––––––––
The first spring ball was held at the Antlers Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs and according to Abigail, everyone who was anyone was expected to be there. It took a full hour for Sassy to pin ringlets in McKenna’s dark hair. McKenna chose a simple silk gown the color of a ripe peach, a matching hat and a white, lace shawl to wear over her shoulders.
She was a sight to behold when she came down the stairs into the parlor and everyone was there to approve. Smartly dressed in black with a tall round hat, Hannish offered his arm, Prescot opened the front door and Keith stood ready to open the carriage door.
Egan looked particularly handsome in his driver’s uniform, held the horses steady and waited for his cargo to climb aboard. As soon as Keith closed the door, he gently slapped the reins against the horse’s backs and took the MacGreagors to the ball.
*
When Egan let his passengers off at the front door of the hotel, it appeared every carriage in town was lined up along both sides of the wide main street, which left no room to park except at the end. He did not like being so far away, but he had little choice.
In the ballroom, Abigail and Claymore were the first to welcome them and McKenna remembered to comment on the remarkable decorations in the expansive ballroom. It pleased Abigail very much and she was happy to give up her position in the receiving line to introduce McKenna to everyone. Pearl and Loretta were there, and so was Loretta’s brother, John. He seemed a pleasant man and to please Loretta, McKenna promised the second dance to him. To please McKenna, Hannish asked Loretta for the second dance, claiming to dance the first with his sister. No two were happier than Loretta and John.
On a table along the back wall, sat a bowl of punch with Manitou Springs sparkling water added, and trays of various delights to eat. Something a bit stronger for the gentlemen was kept in an adjoining room, providing the men could slip away long enough to take a swig or two. Hannish decided he would probably need to fortify himself often, once he got a good look at a woman across the room in a purple gown with gold trim. He leaned close to McKenna and whispered, “Charlotte is here.”
“Oh dear,” McKenna moaned. She smiled as Abigail introduced her to a newly married couple, and promptly forgot their names. She tried not to be too obvious as she looked around the room and when she finally spotted Charlotte, McKenna quickly looked away before she was seen. She needn’t have bothered; Charlotte had her eyes glued on Hannish.
As soon as the orchestra began to play, McKenna grinned at her brother and took his arm. “Do you remember how to waltz?”
“Of course I do, we’ve been doing it since you were nine.” He put his hand out face down, put his other gloved hand behind his back, waited until she placed her hand on top of his and walked her to the center of the room. He deeply bowed, she curtsied just as deeply, and then they joined the other waltzing couples.
“They certainly are handsome people,” Abigail said to her husband. Then she too noticed the look of envy on Charlotte’s face. “I believe we might see trouble here tonight.”
“What?” he followed her gaze and nodded. “I believe you might be right.”
McKenna never seemed to be without a dancing partner, all of whom mentioned they were not married, and she often noticed the smile of approval and anticipation on Abigail’s face. Hannish managed to avoid Charlotte, dancing with nearly every other woman in the room, slipping off to have a swallow or two of rum, and once more talking with Claymore and several other men. Yet he occasionally glanced at the growing bitterness in her expression.
The men were having an intense discussion about another impending hard rock miner’s strike, when Charlotte approached. “Charlotte,” Hannish said as though he was surprised to see her. “You are looking well.”
“Better than when you threw me out,” she said, louder than was appropriate.
Hannish’s smile faded. “Do not make a spectacle of yourself, my dear. Perhaps we could discuss it another time.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I see how you avoid me. You are ashamed to face me with what you have done.”
He took a deep breath. “Another time, Charlotte.”
“No...now! Admit it, you should not have sent me away.”
“Are you not a teacher now? Is that not what you wanted?”
Charlotte gritted her teeth. “It is what I wanted, but at a time of my own choosing, not yours.”
Claymore hardly knew what to do. Others were starting to notice and McKenna looked horrified. Worse still, the music stopped and soon everyone in the room turned to see what the ruckus was about.
“Let me take you to a place where we can talk,” Hannish tried.
