Page 21 of Shining Knight
Chapter Six
The trip toBrighton was uneventful. The rain had stopped the day before, so the roads were not terribly muddy. Graham rode alongside their carriage with Sir Martin Hardy and Mr. Petersham and they were charming and witty the whole way. It almost made Eugenia forget why they were going to Brighton.
When they arrived, the coastal town was different from what she had envisioned. She had grown up on the coast of Devonshire, with dramatic cliffs and strong winds, but here the scenery was much more gentle and more peaceful. The house was on a hill overlooking the Channel, but there were not a great number of trees. When she alighted from the carriage, she stretched to feel the warm sun on her face and absorb the welcome smell of the salty ocean air again.
Perth himself came out to greet them, with a matron who Eugenia suspected was the countess and a beautiful young lady who must be a sister.
“Welcome to Seaside Cottage, our humble estate. My lady, may I present to you the Countess of Perth? And my sister, Lady Emily.”
Eugenia curtsied deeply. She could feel the assessing gaze, and Eugenia suspected Perth had come by his fastidiousness honestly. Lady Emily Russell seemed very sweet and almost shy. She hoped they could be friends. The rest of the introductions were made and Perth offered her his arm and led her into the house.
It was not as grand as The Grange, but this was one of the smaller estates. His primary seat was in Lincolnshire, or somewhere equally far, if she remembered correctly.
It was a charming home of white stone, and Eugenia felt comfortable there. It did not have the high ceilings or grand entrance hall like many manor houses, but it was tastefully done with pale colors reflecting the sea, and white wainscoting.
“Would you prefer to be shown to your rooms or have some refreshments?”
Eugenia deferred to her aunt. “It was not a fatiguing journey. I think tea would be just the thing.”
Perth inclined his head to his butler and showed them into a drawing room. It must be the showpiece of the house, Eugenia conjectured, with its windows overlooking the spectacular chalk cliffs bordering the Channel, that she had not seen from the angle at the front of the house.
“You are the first guests to arrive,” the countess remarked.
“Who else will be joining us?” Lady Hambridge asked.
“Only Farnsworth and his unmarried daughter, Lady Augusta. There are several other families, who will be joining us during the daytime as they live close by.”
As long as she did not say Kitty Ravenhill, then Eugenia thought she could tolerate this for a few days.
“Do you know of Lord Ravenhill and his sister, Catherine? He is a baron and his estate lies some five miles north of here.”
Her aunt shot a look at her. Eugenia thought she might be sick.I will only be for four days, she said to herself, and had a feeling that she would be repeating that several times a day for the duration.
“My daughter, Emily, and Kitty have been dearest friends whenever we visit Seaside.”
“How lovely that must have been. Eugenia had no other girls nearby with whom to play when she was young,” her aunt replied, almost sounding as though she was making an excuse. Eugenia tried to plaster a smile on her face. She would be the model of propriety if it killed her.
The countess looked at her sympathetically. “I had heard of one or two… misadventures… but nothing disastrous. I am certain that once she is wed, her husband will take her in hand,” she said to Aunt Hambridge who, noticeably, did not look at Eugenia.
Having seen the gentleman settled into their accommodations, Perth joined her on a small sofa near the window. “Thank you for coming, Lady Eugenia. I hope you will find it pleasing.”
“It is a beautiful property. I think I could sit here all day.”
“It is not so grand as The Grange, to be sure, but it is my favorite. Nothing equals the storms rolling in off the Channel.”
She smiled, thinking it would indeed be lovely to watch those.
“Is there anything in particular you would like to do whilst here?” he asked.
“I think a walk along the sea would be delightful.”
“That I can manage. Is there nothing else?”
She chanced to look up into his eyes. They were the same green as Emma’s, and of another handsome man she could think of, although his were a touch more blue. Perth had a few flecks of gold in his. It was odd being close enough to see the tiny nuances of someone else’s eyes. “Perhaps a ride. I cannot truly do that in Town,” she answered, before she became distracted and forgot the question.
“No, not without censure, at least, more’s the pity. I did rather enjoy watching you.” He was looking at her very warmly. At least he liked something about her.
It was strange to be flirted with in a serious manner, if there was such a thing. Could flirting be serious? It was something she could ponder later.
