Page 64 of No Ordinary Lady

He suspected Amy would not think to complain about it.

He bit his lip and glanced across at Granny and Amy Wilson and heaved a sigh.

There was no escaping the truth. He was more concerned about what Marian thought of what he did than the woman he had planned to make his wife.

But did he still want that? Marriage? To have and hold one woman forever?

The answer was, of course, a resounding no where Amy was concerned.

He was not even astonished by his own change of heart. Under no circumstances did he want to make an offer for Amy Wilson’s hand now they’d spent some time together. He did not want Mr. Wilson to assume a fatherlike role in his life or to have the Wilsons always coming around as they had done all of this week.

They were dull and boring, and he didn’t even like them. They had nothing in common, besides being neighbors for the whole of his life.

But he was stuck with them tonight unless he gave them a reason to leave.

There was much he didn’t care for about Mr. Wilson, but in his five-year absence he’d forgotten it all. The sly suggestions he had a long way to go before he was deemed fit for his father’s title had not been uttered yet, but that sort of comment had been frequent when he’d been younger and afraid of putting a foot wrong.

Granny had never liked Wilson nor warmed to Amy, who seemed never to hold an opinion in opposition to her own father. If he’d married her, he rather thought he’d have been quite miserable.

Thank heavens for Marian showing up in his life when she had. He might have made a grave mistake and not just for his own peace. There was Granny to think of, and Mother too. Mother was used to doing things a certain way, hers, although she had tried to educate Amy to become a countess, to be generous and kind to those of the lower classes, he wasn’t sure any of it had stuck.

He rubbed his face, tired of it all.

“Are you weary, Mrs. Nolan,” Amy asked of Granny.

Daniel turned to Granny immediately. Yes, Granny must be as tired as he was of the Wilson’s company. She would happily help him get rid of them, too. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she replied curtly.

“No. No. I’m quite sure I saw you yawn several times during dinner, too,” he insisted.

Amy patted Granny’s hand. “You must take better care of your health.”

Daniel nodded subtly at Granny, hoping she’d play along. “You were awake quite early this morning.”

“Was I?” she answered, frowning at him.

Daniel moved to sit at her side. “Have you forgotten that it was very early for you? You woke me up before the sun rose, too.”

Granny blinked. “I usually only ever sleep as long as I need.”

“Oh, but you must be as exhausted as I am,” Daniel decided, and he yawned too for good measure. “Perhaps an early night would be best for both of us.”

Amy started nodding along. “I would hate to keep you.”

Granny narrowed her eyes but seemed to have finally understood Daniel’s scheme. “Yes, well, I’m sure a good long night’s sleep will be just the thing for everyone,” she suggested. “I should hate to send our guests home so early, but I fear whatever is keeping your mother will last all night long.”

“I’ll go and find out what the problem is and then turn in.” He glanced over at the Wilsons. “I’m afraid it would be best if…”

“Yes, I suppose we’ll see you all again tomorrow,” Wilson said with a heavy sigh and also a touch of frustration. “I’m sure you’ve much to set to order here, now you’re finally back in charge.”

“Yes indeed,” Daniel agreed, though he’d no issues with the way Mother had run the estate in his absence. He would go slowly when lifting the burdens from her shoulders. He’d not like to alienate her, now that he was about to disappoint her so badly, and after all the good she’d done for the family purse.

Wilson went to his daughter and drew her to her feet. Amy seemed suddenly inclined to resist, though. “I could stay and help Lady Scarsdale with whatever has drawn her away, or even help put Mrs. Nolan to bed.”

Daniel almost groaned at the implied insult to Granny’s competence and put a hand over hers to silence any retort. She was not so doddery she needed assistance for going to bed.

“There’s no cause for concern about my grandmother. I’ll take care of her.”