Read Marblestone Mansion 01 - Scandalous Duchess for Free Online

extensive back yard was starting to grow, yet it looked as empty as he felt. At least the sun was shinning more often than not, which was a relief after such a long winter. Last year, they barely got the horse corral and the hired hand cottages built in time for winter, not to mention stacking bales of hay and chopping wood for the fireplaces. He liked honest hard work, had his hand in almost everything, and was sad to see the building come to an end. Just now, having something to build would be welcome indeed.
    While they waited for Prescot and the others to return from town, the rest of the Scots took baths and gathered clothing that needed washing. Instead of waiting for Sarah to come back, McKenna had two beds moved downstairs to the ‘servant’s day room,’ and rearranged the beds twice before she decided how to make the best use of the available space. With little more to do, she wandered from room to room, loving the ones with a view of the mountains the best, and imagining what she would do with each if the place were her husband’s, instead of her brother’s.

    It was not easy sitting in a rocking chair in a moving wagon, but Sassy not only managed it, she enjoyed herself thoroughly. All the way back from town, Sassy asked Sarah all sorts of questions, while Prescot and Shepard sat on the wagon seat facing forward and trying not to laugh.
    “ What sort of birds are those,” Sassy asked, pointing to a tree.
    “ They are called sparrows. The ones with the red underbellies are Robins and occasionally, we see a Bald Eagle.”
    “ Bald, as bald as Old Mrs. Forthright? She wears hair not her own to cover it, but the hair is always crooked and we can tell just the same.”
    Sarah giggled. “The eagle is not truly bald, the feathers on its head are white to the neck and the rest of them are brown, making it look bald.”
    Satisfied with that answer, Sassy spotted something else. “What’s that over there? It looks like…”
    At last they arrived, bringing a wagon full of things for McKenna’s new room – far more than anyone expected them to find in a town that size.
    As soon as they pulled up, Keith was waiting to help her down. Sassy was not so sure she liked Keith; he had an odd way of looking at her. Nevertheless, there was no one else, so she accepted his offer. Then she hurried into the house to put her purchases away.
    Among the things Prescot brought from town, were three catalogues acquired from the post office. Hannish hoped Prescot would bring a letter or a telegram, but he was again disappointed, so he went out to help the men carry everything up the stairs. The rocking chair and one of the two upholstered chairs, he decided, would do well in the empty second floor sitting room.
    McKenna chose a room in the far corner of the second floor, as far away from Olivia’s room as she could get. The bedroom didn’t have much of a view of the back yard, but she didn’t intend to spend much time there anyway. She had the furniture rearranged three times before she got it just the way she wanted, while Sarah and Charlotte made the bed and Sassy began to unpack McKenna’s Steamer Trunks. Sassy was fascinated with all the beautiful gowns her employer had and took her time feeling the cloth and hanging them in the largest closet she had ever seen. Even so, she was worried when they wouldn’t all fit, until McKenna assured her it was all right to leave some in the trunks. They would need to be cleaned before McKenna wore them anyway.

    “ How did she do?” McKenna asked as soon as she was able to get Sarah alone.
    “ You would have loved watching her. Sassy simply had to touch everything, yet she spent only fifty cents and it was hard to get her to part with that. She is saving the rest.”
    “ For what?”
    “ She would not say,” Sarah answered.
    “ What did she buy?”
    “ The softest silk undergarments she could find and a blue ribbon for her hair. It is the same color as her eyes. I promised to