the mansion. She found it kept her from getting too nervous. Today was her wedding day and part of her wanted nothing more than to have it over with. The other part wanted it to last forever. Her dress was a glorious white, with three graduating lengths of lace over satin, beginning at her waist and ending in a two-foot train in the back. The bodice was made of satin with a high neck, lace collar and short lace-over satin sleeves. She had never seen anything so glorious, let alone imagined she would be wearing it. Satin slippers, gloves and a white lace veil complemented the dress perfectly.
    “ Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue , and a silver sixpence in your Shoe,” said McKenna.
    “ Something old? You’ve not found Old Mrs. Forthright, have you?” Sassy asked.
    “ Nay, but I did find this.” McKenna opened her hand and let Sassy see the simple gold locket. “‘Twas my mother’s and she would want you to have it. I believe it belonged to her mother.”
    “ I cannae, McKenna. You must wear it on your wedding day.”
    “ When I marry, you can give it back and then it will be something old for me to wear.”
    “ And I have this for you,” said Flora. “‘Tis a silver sixpence for your shoe, from Cameron and I.” She opened her arms and hugged her new sister-in-law to be, whom she was becoming very fond of.
    McKenna frowned. “Now, the dress and the flowers are new…let me see, something is missing. Ah yes, something borrowed.”
    “ I suppose she could borrow my ribbon,” Cathleen said. “She must give it back though, ‘tis the first ribbon I ever did have.”
    Millie smiled, “‘Tis blue too, as I recall. We shall weave it in her hair with the veil.”
    “ Perfect,” McKenna said.
    Sarah abruptly opened the door to Sassy’s bedroom and came in, holding a piece of paper out to her. “Mr. Hannish said to bring it to you. Judge Martin signed it and you are officially Miss Leesil Covington. Your marriage will be perfectly legal now.”
    Sassy slowly unfolded the document, read her name and smiled. “And Cathleen?”
    “ There is one for her too,” Sarah answered.
    “ I wish Donnel were here to see it.” Sassy quickly stood up. “I must show it to Blanka.”
    “ You must not,” McKenna warned. “Hannish might see you and ‘tis bad luck.”
    “ I will take it to her if you like,” said Sarah.
    Sassy grinned. “Thank you, please do and give her a hug from me.”
    Hannish was nearly dressed when someone knocked on his bedroom door. Alistair quickly answered it and let Cameron in. Cameron handed his brother a bundle wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.
    “ What’s this?” Hannish asked.
    “ Open it and see.” Cameron winked at Alistair and grinned when his brother opened the package and caught his breath. “I wore it at my wedding and now ‘tis your turn.”
    “ Father’s kilt?”
    “ And his father’s before him and his father’s, and so on and so forth. I had it cleaned just before we sailed, although I did not think you would need it quite so soon. If Alistair will accommodate us, perhaps he might quickly iron the wrinkles out.” Alistair happily