"Yet you love him?"
"Not at all. I refused him repeatedly, but he had the encouragement of one Duchess MacGreagor."
"And this is why you do not get on with my wife?"
"She kept inviting him to the house, so I moved away. It dinna help; he still managed to appear regularly."
"So you fled to America to relieve yourself of him?"
"Nay, I came to see you."
"And to rid yourself of him."
"Oh, Hannish, how is it I manage to attract the wrong sort of man? I want to marry, but I want a man I care to look at first thing in the morning."
"Do not fret; we will see many an unmarried man come to call soon."
She giggled, "So long as his name is not Charles."
"Indeed." He decided he had already read that paper and folded it back up. "Sister, how old do you think Sassy is?"
"I am not certain, why do you ask?"
"Keith seems very attentive to her lately."
"He is not the only one. She is admired by Shepard and Dugan as well. I confess I quite enjoy watching all three of them vying for her attention."
"What does Sassy say about it?"
McKenna put one paper on the table and reached for another. "She ignores them if she can, which is a bit odd since most girls her age are smitten with every lad she sees. What worries you?"
"She seems so very innocent, and having been raised in an orphanage, I wonder if she can possibly know the ways of men. Suppose she is too easily convinced?"
"I see your meaning. You wish me to have a motherly talk with her."
"Would you? I would hate to see any harm come to her, particularly under my very own roof."
"You are right, I will talk to her. Did you cablegram Cameron? I do hope he managed to rescue Sassy's sister."
"I did, and the moment we have telephones, I will call him. It is very rewarding to do something that will make others happy."
McKenna studied his face for a moment. "You look tired. Are you not sleeping?"
"I try, but there is much to consider."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Nay, there is nothing." He picked up another paper, one he had not yet seen and began to read it.
"Shall we visit the Whitfields tomorrow?" she asked at length.
"The day after would suit me better. I shall send Shepard to give them fair warning."
"Good."
*
McKenna was not looking forward to her delicate discussion with Sassy. Not having been married herself, she was not quite certain what to say and only had Donnel's words of caution to fall back on. Nevertheless, she left her writing desk, rang the bell, and waited for Sassy to come.