“We can talk here!” Charlotte nearly shouted. “Oh, I see; you are embarrassed to be seen with me. I was good enough to...”
McKenna abruptly took hold of Hannish’s arm. “Brother, I am not feeling well. Will you take me home?”
“Of course.” He tried to walk McKenna toward the door, but Charlotte got in the way.
“Running away?” Charlotte snarled. “It’s that stowaway your sister found on the ship, isn’t it? You are in love with her. Do not deny it; I have seen how you look at her.”
“Charlotte, stop.” McKenna said, as Hannish guided her around the angry woman.
Charlotte was not yet finished. “I saw Hannish carry her up the stairs...I know what happened!”
As soon as they were out the door, Hannish raised his hand to signal Egan, but Charlotte was still yelling behind them so he did not wait. Instead, he hurried his sister down the street. “I hate you!” he heard Charlotte scream.
By the time they got to the carriage, he could no longer hear Charlotte. He helped McKenna in, climbed in beside her and closed the door. Then he tapped on the window to let Egan know they were ready. When he looked back, Claymore was holding a weeping Charlotte back, and several of the ball guests were standing outside watching.
They were halfway home before McKenna asked, “Is it true? Have you fallen in love with Sassy?”
“I already have a wife.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“McKenna, what sort of man lets himself love a woman who is not his wife? I cannae, indeed must not love again...ever. I am fond of Sassy, she is very easy to be fond of, but I still love the woman I thought I married.”
“That woman does not exist.”
He sighed. “How well I know.”
“I would not blame you if you did fall in love with Sassy someday, yet I caution you – if you are convinced divorcing Olivia is the wrong thing to do, do not let Sassy love a man she can never have. It is too cruel and it would drive her away from us, perhaps into the arms of the wrong man.”
“I shall not let that happen.”
He stared out the window into the darkness for a long time before he spoke again, “Do I know him?”
“Who?”
“The married man you fell in love with?”
McKenna closed her eyes. “He was not married at the time.”
“But he is now?”
“Aye, he chose Mariam’s money instead, and he knew he would all along. He said all the words I longed to hear, but when love cannae be, those same words torture the very soul.”
“So you boarded a ship and fled to America.”
“What else could I do? I could not bear to be in the same world as he, let alone the same country.”
“I am glad you did. He is not the sort of man I would wish you to marry. Someday, you shall find one who is worthy.”
“I fear there are no good men left in the world.”
*
It was late, but not that late when the carriage pulled up to the front of the mansion. No butler waited to open the front door, and as they approached, they could hear music inside. Hannish and McKenna quietly entered, stayed in the shadows of the foyer and watched. The servants had moved all the new furniture in the parlor aside, and Alistair and Dugan were teaching the younger sisters how to waltz. Donnel and Blanka sat watching, Brookton looked as though he was trying to get up the nerve to ask Sassy to dance and surprisingly, Shepard was playing a violin.
“One, two, three, turn,” Alistair said, holding Cathleen just a bit closer than arm’s length. He was so tall she could not put her hand on his shoulder, and had to settle for his upper arm instead. Furthermore, she could not get the rhythm of the waltz quite right. The turn seemed to be a problem and each time she got it wrong, she glared at Alistair. “‘Tis your fault,” she insisted.
“How have you come to that conclusion?” he asked.
“It just is, is all.”
“I see,” Alistair said, sticking his indignant nose in the air.
Meanwhile, Dugan was holding Sassy too close for her comfort. She moved the arm he had around her twice, before she intentionally smashed his toe and walked away. Everyone roared with laughter.
It fell to Millie to teach Ronan and he seemed to be catching on quickly. The cooks were also seated, preferring to watch rather than participate.
“I dinna even know Shepard had a violin,” Hannish whispered.
“He is very good,” McKenna agreed. “I have been meaning to ask him to sing for us again.”
As soon as Hannish walked into the parlor, the music stopped and everyone turned to look. He boldly walked to Sarah, bowed and said, “Shall we show them how ‘tis done?”
