Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess by Marti Talbott Page B

truth in her eyes.”
    “ He might believe her excuses,” Alistair cautioned. “She has very clever ways of getting what she wants, especially from her unsuspecting admirers.”
    Prescot gasped. “She has more than one?”
    Alistair glanced back to make sure Hannish was not nearby. “You dinna hear that from us.”
    “ Of course not,” Prescot said. “How could his wife be so heartless?”
    McKenna folded the telegram back up and put it in her pocket. “I assure you, she has no heart.”

    Everywhere Sassy was, Keith seemed to be also, but she ignored him for the most part. He was not an unpleasant looking man. In fact, if she did not find his too obvious smiles annoying, she might have fancied him a little. Happy were the days when Keith had plenty to do.
    Aside from that, there was the problem of getting her hands on a catalogue. Each time she reached for one, someone else got to it first. There was the one in her employer’s study, but she was certain she was not to go in there without asking. Still, after he went to bed and McKenna was asleep, Sassy lit a candle, slipped down the back stairs, through the empty kitchen, across the dining room, the parlor and into the study. As quiet as a mouse, she closed the door, turned on the lamp and there it was, right in the middle of his roll top desk.
    An hour later, her eyes and mind were filled with glorious things she never imagined existed, and she thought about it long and hard before she took his fountain pen and put a check mark beside the delicate figurine of a grand lady in a pink ball gown. She put everything back the way it was, turned out the light, picked up the candle and as quietly as she came, went out the door and back upstairs.
    Sassy quietly closed the door to her room, changed into her nightshirt and carefully hung the frock Charlotte finally finished hemming in her small closet. Each night, she still moved her bowl and pitcher of water to a different location on her dresser, and then checked first thing in the morning to see if it pleased her. This night was no different and before she could think of sleeping, she put the bowl on one side and the pitcher on the other. At last, her day was finished and she could rest.

    Hannish was not a stupid man and he prayed what he suspected was not true, but just in case, he did not intend to let his wife get away with much more. He spent the next morning in his study drafting a very important letter, sealed it and then called for his horse. He rode to town alone, posted the letter at the post office, and then sent two cablegrams: one to the captain of the ship his wife arrived on, and the other to an old friend - his banker in Scotland. He said not a word about his dealings to anyone when he got home, and simply went about checking lists and ordering what they needed to fill the Mansion.
    Two days later, McKenna asked to go to town. She hoped to find patterns, embroidery threads and a few yards of white linen to help her pass the time, especially in the evenings. Bored with his lists and invoices, Hannish decided to go with her. The sun was shining; the air smelled of lilacs and with Shepard driving the red carriage, the leisurely ride was a pleasant one.
    Hannish took her to the general store, went inside with her, introduced her to the owner, and directed him to put anything she wanted on his bill. While she shopped, Shepard drove him to the telegraph office where he sent two more inquiries to Scotland. Once that was accomplished, he went to the bank, withdrew some cash and told them to expect a very large deposit.
    However, when Shepard pulled the carriage to a stop in front of the general store, McKenna was outside standing between two of his friends, Simon Merth and Gregory Goodwin. She was furious and they were trying to calm her down with little success. “What is it?” He asked as soon as he opened the carriage door.
    She tossed her packages into the carriage and then let him help her climb inside.