McKenna was about to ring the bell for tea when Abigail said, "My dear, it is about to rain and we must not stay, but I came to see how you are. It is just as I suspected, you do look a little peaked," said Abigail. She failed to notice the perplexed expression on McKenna's face and instead of sitting down, she went to the window to admire the view of town. "It is altitude sickness and I should have mentioned that before. There is little you can do but wait it out."
McKenna was afraid to ask, but it was the polite thing to do. "How is everyone?"
"My husband and my son are well, although Charles seems a bit restless. He's been in a fight again, but I hear he had it coming." Abigail quickly sat down and leaned forward. "Have you heard? Mrs. Wilcox is expecting again and it is her twelfth."
"Twelfth? My heavens, she is truly blessed."
"Blessed? I thought two children were quite enough. Twelve would make me take leave of my senses. Charles was a sickly child, you see, and required nearly all my attention. My, but you do look peaked. When you are feeling better, do attend our quilting parties."
"I do not know how to quilt."
"We will teach you. We make quilts for the poor, you see." Abigail got up and went back to the window. "Oh dear, it begins to rain and here comes a telegram rider. Come Gloria." With her daughter right behind her, Abigail hurried down the stairs and was out the door as quickly as she came.
As soon as she was gone, McKenna took a relieved breath. Apparently, Abigail knew all about her son's behavior and did not blame Hannish. Next, she went to Olivia's looking glass to see if she did indeed look peaked. After careful examination, she dismissed the claim and went back to work on her embroidery in the sitting room.
*
Alistair knocked on the study door, opened it, handed the cablegram to Hannish, and then waited to see if his employer required anything. He watched Hannish read it, bow his head, and close his eyes. It was clearly not good news. "Do you wish…?"
"Alistair, I arranged accommodations for my wife and twenty servants on the ship, but my wife only brought six with her. This cablegram from the captain says all twenty of the rooms were filled. Have you an explanation?"
Alistair hesitated to answer but he had no choice. "I…I believe the duchess sold the tickets before we boarded, Sir."
"All fourteen of them?"
Alistair's heart sank. Something in the cablegram made Hannish suspicious and he feared the questions were about to get even more unpleasant to answer. "I dinna keep count, Sir."