Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess

sheriff and a woman he introduced as an old friend. The Goodwins, the Mabs, the Millers, and of course, Pearl and Loretta, both looking lovely, both happy to see Hannish and both escorted by two gentlemen no one had ever seen before. Six more carriages arrived, delivering guests from the Antlers hotel, plus the hotel owner and his wife.
    At last it was time, and when McKenna gave the secret signal, Prescot slipped up the back stairs to get Sassy.
    “ I believe that is all our guests,” said Hannish.
    “ Are you certain? I thought I invited more.”
    “ Did you? Who?”
    “ Well, let me think. The Carsons are not yet arrived and then…” She looked up just in time to see the hem of Sassy’s dress appear at the top of the stairs.
    Hannish followed her gaze and step-by-step, a vision of loveliness began to descend. As soon as he recognized her, his mouth dropped. “Leesil?”
    She kept her arm around Prescot’s, smiled and nodded.
    Crouched down at the top of the stairs, Millie was having trouble hiding her giggle. She covered her mouth, quickly got up, ran down the hallway to the back stairs, and then hurried to the kitchen to tell everyone about the stunned look on his face.
    “ Shall we?” Prescot asked when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
    “ Please,” Leesil answered.
    Alistair quickly stepped forward and offered his arm to her. “I believe she promised the first dance to me.”
    “ I’ll tell Sarah,” Prescot threatened.
    “ Very well, but you’ve not heard the last of this.” Alistair put his nose in the air and followed them.
    Still shocked, Hannish watched until they were across the parlor and went out of sight. “McKenna, what are you up to?”
    “ She wants to go to a ball and I think she should.” With that, McKenna walked away as well.

    Alistair took Sassy in his arms and she waltzed with him as though she had been born to it. “Keep smiling and do not look at him, it will drive him daft,” said Alistair, after they made a turn at the far end of the ballroom.
    “ Is daft a good thing?”
    “ Just now it is.”
    “ I see. Does everyone know?”
    He turned her and then answered, “We guessed it long before you did, I imagine. He always knows where you are and if he does not, he goes looking.”
    She blushed. “I did not know that.” Sassy did as Alistair suggested and if Hannish was bothered or even in the room, she did not see it.
    Hannish was there of course, refusing to stay at the front door to greet any other guests no matter who they were. He watched her for a moment, and when he spotted Pearl, he asked her to dance. She was delighted, and Hannish intentionally waltzed her closer to Alistair and Sassy, but Sassy kept smiling at Alistair and seemed not to notice him. Just then, a woman he had never seen before tapped Pearl on the shoulder. Reluctantly, Pearl let the stranger have her way and left the dance floor.
    “ I have come to dance with the second most handsome man in the room,” the stranger said after they danced halfway around the room.
    She had a nice smile and an easy manner. “Who might the most handsome be?” Hannish asked.
    “ My husband, naturally. Do forgive me, Mr. MacGreagor, for my attire, ‘tis a long ride on the train from New York.”
    “ You have only just arrived?”
    “ Aye, the train was quite late.”
    “ I am not surprised. Where might your husband be?” Before she could answer, someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Watch where you put your hands on my wife.”
    Worried that he was about to get in a fistfight, Hannish stopped and stared at the intruder. At last he smiled, let go of the woman and deeply bowed, “Your grace, welcome to America.”
    “ We’ll have none of that between brothers.” Cameron tightly gripped his brother’s hand. “How I have missed you. You have met my lovely wife, I see.”
    He turned to her. “You are Flora? I have heard many wonderful things about you. Will your husband kill me if I hug you?”
    “ Oh, never mind him.” She giggled and wrapped her arms around him.
    Cameron was too excited to continue the niceties. “Brother, come with me, I’ve a tale to tell you’ll not believe.” He grabbed his wife’s hand and led them both to a grinning McKenna. Have you a place where we can talk privately”
    “ The study will do,” McKenna answered, heading that way.
    Sassy couldn’t help but see the four of them leave. “Who is that?”
    Alistair answered, “His brother. You will like him;