Page 35 of No Ordinary Lady

“I doubt that. Too much like his owner to hope for a change of temper now,” Kimble teased, earning him a discreet elbow in the ribs from Gabby. Daniel laughed at the pair and turned around to find Marian had returned to the room.

He performed the introductions between his old friends and Marian, introducing her as Granny’s new companion.

They all seemed delighted to meet each other, and Gabby and Marian sat down, side by side, obviously interested in becoming better acquainted.

Daniel took John Kimble aside as soon as he could. “You’re looking well despite being stuck in the countryside with only your ward and the sick for company.”

“Gabby and the concerns of our small village keep me on my toes,” Kimble said, laughing softly. “She’s like a sister to me now. Annoying but adorable.”

“I don’t have the faintest notion of what that’s like, but siblings always looked difficult to me.”

“I let her have her head most of the time, caution her when she’s being led astray. Your mother has been a vastly steadying influence. I’m gratified she took an interest in the girl a few years ago.”

“I hadn’t heard about that,” he said, folding his arms across his chest and staring across the room to where the ladies were now settled together and ignoring him.

His attention invariably caught on the smile on Marian’s lips, and he wondered about her wanting to be here. She’d met none of them before, and she appeared to fit in smoothly with his mother and grandmother so far, but he worried about her influence on Gabby Kimble. “I always imagined my mother would be too involved in the estate to worry about anything else.”

“She was indeed a few years back. But Gabby was invited to call once a week and has learned a great deal about household management from her,” Kimble explained. “It was a relief to have Gabby off my hands for a little while each week. Each time she returned, I felt she’d grown in confidence and was much wiser for the visit.”

Danny laughed. “Is that so?”

“Yes, indeed, which is why she’s off to London next season. Your mother has offered to help bring her out, and I will take every offer of help I can get.” Kimble grinned and then slapped Daniel’s shoulder. “So, you’re back? For how long this time?”

“Forever.”

“What? No!”

“Yes,” Daniel said, as he lowered his chin slightly. “I’m home to stay, and marry, too.”

“So that pretty girl over there is merely pretending to be your grandmother’s companion? The cheek of you.”

“No, not her,” he blurted quickly. “I will marry Miss Wilson.”

Kimble spun to face him. “You cannot be serious?”

“But I am. It’s time,” Daniel insisted.

“To marry, maybe, but surely not her,” Kimble said, a look of dismay on his face. He wiped it away quickly.

Daniel sighed. “Say what’s on your mind, sir.”

“I fear you’ll be miserable,” Kimble promised.

“I’m sure every prospective husband fears that in the beginning. It’s just nerves about losing one’s freedom.”

“It’s what remains of a man’s common sense screaming out for rescue, I believe.” Kimble met his gaze. “Amy Wilson is proud and manipulative. She’ll run roughshod over you as soon as you put a ring on her finger.”

Daniel reared back from the assault on Amy’s character. “Why would you imagine such a thing?”

“Because I know her better than you. Amy Wilson has two vastly different sides, but once you make her a countess, I bet only one will remain. She’s not the woman for you,” Kimble warned, scowling.

“Well, I think you’re wrong,” Daniel said stubbornly. “What has she ever done to you to make you say such things?”

“Nothing to me directly, but I hear much that worries me. She’s sharp with the servants at Wilson Hall, miserly with her charity to the poor. She kept a young boy to fetch her things, and he never had a full night’s sleep or a word of gratitude in all his years in her employ.”

“Surely she only does what her father expects of her,” Daniel suggested, remembering Mother saying Amy’s father had limited her understanding of many things.

“Yes, and that’s what worries me.”