Page 89 of No Ordinary Lady

“I don’t think my mother or granny will forgive either of us if we say no to love. They are both rather determined women and accustomed to having their way.”

And still she hesitated.

Daniel lifted Marian up and deposited her on the bench seat, then got down on both knees before her. He took hold of her hands, deciding he may as well do the whole proposal rigamarole to prove he was serious, since she clearly had trouble believing he was. “Please, my Marian. Let me shout out my love for all to hear.”

“I don’t deny you an answer to be difficult, but to give you time to truly consider what you ask. I will become a countess. I must take lessons in deportment before I ever meet your friends and…oh, dear God, I have a lifetime of your mother’s scolds to endure when I inevitably make mistakes.”

“Mama’s scolds don’t hurt that much, and I’m sure she’ll be far gentler with you than she ever was with me. She always wanted a daughter to mold in her image.”

“She has Amy for that,” Marian said, folding her arms across her chest stubbornly.

“Amy never could meet Mama’s expectations. Surely you see that.”

“They are so very high,” Marian said, wincing. “I’ve already failed her once, and I don’t know if she will ever completely trust me.”

“Trust always takes time to build. But it is also about loyalty to the family,” Mother said, startling him because she appeared right behind him, and he hadn’t heard her coming.

“Amy would have betrayed what I did to you in an instant,” Mother admitted.

Daniel glanced over his shoulder at Mama. “I’m still waiting to hear what you actually did, Mother?”

“You’ll never hear it from me,” Marian warned, catching hold of his face, and turning his attention back to her.

Daniel sighed. “Ladies, keep your secrets if you must. It’s none of my concern what you get up to behind my back, but I would ask that you always support each other in the years to come.”

“Of course, we will. That is what family is for,” Mother quipped. “Do excuse me, I must return to my guest.”

“Yes, Amy,” Marian said slowly.

“She will be made to understand,” the countess promised as she turned away.

Marian bit her lip, clearly worried about how that conversation would go.

“Miss Wilson will always be mother’s favorite, but you will be my wife. A countess. She can do nothing about that now,” he promised. “My mind is set upon you.”

“Don’t keep Marian out here too long, we’ve a wedding to organize,” the countess called out.

“Yes, Mama,” he answered.

“I’ll be along as soon as I can, Mama,” Marian added.

Mother turned back and smiled at them both.

It still astonished him that Mother would not be upset about his ultimate choice of bride. Not that Marian had agreed to marry him yet. For her, it must still be quite the shock.

He sat back down next to Marian, crossed one leg over the other and lay his arm lightly around Marian’s shoulders. “I can’t wait for you to meet my friends and their wives in London next season. I’m sure you’ll get along famously.”

“Next season?”

“Well, I thought you’d still want us to go along to support Gabby in her quest to find a husband worthy of her. Mama will need your help with her, too,” he warned. “As much as I like my friend’s young ward, I find her a tad exuberant for my taste. She’ll need all the help she can get to make a good impression.”

“I’ll need all the help I can get for that, too,” Marian quipped rather gloomily.

He pulled her closer. “You’ll have me, and Mama, and probably Granny there beside you, too. I hope our family is all that you ever need.”

She turned to face him suddenly. “My delay really has nothing to do with you, Danny, or your family. I promise it’s not that. I just don’t know the first thing about high society, and you’ve marquesses for good friends and dozens of acquaintances with titles. It’s just…”

“You’re right to be scared, and my proposal came out of the blue from your perspective, so of course you don’t know what to say. But it’s the right decision for us both. Marry me now or marry me later, I don’t mind waiting, as long as you’ll always be nearby. I love you. The rest can be worked out as we go along.”