Page 86 of No Ordinary Lady

“Oh,” Marian said, but she didn’t know what else to say. Lady Scarsdale came across as a distant woman, critical of her son’s misbehavior and disapproving of any sort of fun. But she’d never realized the woman might still grieve for her late husband, too. Knowing that went a long way to understanding her better.

“Now, you help me up and I’ll take myself off. I’m much too tired to listen to more banging on the pianoforte this afternoon. But I want you to keep an open mind about what I said and see that girl off the property for me.”

“Yes, Granny,” she promised. “But I doubt I can.”

The old lady patted her cheek and smiled. “My dear. You think too little of your importance and too much of hers. What my grandson needs most is not a proper lady, but an original.”

The old woman shuffled off, and Marian watched her head out the door. When she turned back to face the room, Gabby rushed to join her again.

“Now you’re white in the face,” Gabby hissed. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with you? What did Mrs. Nolan say to you?”

Nothing that could be repeated.

The sound of the gentlemen arriving at last turned Gabby’s attention toward the door, and she saw Amy sit up straighter, too, push out her tiny bosom a little higher, and plaster a welcoming smile on her face as Danny and Mr. Kimble strode into the room.

But Miss Wilson’s smile wasn’t genuine. Forced and calculated and designed to make herself stand out. To make a particular man notice her.

Mr. Kimble went to join Amy and the countess, but Danny’s gaze sweep over Amy as if she wasn’t there and then he turned toward Marian.

Instant relief swept over her as he headed her way, beaming a smile. “There you are.”

Gabby sat forward a little, startled. “Were you looking for me, my lord?”

“No. I was looking for Marian, actually.”

“Oh, well, here she is. Catching a cool breeze coming through the window. She was looking a little pink, and the countess was concerned she was too hot.”

“You are good to be so concerned,” he said, as he turned his smile fully on Gabby. “Would you excuse us for a moment? I should like to have a private word with Marian if you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” Gabby agreed and took herself off without asking if Marian minded. Halfway across the room, she turned back, and her expression was one of some confusion.

She’d obviously realized Danny had used her given name. An odd thing for an earl to say to the paid companion.

But not to his lover.

Daniel settled into the window seat at her side. “Are you all right?”

“Of course,” she promised. Yet, she couldn’t keep her irritation from her tone, and he noticed.

“You’re vexed about something,” he drawled.

“I’m not,” she promised, hating that he could read her mood so easily.

Daniel laughed softly. “Yes, you are. You wear the same look as my mother does when she’s disappointed in me. What did I do?”

“Nothing. You did nothing.”

“Ah, so it’s the thing I didn’t do that has your nose up in the air,” he continued. “You know, when I started for home, I had decided I was tired of being alone. When I say alone, I mean, I was lonely even in a crowded room. I could look at a woman and know that being with her would never satisfy me beyond a few hours. My friends have all married for love, but I did not ever think that was my destiny. So, I came home to make the only match I thought made sense.”

“I can understand why that held some appeal,” she admitted. “Having someone to come home to must be nice.”

“That is what I hoped for,” he said. “I think⁠—”

“My lord,” Amy Wilson said, and they both looked up. “Would you care to hear me play?”

Danny waved his hand. “I don’t mind if you use the instrument.”

“Perhaps you’d be so kind as to turn the pages for me?”