"Then I must warn you, I've not a sixpence left to my name."
"Squandered it, have you? I doubt Olivia…" She caught herself just in time.
"You were about to say, you doubt Olivia would not be happy without the benefit of a fortune? I remind you she married me without the benefit of a fortune."
"Aye, but you could make her a Duchess. What will she do when she learns the Americans are not fond of titles?"
Hannish drew in a long breath, slowly exhaled and stared out the window. This was not turning out the way he planned, and he was grateful when his sister stopped talking. Another two bends in the road and the vast lawn, unfinished gardens and the mansion came into view. At last, the carriage stopped in the front. Hannish stepped out and then offered his hand to his sister.
*
As he expected, housekeepers, Sarah and Charlotte, and cook Halen stood in front of the mansion waiting to greet them. He walked McKenna up the marble stone walkway, and then stopped in front of the three American women he had grown very fond of. He tried not to notice Sarah's disappointment when he introduced the woman on his arm as his sister and not his wife. "Mrs. MacGreagor stayed in New York to do some shopping. She will come later."
"Very good, Sir." Sarah watched the newly arrived Scots climb out of the wagon. They looked very tired, especially the two older women with gray hair and dark circles under their eyes.
McKenna couldn't seem to take her eyes off the enormous mansion. Concerned, she looked over the staff and then looked up at the mansion again. "Shall these be enough to tend such a large place?"
"If not, we shall find more. There are two more lads and their wives living in cottages in the back. The lads tend the horses and the grounds." Hannish turned his attention to his American butler. "Prescot, see the Scots are settled and that they rest before dinner. We shall all eat together in the dining room this night."
Prescot was taken aback. "Servants in the dining room, Sir?"
Hannish smiled, "Just this once. If you dinna tell, none will hear it from me."
Prescot returned his smile, hurried up the last step, and opened one of the large double doors. He did not see the look of great displeasure on the Scottish butler's face. Prescot previously worked for a distinguished eastern family, was a man of medium stature with a kind face and a no-nonsense attitude. His dark hair and eyes often attracted the attention of the women, but he had yet to find the one of his dreams.