Page 21 of No Ordinary Lady

“I’m fine,” she promised.

“No, you’re not,” he whispered, but gestured for the servants to go, keeping hold of her to make sure she was steady. “I’ve got you.”

The old lady pushed him away, straightened her gown, and squared her shoulders. “I said I was fine, young man,” she insisted.

Danny frowned at her as he drew back. Whatever had caused her to faint seemed to no longer affect her. Just like all the other times she’d made a rapid recovery. She seemed so completely normal now that it was odd. “No, you are not fine.”

Granny merely smiled. “Shall we go back to your guests?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, leading her to the long chaise and forcing her to sit down. He left her to glance behind the curtains, pretending to check the lock on the door, but Marian was not there anymore.

He returned to perch on a footstool at Granny’s feet and heaved a sigh.

Granny nudged him. “What are you looking for over there behind the curtain?”

“I thought I felt a draft and checked to see if the door was locked,” he lied, but that assurance only made her smile wider. “You fainted. Why this time?”

She tried to stand up, but he put his hand on her shoulder lightly, forcing her to remain where she was. “Answer me. How bad is it?”

“I’m fine,” she promised, knocking his hand aside with more force than he expected.

“I don’t believe you.” He shook his head and kept his hands in his lap. “I will send for Mr. Kimble in the morning.”

“No.”

“But granny⁠—”

“I don’t need that scoundrel pawing at me,” she hissed.

“I assure you, John Kimble has never pawed at his patients,” he promised. “He’s a man of science, and he was never much of a cad in his younger days, anyway.”

John Kimble was about Daniel’s age; they’d gone off to London together years ago. But he was a much younger man than granny was used to consulting with about her health, and she held his youth and, in her mind, inexperience, against him still. But he’d been tending to the villagers for years, and would be the first one to admit if he was out of his depth with a patient. If Kimble didn’t know what to do for Granny, he’d write to a respected mentor to ask their opinion. “I’ll send for him tomorrow.”

Granny climbed to her feet, scowling. “You will do no such thing, young man. Besides, you were leaving tomorrow, were you not?”

“I’m not sure I have to go now,” he drawled. Marian was here or had been until a few minutes ago.

“Well, either way, tomorrow will be a busy day if you are in earnest about proposing to anyone.”

“Of course, he will propose,” Mother said, revealing her presence behind them. “And Kimble will be sent for. Mother has been having quite a few spells of late.”

Granny instantly stiffened, and Daniel reached for her hand, “Please, Gran, see Kimble just this once,” he whispered. “Don’t fight me over one silly little thing. I couldn’t possibly do without you in the weeks ahead,” he begged. “You promised to dance at my wedding, remember?”

“I promised to dance at your wedding when it was to your one true love,” she countered pointedly.

“Scarsdale must join his guests now, Mother,” Mama announced, clapping her hands. “I won’t have the Wilsons slighted under my roof. Perhaps you ought to retire to bed.”

Granny narrowed her eyes on mama. “They haven’t enough imagination to realize their company is always unwanted and I’ll not leave Danny to face them alone.”

Granny was not a particular fan of Amy Wilson and her father, believing them unimaginative and dull company. Her father could drone on a bit about his estate, and in the past, Daniel had tried to avoid his neighbor when he was at home. Of course, now it would be impossible to avoid the man. He would have to learn to talk about his estate in equally boring detail, too.

He squared his shoulders. “Yes, very well,” Daniel agreed.

Marian and the retrieval of his ring would have to wait a few more hours, most likely. She was sure not to wander off very far. Not after coming all this way. He held out his arm to his granny and forced her to accept his support for the walk to the dining room.

Both Mr. Wilson and Amy smiled as they all entered the room together. “I trust nothing is amiss.”

Mother went to Amy’s side and whispered something in her ear. Amy nodded and offered Daniel a warm smile. “Isn’t it wonderful we’re all together again? It has been much too long, hasn’t it?”