Page 22 of No Ordinary Lady

Daniel nodded as he led his granny to her chair beside an older bachelor neighbor. “Forgive our absence. A matter of business for the estate arose unexpectedly that required my immediate attention.”

“I’m sure your poor mother has had her fill of estate matters to last a lifetime,” Mr. Wilson said. “Now that you’ve returned, she will leave important decisions for you.”

He frowned as he adjusted Granny’s chair for her. “Mother has done exceedingly well in my absence.”

Wilson pursed his lips momentarily at his assurance. “A lady should concern herself with the smooth running of a household.”

“I certainly do,” Amy said, laughing, throwing a smile of great fondness toward her father, even though he was maligning others of her sex.

Daniel resumed his seat and glanced down the length of the table, wondering how Mother bore such criticism so stoically. But she said nothing, revealed nothing of her innermost thoughts on the current subject, as Mr. Wilson turned the conversation to local concerns. After half a minute, Daniel glanced at the door and then remembered he had to sit still for such conversations now.

He tried to keep his mind firmly on the conversation, but his eyes strayed to his mother at her end of the table. Mama had managed the estate well in his absence these past years, probably better than he could have. That ought not to be overlooked or dismissed by anyone of sense.

Daniel had never once doubted her abilities to take charge while he’d been away. But now he was home, things would have to change. She would have less need to concern herself with the running of the estate, and even less to do with the management of the household once he married.

He wondered if she could give it all up as easily as everyone, including him, assumed she must.

Daniel signaled the servants to serve and turned to Amy. “How is the summer house construction coming along?”

Amy laughed abruptly and then blushed. “It is long finished, my lord. I’ve spent many afternoons with Papa there, watching the sun set over the pond and reading to him.”

“Sounds charming. I shall have to construct one here someday, so you might read to us, too.”

Granny gagged.

“Although nothing beats our grotto in the heat of summer,” he said, covering the noise with his remark.

“I cannot believe you would go there still,” Amy shuddered. “So dark and damp and unfashionable.”

Daniel had seen Amy’s reaction to the grotto firsthand long ago. At the time, he’d laughed at her fear of the darkness and shadows. Her overreaction, as it had seemed to be then.

It was only truly dark if the candles were unlit. It was damp because it was fed by a hot spring that constantly replenished the pool. But it was wondrous to swim there all alone or with friends. To forget your troubles in a long, luxurious soak in the warm parts of the pool.

He pushed his food around his plate. “That is the way of grottos. There’s no danger there, and it’s hardly unfashionable. The Duke of Exeter was telling me only last month he wishes he had one just like it.”

Amy smiled somewhat nervously at that bit of gossip and then looked down the table toward his mother. “My lady, will you be attending services tomorrow?” she asked, changing the subject entirely to something he hardly cared about.

“Unfortunately, she is needed here tomorrow,” he answered for his mother quickly. Given Granny’s fainting spell, Daniel would prefer Mother remain at home while Kimble examined Granny.

Granny wouldn’t like him putting his foot down about taking care of her health, but someone had to look after her if she wouldn’t do it herself.

“Oh, but of course, you must have so much to catch up on, too, and many changes you want made now that you are back to take charge,” Amy said with a shy smile thrown in his direction. “I’m dying to hear your news too, my lord. How have you spent your time in London for all these years?”

Well, he couldn’t answer that honestly. He’d never win Amy’s hand in marriage if he confessed to a tenth of the things he’d done in London and beyond. But everyone was looking at him now, and he squirmed as he searched his mind for the least scandalous bit of news he could relate.

He glanced down the table, noting Mother’s arrested expression, and Granny’s barely hidden smirk. He cleared his throat several times as he realized he would probably have to lie a lot as a prospective husband. “I attended the theater and several important balls this past season.”

“And weddings, too,” Granny added. “Don’t forget the society weddings. Tell her about that last one. Quite the scandalous affair from beginning to end, I heard.”

The last one? Daniel was losing track of all the marriages made among his friends. Probably the fault of all the wine he’d consumed at the wedding breakfasts as he watched another friend buckle under the weight of responsibility. They’d blurred one into the other after a while.

Because he wouldn’t like to confuse the couples, he decided that a change in subject of his own was in order.

He wanted to learn more about Amy and what she had been doing these past years buried in the country. If they were going to marry, he needed to know who she’d become, learn more of her interests and favorite pastimes, as well.

“Oh! I’ll have you know, I happened upon that book you said you wanted,” he said to her, grinning.

Amy frowned slowly. “I don’t recall any…”