Page 49 of No Ordinary Lady

A throat cleared. “Mr. Kimble and Miss Kimble have arrived,” the butler announced.

Marian turned to see the family’s friends approaching and hastily got to her feet. Mr. Kimble was as handsome as ever, and Miss Kimble was charming in a blue gown and matching pelisse. Her bonnet was adorned with ribbons and wildflowers, and Marian ached for one of her own exactly like it.

“Ah. Mr. Kimble, Miss Kimble, so good of you to come visit us again,” Lady Scarsdale said, extending her hand to the younger man.

He kissed the air above her fingers, smiling warmly. “I’m always happy for an excuse to visit you, my lady. Mrs. Nolan. Miss Trill.”

“How do you do?” Miss Kimble said, dipping a deep curtsy to them.

“Miss Kimble. How lovely you look in blue,” Mrs. Nolan added. “You and Miss Trill in yellow make quite the pair of exotic birds.”

Marian thought Miss Kimble looked more lovely than she ever could. “You’re too kind.”

Miss Kimble beamed. “I’d never outshine you, Mrs. Nolan.”

“Granny, my dear. How many times must I remind you?”

“A dozen more, Mrs. Nolan,” Miss Kimble said, then she rushed toward the older woman and kissed her upturned cheek.

“Now, my dear, I have a special treat for you today. I want you and Marian to spend the day together.”

“But I’m your companion,” Marian reminded her gently.

“Plenty of time for that later. Young people should spend the day together,” Mrs. Nolan insisted. “Go off with you both and see what you can find in the garden together. Gabby, be a dear and show her the grotto.”

“Yes, madam,” Gabby said dutifully.

“No accidentally falling in today,” Mr. Kimble murmured, grinning cheekily.

“I only did it the once,” Gabby complained. But she grinned back, which seemed to be her favored expression.

Marian had already heard about the grotto and couldn’t wait to be shown, anyway. She dipped a curtsy, as the other girl did the same to Lady Scarsdale, and then they turned away together.

They were a few yards away when Gabby spoke again, pointing out parts of the garden and their purpose, and her favorite spots, which Marian had only briefly glimpsed from the upstairs windows. She had seen little at all beyond the front drive the night she’d arrived.

Finally, Gabby paused for breath. “I must warn you; I tend to babble when I’m nervous.”

“Why would you be nervous?” Marian asked.

“Well, obviously you are someone important,” Gabby claimed.

“I’m really not,” Marian promised. She was here to hide, but the lies were piling up and she couldn’t tell this girl the truth. Oddly enough, she’d rather tell this woman the facts about herself and know what she really thought about her then. She settled for a version of the truth that wasn’t too shocking, “I haven’t two shillings to rub together, in fact.”

“I don’t judge people by their wealth. Mrs. Nolan’s friends are always important in some unique way,” Gabby insisted. “It’s why I was so pleased to speak with you again. I just know we’ll become good friends.”

Miss Kimble was a fool to want that, but Marian smiled and agreed with the young woman as they walked along. It was pleasant listening to someone her own age, too. The girl had enormous respect for both Lady Scarsdale and Mrs. Nolan, though they were acknowledged to be wildly different creatures.

“Lady Scarsdale says I must learn to curb my tongue before my season begins, but Mrs. Nolan wants me to always speak my mind. It’s difficult to know which advice to follow sometimes, isn’t it,” she said, laughing with good humor.

“I suppose so,” Marian agreed, although she’d received little advice from Lady Scarsdale so far. “I hear that you’re going to London soon?”

“Yes. Next year. Lady Scarsdale promised to help me prepare for my first season, and I’m determined not to make a fool of myself. Making a good impression is vital when hunting for a husband.”

“You’re very young to be worried about that yet?”

“I’m old enough to know what I want or don’t,” Gabby assured her with a merry laugh. “I know how to run a household, deal with merchants, and keep accurate accounts. My cousin’s household is insignificant compared to this grand estate, but I pay close attention when I’m here, and Lady Scarsdale is always willing to explain what I don’t understand about the challenges of running a larger estate. I’m sure I’ll be successful in finding the right husband for me.”

“With that attitude, you certainly will be,” Marian promised.