Sarah smiled and curtsied. “I am honored, Sir.”
Hannish offered his arm, walked her to the center of the room and nodded for Shepard to play. Their dancing was impeccable, as though they had been practicing for weeks, and Alistair watched every move. Two turns around the room, he had had enough of that, tapped Hannish on the shoulder and took a grinning Sarah away from him.
Hannish pretended to be quite insulted and went to stand next to Sassy. “I believe he likes her.”
“Just now you noticed?” she asked.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Since the day we came.”
“I see.” He returned her smile and then watched Prescot approach McKenna in the foyer.
“May I?” Prescot asked.
McKenna nodded and took his hand. “I assure you, ’Tis the best offer I have had all night.”
“Truly?” he asked, walking her into the parlor. “You did not fall madly in love with one of Colorado’s finest?”
“Prescot, you cannae guess what a disaster this night was. Charlotte was there.”
Prescot shook his head. “I feared we had not seen the last of that one.”
“You feared right.”
Hannish looked sideways at Sassy, “Why are you not dancing?”
“No handsome stranger has asked me.”
“Must he be a stranger?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course, I’d not like embarrassing myself in front of you and Miss McKenna. Alistair will teach me later, he promised.”
“I see.” He watched the two dancing couples for a moment more and then went to ask Cathleen to dance.
McKenna felt so comfortable with Prescot, she hardly noticed they were dancing. He was a good man and she began to wonder just what sort of woman would complete him. Millie, perhaps or... She stopped dancing and looked at her brother. “Hannish, why did April not come?”
“I do not know. Shall I try to find her?”
“Yes please. I do hope she is not still in Olivia’s employ.”
“So do I.”
*
Upset, McKenna didn’t bother to knock, walked into the study and sat down in a chair facing her brother’s desk. “Abigail has called twice this morning and I cannae claim a headache much longer. I will have to take her call soon.”
“I know.”
She rubbed her forehead for a moment. “Charlotte’s accusations are bound to be talked of and we cannae let what she said go uncontested. Sassy will hear of it sooner or later and then what?”
Hannish puffed his cheeks. “I have thought of nothing else half the night and all this morning. I’ve not the slightest idea what to do. We have become a scandal.”
“We cannae just hide from the world. I have already sent the invitations to our garden party, which, I remind you, is only three days away.” She stood up and paced across the room twice before she stopped. “Suppose someone questions Sassy at the party? We must warn her, but what can we say...that she has been accused of...oh, I cannae even say the words.”
“Sassy has not been accused, I am the one accused.”
“I doubt this society will know the difference and it shall fall on Sassy to deny it.”
Hannish puffed his cheeks. “Perhaps it is time they knew the truth about what happened that night.”
“Not without her permission, surely.”
“Shall I talk to her?”
“Nay, I will do it. If she does not understand how her reputation will be ruined, she will not ask you the right questions. Order the carriage for me. I will talk to Sassy and then go see Abigail.” With that, McKenna left the room as abruptly as she came.
*
“What?” Sassy asked, rising up out of the rocking chair. “Mr. Hannish carried me up to bed because I was hurt. You remember, you were there!”
“Of course I remember, but Charlotte neglected to explain that part. She let them think you...I mean he...”
Sassy’s eyes widened. “He bedded me? Miss McKenna, he loves his wife. I saw how he kissed her when he sent her away.”
McKenna took a deep breath. “Sassy, you and I both know nothing happened. That is not the problem. The problem is, others...the whole town in fact, believes otherwise.”
“Then tell the whole town the truth.”
“Sit down, Sassy, and calm yourself. It is precisely what I intend to do, but not without your permission.”
She had not realized she was standing up, went back to the rocking chair, sat down and folded her hands in her lap. “I am listening.”
“I must tell them you are the one Olivia hurt.”
Sassy stared at the floor for a long moment. “Mr. Hannish said not to tell what happens here.”
“I know, but this once he has given his permission. Sassy, once they know more about you, they will not listen to Charlotte’s lies. Is there anything you wish to keep secret?”
