Page 84 of No Ordinary Lady

Amy gave Marian a superior smirk when the countess declared the tea pot empty, which meant that Marian could not be offered another cup.

“Cake, Miss Wilson?”

“I couldn’t eat another bite, my lady,” Amy assured her, hand going to her slender middle as if it was in danger of bulging from the first tiny slice she’d consumed.

“Miss Kimble? Miss Trill? I’m sure I can tempt both of you to indulge.”

Marian nodded, and she and Gabby accepted another slice of cake from the plate. Only one slice remained, and the countess took that one for herself.

Marian devoted herself to her plate, but couldn’t help noticing that Amy Wilson was twitching in impatience at being the odd one out now.

Marian knew that feeling well.

Since her return from the grotto, she was feeling uncomfortable. Danny had been an attentive lover, determined to bring her pleasure with every stroke of his fingertips and cock. But it had been hours now since they were together. As soon as Marian had returned to the manor, Granny had dragged her away and his mother had been waiting to talk over a matter of estate business with her son.

Marian had assumed Danny would come to find her long before now, but he was off with Mr. Kimble talking somewhere.

She and Danny had made love with little to no discussion of their future together beyond the next kiss or climax, which had suited her very well at the time.

But that was then, and this was now.

Being stuck in the same room with the woman Danny promised he would never marry was definitely making her uncomfortable. Largely because Amy Wilson was clearly unaware that his interest and intentions toward her had changed. And the longer she spent with Amy, the easier it was to see the differences between them were so great.

Now back in the manor for hours, Marian was growing a little disappointed in Danny. He ought to have done something to make it clear to Amy that his interest had waned. Instead, she sat there looking around the drawing room with a decidedly content expression on her face, as if it would soon be all hers.

It did not matter if Danny kept their affair a secret. She would have been content to become his mistress if he’d wanted that. She was not ashamed of her attraction to him, ashamed of being his lover, though she would rather not continue their affair right under his mother’s nose.

Danny had not mentioned any desire to continue making love to her, though.

Since Marian’s arrival in the drawing room, Lady Scarsdale also carried on as if nothing was different between them.

But it certainly was.

They knew things about each other that they’d both rather the others never learned. Marian kept to her role as companion, seen but not heard as the countess commanded the room and the conversation. Lady Scarsdale was gracious to her two guests, but she largely ignored Marian’s existence, as was her usual habit.

“What do you say, Miss Trill?”

Marian looked up guiltily because she hadn’t the faintest idea what everyone had been talking about. “Forgive me, my lady, what was that?”

“The countess asked you a question,” Gabby whispered, her expression concerned. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I am perfectly well, but I thank you for your concern,” she muttered.

“Her face is very pink and blotchy,” Amy noted, as if that was unbecoming of a lady.

“I hadn’t noticed any difference, but perhaps you should move nearer to a window, Miss Trill, with my mother. You’ll catch a breeze there,” Lady Scarsdale suggested, though it sounded more like an order.

Marian nodded and rose to obey, “Yes, my lady.”

“We could take a turn first, if you like,” Gabby suggested quickly.

“A breeze is all I need.”

“Nonsense,” Gabby offered, and rushed to lead Marian on a circuit of the room. “I feared we’d never escape,” Gabby whispered.

Marian had to laugh at that. “Escape from what?”

“Can’t you feel it?” she whispered. “Something momentous is about to happen.”