Page 55 of No Ordinary Lady

Daniel struggled to resist that persistent, knowing smile of hers every time they were together.

He inched closer to Marian, pulse speeding up. Imagining of those pert lips pressed against another man’s felt wrong. They should only be touching his—and he lowered his head to steal a kiss.

Marian must have sensed his thoughts, because she moved away from him before he even touched her.

“I’ll do my best to moderate my laughter to a level you’ll never notice, my lord.”

Daniel straightened immediately. He’d been rebuffed. “Thank you,” he said, as much for her promise as her rejection. At least one of them had all the restraint needed to keep him faithful to his future bride.

“As for Mr. Kimble…if he has any intentions, only time will tell. As long as he remains respectful, I can’t see the problem in speaking to him whenever he comes to call, especially when your mother is watching me so closely all the time.”

With that, she turned up her nose and spun on her heel, before striding for the open terrace doors.

He watched Marian flee outside with a glad but heavy heart. He’d no right to take his frustration out on her. It wasn’t her fault he was having second thoughts about marrying Amy. But if she wasn’t always around, he wouldn’t be constantly comparing the two women and finding his choice so lacking.

Daniel followed after Marian a few steps and would have gone all the way outside…had he not heard the unmistakable sound of a throat clearing directly behind him.

Daniel turned.

Mother.

He ran a hand through his hair, “Yes, Mama?”

“What are you doing in here? I thought to find you in your study still.”

“Was there something you needed me for?” he asked, hoping Mama had arrived too late to see him with Marian, and especially when he’d tried to kiss the woman.

“You’ve a woman out there to be charmed into marrying you, but you’re consorting with Mother’s companion in the library instead,” she complained.

Daniel groaned.

“We talked, Mother, about the books,” he explained, trying not to sound too defensive as he pointed around them. “Now, since we are alone, I wish to have a conversation with you about these plans you’re making in my name,” he said.

“They can wait until after Miss Wilson has accepted your proposal,” Mother insisted.

“I’m not proposing today,” he announced, moving closer to the door to look at what Marian was doing now. She was sitting by Granny’s side and looking forlorn. He’d a fear his words might spur her to encourage Kimble to pursue her, but it seemed she’d heeded his warnings.

“You will escort Miss Wilson to cut some flowers for me then,” Mother said as she caught him by the arm and dragged him outside against his will.

He didn’t exactly resist. But Mother was stronger than she appeared. “Miss Wilson, here is my son to accompany you to the greenhouse at last.”

“Ah, wonderful,” Amy said as she stood and crossed the lawn to join Daniel. “We will go now?”

Feeling distinctly uncomfortable with the blatant maneuvering, Daniel kept his gaze fixed on Amy to keep from seeing Marian’s reaction.

No one offered to accompany them, and he looked back with longing when everyone began to laugh again. Everyone seemed amused by something Kimble had said, all except for Marian, that was. She was watching him leave her in the sun, looking lovelier than ever.

He gritted his teeth and faced the front as he continued to walk beside Amy, determined to put Marian from his mind once and for all. He gulped, though.

The greenhouse was some distance from everyone else, and that they could be entirely alone when they got there. Mother had set him up to propose to Amy in the greenhouse.

Daniel immediately looked around for a servant to act as a chaperone.

He crooked his finger at the first maid he saw, the one who had been serving as Granny’s companion when he had first arrived home and beckoned her to join them.

The maid was delighted to leave the weeding of a garden bed to others and go along with them to cut flowers.

Amy cleared her throat, akin to how his mother always did. “I think your grandmother is finally softening toward me.”