“I am who I am, and what happened, happened. I see no reason to hide anything, do you?”
“I do not.”
“Tell them Miss McKenna and tell them Mr. Hannish would never do such a thing. He loves his wife still.”
After Sassy was gone, McKenna closed her eyes. Twice, Sassy said Hannish loves his wife, as though she needed to remind herself. It was too late, Sassy was already in love and she suspected her brother was too.
Abigail clung to every word as McKenna sipped tea in Abigail’s sitting room, with its yellow floral print wallpaper and white drapes. She explained how she found Sassy in a broom closet on the ship, and described the miserable condition she was in. “...and Sassy was so excited to take a bath in clean water. In the orphanage, the younger children are bathed first and the older ones get the dirty water. At first, she would not let me see her naked, but I finally coaxed her into taking off the filthy rags I found her in. She has hideous scars, Abigail, from beatings in the orphanage.”
Abigail drew back in horror. “You don’t say.”
“She’d not like the world to know that, of course.”
“Oh, of course, I’ll not breathe a word.”
“All along, or at least by the time I arrived, Hannish knew Charlotte fancied him, but he paid it no mind. He gave her no encouragement, but as you are well aware, some women easily imagine kindness means more than it does. My brother is a very caring man to all his employees, just as our father was.”
“Yes, kindness is often mistaken for...”
“Sassy needs so much more than most young women; it is easy for both of us to favor her just now. My brother and I are not alone in that respect, all of the servants adore her. Sarah especially makes certain Sassy is well cared for. Therefore, it is easy to see how Charlotte might have become jealous and conjured up such imaginings.”
“Scars from beatings? How dare Charlotte think to malign the poor little thing? I found Sassy delightful, though she said very little, and now we know why. What can I do to help, McKenna? Tell me and I shall do it.”
“I was hoping you might have a suggestion. Hannish and I discussed it at length this morning, and we cannae think of a way to protect her from such hurtful gossip. I had to tell Sassy what Charlotte said and she is horrified. The garden party is in three days and I fear...”
“You fear she will be stared at, if not openly accused. Of course you do.”
“I could ask Sassy to stay upstairs, I suppose.”
“That would make people think she has something to hide. Tell me, was she the one Mrs. MacGreagor hurt?”
“Oh Abigail, I have never been so distraught. Sassy neglected to call Olivia ‘My Lady,’ and Olivia repeatedly hit Sassy with her hairbrush. The damage was not severe, although her arms were bruised and a cut on her head did bleed for quite some time. My brother was beside himself with shame for what his wife had done, and when Sassy felt a bit lightheaded, he carried her to her bed so she would not fall on the stairs.”
“My Claymore would have done the same...any good man would.”
McKenna sipped her tea and let Abigail absorb it all. “I was there and saw everything. I remember Charlotte watching, but it was Sarah who showed us the way. We never go in the servant’s quarters.”
“Neither do we.”
“Sarah stayed with Sassy the whole night and nothing improper happened, nothing at all.”
“Of course not.”
“My dear, Abigail, you will weep when you hear what Sassy asked my brother.”
“What?”
“She asked if he would permit her to hide from his wife.”
Abigail hung her head. “No wonder he sent his wife away. My Claymore would have had her horse whipped.”
“I assure you, I thought to do that myself.”
“I do hope his wife does not come back.”
“So do I.” McKenna sipped a little more tea and then set her cup and saucer down on a side table. “Well, I must go home. Do telephone if you think of a way to manage our troubles. We are so very upset and we know not what to do.”
“I will let you know the instant I think of something.”
McKenna was not yet out the front door when she heard Abigail on the telephone. “Vivian, you will never guess. I have had it from McKenna’s very own lips...” McKenna smiled and went home.
*
Everything was set for the garden party, except the weather. Dark clouds threatened rain, so the tables were moved back inside. It was just as well, the garden was far from finished and their guests were eager to see inside the mansion anyway.
