Page 28 of No Ordinary Lady

“No. No. You’re not in any sort of trouble with me, my dear,” the old woman promised. “Quite the opposite, in fact. I simply must know what compelled you to sneak into my grandson’s home to return the ring, and at this late hour.”

“I knocked and no-one answered,” she confessed. “I found an open door and was trying to return the ring when you came in.”

“They tend to hang thieves first and ask questions later around here, I’m afraid. My grandson is rather important and my daughter. Well, enough said about her for now.”

“Of course he is important,” she said, looking around. Thick carpet on the floors, works of art on every wall.

Granny stared at her and then smiled wider. “You don’t know who he is, do you?”

“He’s Danny.”

The old lady laughed softly. “I’ll explain the rest later, I think.”

The woman was barmy. Marian had returned the ring and should feel good about it. Except that she didn’t. Her finger felt oddly bare. “I just felt I should give it back to him in person.”

The old lady studied her long and hard until Marian squirmed. “Is that all it was?”

“What other reason could there be?”

“You mentioned an associate took my ring, and it seemed to me like you might be in some sort of trouble over returning it,” Granny said. “No sensible young woman sneaks into a manor house like this if they’ve any self-preservation. A rogue is in residence, my dear. You risked your reputation, your very freedom for him.”

“A rogue about to marry.”

“So, what are you doing here, so obviously far from your usual haunts and at such an hour? I suspect you have fallen in love with my grandson after one night, and have come to change his mind about this foolish marriage he intends to make?”

“No,” Marian promised. “Absolutely not. I’ve no designs on your grandson. None whatsoever.”

“So, it’s the other thing. A pity. A great pity, indeed, because you’re much more to my grandson’s taste than the other lady he considers,” the woman said, and then clucked her tongue. “Come along, my dear. I’ll see if I can stir the kitchen to provide for some tea and biscuits for your supper, then I’ll find you a bed for the night.”

The old lady didn’t wait to see if Marian agreed. She just turned and left her standing in the middle of the hallway. When Marian heard a noise behind her, she pursued the old lady into another chamber that smelled of fragrance and overflowed with every knickknack and fabric imaginable.

Marian fairly goggled to see so many riches at hand as she looked round in wonder.

“Clear a space to sit. I think there’s a chair behind you, under those old gowns,” the old lady said.

Marian discovered an upholstered chair under three ball gowns and a pair of shawls. She didn’t know where to put the gowns so they wouldn’t be wrinkled, so she set them across her lap as she took a seat.

The old lady gave the bell a few vigorous tugs and then turned to face Marian again. “Let me help you.”

She did not move to take the dresses, though. Marian narrowed her eyes at the old woman. “What do you want in return?”

“Nothing,” the old lady said with a careless shrug.

“People who say they want nothing are always liars,” Marian told her.

The old woman huffed. “I actually agree with you on that score. You are wise to be so suspicious. Very well. What I want is your conversation. I’m starved for excitement here, as you can plainly see by the company my family keeps. It’s been very dull in the countryside these last few years.”

Marian wasn’t sure she believed the woman. “You have your daughter and grandson for entertainment.”

“I’ve the capacity to hear more than just their endless bickering and complaints,” the old woman said with a gentle smile. “I daresay my grandson hadn’t time to tell you all about us. Stay with me for a while. Hide from your problems here. I’ll even pay you for your trouble.”

Marian narrowed her eyes at the mention of money. “How much?”

“The current companion earns six shillings a quarter.”

She wouldn’t get far away on six shillings when it was time to run again. “I’m worth more than your first offer.”

“You are a very bold young lady,” the old woman said, beaming as if she was pleased by that.