Keith was delighted when Ronan brought the dessert tray to the dining room. Quickly, he picked up the tray of dirty dishes and hurried off to the kitchen, and they were all there, American and Scot alike.
"She hates Americans," Keith said just above a whisper.
"Fret not," said Alistair, "she hates Scots too."
"She is English?" Charlotte asked.
Alistair rolled his eyes, "She says she is, but she is Scot the same as we."
Keith set the tray on the bar and joined McKenna at the table. "She told him she brought Mr. Graham with her."
McKenna's mouth dropped. "She told him?"
"She did," said Keith. "He is to come tomorrow."
"God have mercy. If Hannish suspects, he will kill him," McKenna whispered.
"And with good reason," Jessie muttered. "I once saw…"
"I dinna wish to hear it, Jessie. What I dinna know, I will not have to lie to my brother about." She did not mean to raise her voice and toned it down. "I know Hannish wants us to be honest, but think how it will hurt him if he knows for certain. I beg of you, dinna tell him."
"And the time they spent in New York together, how do we explain that?" Millie asked.
Keith again whispered, "The duchess is not staying."
"Good," several of them muttered.
*
Hannish watched Olivia choose a dessert from the tray Ronan held. The ring on his wife's finger was the biggest square of Jade he had ever seen and he had to pull his eyes away, before he was tempted to ask how much that cost him. "I am afraid we are not as wealthy as you think," he decided to say.
"How wealthy? You never did say how much you sold the mine for."
"Unfortunately, I have spent most of what I made building this house and repairing the old one."
"Oh, but you could sell this one, am I right?"
"Perhaps."
"Of course you could. I have read much about the men who have gotten rich off the gold mines in Colorado. There must be ten or twelve at least."
"Aye, but they already have fine homes."
"But surely this is the finest."
"I am glad you think so. Yet, it might take a while to sell it."
"But we will be home in time for the rest of the season. Oh, please promise we will. You left so suddenly, I have not yet been properly presented at court."
He didn't think anything could further surprise him, but that statement just did. "Forgive me, my dear, I dinna realized you held being presented in such high esteem."