Finally finished with dessert, she watched Ronan clear the dishes away. "So you've not a drop in the house?"
"My dear sister, a man must have his medicinal comforts."
"Medicinal, I see." McKenna noticed Ronan was still waiting and got up from the table. "Shall we talk in the library? I've a hunger for reading lately and I wish to see what is available."
"Very well." Hannish stood up, nodded to Ronan and followed his sister. "I suspect you mean you would rather read a book than spend time with my wife."
She waited while Shepard opened the door and then walked into the library. "Olivia and I have very different views." McKenna walked to the sparse bookcase and began to read the titles allowed, "Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, such an ugly book…oh, you have Seven Brothers. There's a book I have not yet read."
Hannish took a seat and thoughtfully touched his fingertips together. "Upon which things do you and Olivia disagree, other than which man you should marry?"
With her back still to him, McKenna closed her eyes. She had said far too much and he already suspected she was not being honest with him. "Brother, two women always have their differences, it cannae be helped."
Still not getting a straight answer from her, he decided to change the subject, "Tell me about my brother's wife. He wrote that she nearly ran him down with her horse and buggy."
McKenna giggled, "Twas the very best way to get his attention."
"She did it deliberately?"
"Not at all, it was an accident, a very happy accident. It had just rained; her carriage hit a hole in the road and splashed our poor brother with mud. Flora stopped the buggy, climbed out, took her handkerchief, and tried to wipe it off his face. She managed only to smear it and the worse it got, the more she laughed. Oh brother, she has the most wonderful laughter in the world. It is like music."
"What did Cameron do?"
"Can you not guess? He drew her to him, hugged her tight and got mud all over her."
"I can believe that," he said.
"They have not been apart since."
"She sounds perfect for him."
"She is. I cannae wait until you meet her. I believe they might come in August or perhaps September. He promised to come, I just do not know when."
*
Excited to be excused finally, Ronan set the dinner dishes in the deep gray washing sink in the kitchen. Sassy sat wide-eyed at the table with the rest of the staff and it seemed tonight's entertainment was to come from the cooks instead.