Page 40 of No Ordinary Lady

There was a long pause, and then there were heavy footsteps headed toward Marian.

She flattened herself against the wall as the door was flung open. Danny emerged and stalked away, his shoulders tense, his hands balled into fists by his sides as he disappeared into his own chamber and slammed the door behind him.

He never even noticed her.

“You can come in now, Marian,” Granny called out.

Marian hurried inside and shut the door behind her, then she turned and faced the old lady warily. Granny was more insightful and devious than she’d first seemed. It sounded like she was deliberately trying to sabotage her grandson’s marriage plans by promoting Marian as an alternative. But he was an earl, indecently wealthy, and otherwise engaged. If he asked, Marian could never marry him. His mother wouldn’t stand for it.

“I’m glad you heard all that,” Granny said. “I dislike repeating myself.”

Marian decided not to address or try to deny her being drawn to Danny the way the old lady claimed. She focused on the lie. “You don’t know me or my family,” she said firmly.

“Come and sit beside me, gel,” the old lady demanded.

Marian did as asked. “You never met me before three days ago.”

“That is true,” Granny said, and then reached to capture her face by the chin. “But I recognize this face, or some other version of it. Where do you think you came from? Under a hedgerow? You’ve not shared a great deal about your past and present situation for good reason, but I can easily guess what was left out. You are alone, and never once mentioned any family or friends. Do you want to tell me about the trouble you’re in now?”

Marian stilled. How much should she tell the old woman? If she said too much, she’d either hang or be immediately sent away. People did not trust thieves for a good reason.

“I won’t betray you,” Granny said as her hand fell away.

Marian raised her chin. “I don’t really know where I come from, and it doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter,” Granny disagreed.

Marian waved her hand about and shrugged. “I have only vague recollections of my father’s shop.”

“A shop?” The old lady’s eyes came alight. “What do you remember about the shop? What was in there? What did he sell?”

“I remember people coming and going at all hours.”

“He was prosperous?”

“No,” she drawled, recalling the hunger and uncertainty she always associated with her earliest memories. “We were not well off. The shop was dusty, I used to draw patterns on the floorboards and got smacked for it. But there was colored glass above the front door and at the window. I used to lie on the floor and watch the pretty lights dance over me. But it often felt like I was there alone for hours.”

The old lady nodded. “Do you remember your parents’ faces at all?”

“Nothing of my mother or any other woman. My father was dark-haired and angry.” Marian wet her lips. “He was always arguing with the people who came to his shop.”

“Arguing, or was he bartering instead? Discussing the price of goods he sold and bought, perhaps?”

“I really couldn’t say,” she admitted. It pained her that she knew so little about her origins now. “Why?”

Granny shook her head. “Just an idea. Were there any other relatives or people you recall from your past?”

There had been just one, but now she was not so sure about her connection to Uncle Crossman, either. “I might have had an uncle.”

“Ah, good. Now we have somewhere to turn our attention. Tell me about him.”

Uncle never spoke about himself. “I barely knew him and have not seen him for some time. We became separated.”

The old lady nodded. “And why did that happen? The separation, as you call it.”

Uncle Crossman was a thief, dishonest about the truth and likely not related to Marian. Plus, his associates, fellow thieves she’d thought were allies, wanted to get rid of her. She had no desire to discuss her past or them, and every instinct inside her suggested that if she ever met them again, they would only lie about her origins. “I cannot say,” she lied.

The old lady patted her hand suddenly. “We’ll find out the truth together. My grandson has contacts and the funds to pay for a proper search for your actual relations.”