Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

bite of roast beef he had in his mouth. “On the ship, Mr. Graham said...” As soon as he said it, Ronan caught his breath and looked around. Everyone was staring at him, and Alistair was clearly not pleased.
    “ Mr. Graham?” Hannish asked. “George Graham, the stonemason I hired to do the repairs was on the ship with you?”
    It was too late now and McKenna reluctantly answered, “Aye.”
    “ And did he come with you on the train, or is he in New York with my wife?” Hannish waited, but no one spoke and the answer was clear. “I see.”
    McKenna said, “It does not mean…”
    “ What does it mean?” Hannish interrupted, his voice rising again.
    “ Perhaps Mr. Graham has business in New York,” said his sister.
    Hannish considered it and again took a deep breath. “Perhaps you are right. I must not think the worst and I will not let it spoil a perfectly good dinner. Have the Scots no questions for the Americans?”
    McKenna began by asking all sorts of questions about America and was relieved to learn they had seen an end to the Indian battles. Next, she encouraged the Scots to tell about the things they had seen on their journey. She knew her brother well enough to know he heard little of it, although he pretended to.
    It was not until the meal was finished and the room grew quiet that Hannish spoke again. “We could all use a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, my sister may choose a bedroom and the rest of us will see she is made comfortable. Keith, you will ride to town in the morning and send a telegram? Alistair, where is my wife stayin’ in New York?”
    “ I believe she secured rooms in The Plaza, Sir.”
    “ I read that the Plaza Hotel was finally finished; no doubt it is the most expensive hotel in the city. Very well, I shall simply telegram asking when she expects to arrive.” With that, Hannish stood up and left the room.
    After he was gone, McKenna closed her eyes for a moment. “I believe we said quite enough. Ronan, did I not press you to keep silent about Mr. Graham?”
    The youngest of all the men, Ronan looked as horrified as he felt. “I dinna mean to, it just slipped out.”
    “ Well the harm is done now.” McKenna stood up, walked around her chair, and pushed it in. “Perhaps Olivia will have improved by the time she arrives.”
    Alistair and the others respectfully stood up with her. “And perhaps not,” he muttered, beginning to clear the dishes.
    “ Just the same, say as little about her as he requires,” said McKenna. “He’ll not believe it anyway, until he sees it for himself. Sassy, ‘tis time you put me to bed.”
    “ Aye, Miss,” Sassy hurried out the door behind her.
    Prescot gently took hold of Alistair’s arm. “We will see to it. You Scots rest.”
    “ What a fine lad you are, thank you,” said Alistair, setting the plates back down. It was a good start for two men who coveted the same position. Perhaps they might get on well after all.
    “ I’ll be bringing apple pie up soon,” cook Halen added. “In case you get hungry in the night.”
    Blanka tried not to yawn. “I doubt any will wake this night. I could sleep standing up.”
    “ And she has, too,” Alistair teased. He nodded his appreciation to cook Halen and went out behind the other Scots.
    Halen waited until she could hear them going up the back stairs, sat down and put her head in her hands. “Poor Mr. MacGreagor. Do you think his wife is as bad as they say?”
    Prescot reached for another plate to stack on the large tray Shepard held. “If she is, we best help him.”
    “ How?” asked Charlotte.
    “ The Scots don’t seem so bad and they admire him. I say we do our best to get along so he does not have that worry.”
    “ Agreed,” said Keith. “He loves her more than most husbands and no man deserves an unfaithful wife.”
    “ We can not know she is unfaithful,” Halen said, “only it sure does look that way. What woman in her right mind would not bother to hide it?”
    Shepard set the full tray on a sideboard and reached for an empty one. “Perhaps she has nothing to hide after all.”
    Sarah frowned and finished tying her apron strings. “I doubt he believes she has nothing to hide. She might have written or sent a telegram to notify him Mr. Graham was coming. Mr. MacGreagor has not heard from her in weeks. He had to hear she was coming from his brother.”
    “ Well, I hate her already,” Charlotte said. “If the duchess doesn’t want him, I do.”
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