Page 28 of Shining Knight
Graham cursed to himself. He should have followed his own advice and locked the door.
“Let me make something perfectly clear, Miss Ravenhill. I have no intention of being forced into anything with you. Any chance at all you may have had of capturing my regard has now been reduced to nil.”
“Come now, Mr. Tinsley. I think we can come to a mutually satisfying agreement,” she purred, moving closer.
“I think not. You will get no satisfaction from me.”
“My brother will call you out.”
Graham raised a haughty eyebrow, becoming more angry by the second. “You would wish a death sentence on your brother? This is no game, Miss Ravenhill. I take my freedom very seriously.”
She scowled at him.
“Nothing—and I do mean nothing—will induce me to wed you. Nor would you wish that. Your life would be a living hell. However, I have done nothing to lead you on, nor has the thought of making you my bride ever crossed my mind.”
She was clenching her jaw and he could hear her teeth grinding.
“I will take my chances, with my friends supporting me. Unfortunately, scandal never favors the female and you would do well to remember that. Now, I suggest you turn around and leave the way you came. My door will be locked to you always.”
“I will make you regret this,” she snarled.
“Not more than I would regret being shackled to you,” he snapped.
“I have my ways.” She turned and marched from the room, slamming the door behind her. Graham waited to hear some sign that she had been seen or discovered leaving his room, but thankfully, he heard none. He did not breathe a sigh of relief but a shudder of disgust ran through him. He had no doubt that there would be more trouble.
Graham quickly soaped himself, rinsed and climbed out of the tub. His thoughts were extremely disturbed and it was not so much himself he was worried about. He had a sinking suspicion that Kitty meant to do something to Eugenia or Lady Emily, but he did not know what. He had just managed to fasten his breeches and was reaching for his shirt when his door opened again.
With a groan, he turned to see Eugenia shut the door and lean up against it. She looked ready to breathe fire upon him.
“May I help you, pet?” he asked casually, as if he was not standing there half-dressed.
“How could you, Graham?” she growled.
He frowned. “Would you care to enlighten me of my sin? Because I was trying to bathe and relax and, apparently, I am somehow at fault.”
“Kitty Ravenhill,” she nearly spat. “Of all the loose women to consort with, why did it have to be her?”
“I suppose you saw her leaving my room?’ he asked, pulling his shirt over his head.
“You are lucky it was only me.”
“Did she see you?”
“Oh, yes! She smiled like the cat who got the cream as she was re-pinning her hair. She has no shame at all!”
“Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the post of his bed.
“Is that all you have to say for yourself? You disgust me. I wish I could be indifferent!” She threw up her hands in a tomboyish gesture so typical of her.
“You are also in my chamber, Eugenia,” he pointed out.
“No one considers aught is amiss between you and me.”
“Nothing more has happened between you and I than Miss Ravenhill and I.”
Eugenia narrowed her eyes at him, as though trying to assess whether he was telling her the truth or not. “Truly?”
“Truly,” he reaffirmed. “She was trying to compromise me.”