The guest list included a select group of twenty people, including the Whitfields, Vivian Mabs, whose husband was a city councilman, Maude Goodwin and her banker husband, Wilma Miller and her husband, and the single ladies from McKenna’s sewing circle, Pearl and Loretta. The mayor and his wife came, the sheriff, two gold mine owners who were without wives and of course, Mr. Wells, whom Hannish had completely forgotten he invited.
By then, Blanka and Donnel were tired. They hung a “do not enter” sign on their downstairs door and went to take a nap.
The spread of food on the table included small, round roast beef pies, Jessie’s custards, Halen’s pear tarts, Jessie’s fried apples, and Halen’s cherry pies. The footmen filled cups with fruit punch and kept clean dishes handy on one of the sideboards.
Cathleen helped in the kitchen, but Sassy was determined not to look like she had something to hide. She kept busy collecting dirty dishes and setting them on the tray Brookton held. She ignored the guests for the most part, and Sarah stood watching, just in case Sassy was questioned. It soon appeared most of the guests were not quite certain which servant Sassy was anyway. When he was not at the front door, Alistair kept a close eye on Sarah just in case one of the male guests got the wrong idea.
Not a man in the place failed to admire Millie’s figure as she showed the ladies where the water closets were, or went to fetch this or that for them. Prescot happily served stronger drinks in the small sitting room, that is, when the men could slip away from their wives, and then pointed the way to the smoking room.
Still, without the planned outside activities, there was little to do inside except eat and talk. Most didn’t seem to mind and McKenna was relived. She went from group to group, making sure her guests were happy. They might have been discussing it among themselves, but no one was bold enough to ask questions about either Charlotte or Sassy.
Amos Wells knew exactly who Sassy was. She was ignoring him too, he realized, but he was not shy about watching her. Sooner or later, she would come to collect his plate and he could wait. When she at last came his way, he asked, “How are the dancing lessons going?”
“We have been far too busy to be dancing,” she answered.
“You could let me teach you?”
“I could let most anyone teach me, but I shall not. Alistair is a Scot, you see.”
“What has that to do with it?”
“Scots are better dancers.” She half smiled to let him know she was not completely serious, and went to collect the next discarded dish. She happened to glance at Hannish, who looked trapped between Pearl and Loretta, and when he looked at her pleadingly, she giggled. The next time she noticed him, his back was to her and he seemed in a heavy discussion with Mr. Whitfield and two other men.
Abigail leaned closer to McKenna and asked, “Where is the other one?”
“You mean Sassy’s sister? Cathleen is a bit shy, so she offered to help in the kitchen.”
“You must bring them both to our next quilting party.”
“I shall.”
“McKenna, I have been thinking. Do you suppose orphanages are as bad here as they are in England?”
“I do not believe all orphanages are deplorable in England, but...”
“Quilting does not give me enough to do. If we could manage to establish one here, we could see that nothing bad ever happens to Colorado’s children.”
McKenna’s eyes lit up. “You are so right. Is it possible, I mean, could we?”
“Come, we shall ask them.” It took a moment to get Claymore’s attention and when she did, Abigail put on her sweetest smile. “My love, I have been thinking.”
Claymore raised an eyebrow. “Hannish, it has been my experience that when Abigail says she has been thinking, it will likely cost me a fortune. Dare I ask her what she has been thinking about?”
“It does sound a bit dangerous, but will she leave you be if you do not ask?”
“You are right. My lovely, Abigail, what is it you want?”
“We want to establish an orphanage. We could ask for donations, God knows the men in this town are wealthy enough to help and...”
“An orphanage?” Hannish asked.
“Why not?” asked McKenna. “We have little to do and...”
“I think it is a wonderful idea,” said Hannish.
“You do?” McKenna asked.
Hannish was positively beaming. “I most certainly do. You know how I love children.”
Claymore was not yet convinced and frowned instead. “Ladies, there is much to consider, people to hire, you’ll need an attorney, an adoption policy, a doctor on call, a place to house them, and...”
“Children?” Abigail asked.
Claymore finally smiled, took his wife in his arms and kissed her lips. “Do you promise not to bring them all home?”
