Page 15 of Shining Knight
“Is something the matter?”
She gave an unladylike shrug of the shoulders. “Just another female who does not care for me.”
“Miss Ravenhill?”
She gave a nod.
“I thought the air grew warmer after she had left.”
Eugenia tried to cover a laugh.
“Why do you care for her opinion anyway?”
“I should not, I know,” she said, looking down and picking at one of the embroidered roses on her gown. “But what she said is true.”
He turned her chin and lifted it towards his face. She really was handsome, especially with those large, dark blue eyes so reminiscent of the sea, in which one could drown.
She searched his face and for a moment he found himself tempted to kiss her. Good Lord, he was going to rot in hell for that thought.
“Is the thought of me really so preposterous?” he whispered, close enough to her face that he could feel her breath touch his skin.
“You scapegrace!” She hit him hard on the arm. “You were eavesdropping!”
“Of course I was.” He laughed.
“At least I hope you believe me now, that she is a conniving little shrew.”
“I have known all along,” he scoffed.
“I think that is doing it too brown, my dear, but thank God,” she muttered.
He felt the same way, except Perth and Farnsworth were not bad men; he just did not think they were right for her. “Am I forgiven, pet?”
“Yes. I do not like being at odds with you.”
“Nor I you. My mornings have been very lonely. I have missed talking to you.”
She made a face at him. “Now who’s doing it too brown?”
“I was being serious!”
She made an endearing little noise and looked straight ahead.
“Would you care for a boat ride? I saw several punts along the water—unless you had your fill while with Farnsworth. It was a rather nice, if antiquated, touch.”
“Anything to escape.”
They smiled in mutual understanding and walked to the water together, avoiding the crowds. When they reached the boats, Eugenia looked longingly at the one next to the one he had chosen.
“No, you don’t. No racing today.” He took her arm and pulled her to his boat.
She looked mischievous, then sighed. “Oh, very well. I did promise myself to be demure today.”
“In your very fetching bonnet,” he quipped.
“It is, is it not?” She smiled and the world seemed brighter because of it. He pushed the boat from the bank and began to row. This part of the river was shallow, and also calmer and cleaner than near Town. He began a gentle rhythm as she leaned back and let the sun fall on her face. It was so comfortable being with her—even though she was often not a comfortable person. She was simply…Eugenia.
“Tell me about your courtship thus far,” he said, once they were far from the bank.