“Indeed I do. I don’t want to raise them. I only want to see they have a chance in the world.”
“I may well regret this, but if it makes you happy, I am willing,” said Claymore. For that, he got an even longer kiss from his happy wife.
McKenna glanced around to make sure her guests were well taken care of and noticed that Shepard, Prescot, Brookton and Egan had their heads together. “Abigail, I believe they are going to sing for us.”
“How delightful,” said Claymore.
The room quieted and people stopped to watch just as Shepard struck a chord on his violin and the four began to sing. This time, they sang a song familiar to both the Scots and the Americans: Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond. The applause had not yet stopped before they began to sing, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen. They finished with Battle Hymn of the Republic and that song took more than one breath away.
Hannish said, “So that’s where they get off to, they’ve been practicing.”
“They wanted to surprise us, it seems,” McKenna said.
“They certainly have done that.”
“MacGreagor,” the mayor interrupted, “We shall expect your boys to sing for us at the annual picnic next month.”
Hannish shook the Mayor’s hand. “I shall ask them.”
“Tell them if they do not come, I’ll send the sheriff to fetch them.” The mayor smiled, nodded and walked away.
When the doorbell rang and Alistair opened it, the room abruptly quieted and several mouths dropped.
“Alistair,” said Charlotte, nodding her greeting.
Hannish hurried into the foyer with Claymore right behind him. “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited by my brother, Mr. Wells.”
Hannish narrowed his eyes. “Please leave, I do not wish to...”
“Charlotte,” Claymore interrupted. “I remind you, I have influence with the Office of Education. Do not make me recommend you find a position somewhere else.”
Charlotte spotted Sassy, glared at her for a moment and then glanced at the stern look on Claymore’s face. “I will leave, though I find your threat terribly unfair, Mr. Whitfield. I was invited, the same as anyone.”
“Please go,” Hannish said. “Dinna make me throw you out.”
“It would not be the first time.” At last, she turned and walked back out the door.
“Of all the audacity,” Claymore muttered, going back to his wife and McKenna.
Hannish turned around and looked for Amos. “Alistair, I wish to have a word with Mr. Wells. Ask him to come speak to me.”
Sassy saw Hannish send Charlotte away and a few minutes later, when the two men finished talking, it was obvious Mr. Wells was being sent away too. Hannish turned around and looked directly at her, but Sassy lowered her eyes and went back to work.
*
“Mr. Wells wanted to take her to the ball?” Hannish asked after he finished seeing the last of their guests out. “Why did no one tell me?”
McKenna was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. “It was her place to tell you if she wanted you to know, not mine or anyone else’s.” She walked with him back into the parlor and stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Sassy refused him because she has not yet learned how to dance, but she might not have, the next time he asked.”
“He is not right for her.”
“True, but she is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions...and her own mistakes. You cannae protect her and you must not interfere in the lives of your employees.” She kissed his cheek, lifted the hem of her skirt and climbed the stairs.
He stared after her for a long moment, before he too went up to bed.
*
“Mr. Wells is Charlotte’s brother?” Cathleen asked, exchanging her uniform for her nightshirt in the bedroom they shared on the third floor.
“Aye, Alistair told me so,” Sassy answered.
“Do you prefer Mr. Wells?”
“I do not prefer him, but it was pleasant to think he preferred me for a little while.” Sassy slipped her nightshirt over her head and pulled it down. “I wager he will not ask me to a ball again.”
“I’d not let you go with him at any rate. He is Charlotte’s brother and probably believes her. He most likely thinks you are willing.”
Sassy was shocked. “Willing?” She crawled into bed and then sighed. “You are right; I shall have nothing more to do with Mr. Wells. I did want to see what a ball was like, though.”
As soon as Cathleen was in her own bed and the dog made himself comfortable at the foot of it, Sassy turned off their new table lamp and tried to go to sleep. Yet, she kept thinking about the way Hannish looked right at her after he sent Mr. Wells away, and sleep was a long time coming. What did that look mean exactly?