Page 30 of Shining Knight
Chapter Eight
Eugenia went downstairsearly for breakfast the next day and Lord Perth was the only one in the room. She hesitated at the door when she saw him sitting there alone, then chastised herself.
“Good morning, my lord,” she said, entering the room and attempting to be cheerful. He immediately pushed back his chair and stood up.
“Good morning, Lady Eugenia. You look lovely,” he said, coming over to greet her.
She did feel rather lovely that day. She had chosen a muslin day dress the color of grass, which gave her a summery feel.
He held out a chair for her. “May I prepare a plate for you?” He waved his hand and a footman came forward. “Do you take coffee or tea?”
“Tea please, with milk and two spoonfuls of sugar,” she answered, smiling up at him as he pushed in her chair. He filled a plate for her and another footman placed a heaped tray of warm scones before her.
“I trust you slept well?” he asked as he took his seat next to her.
“I did, thank you. The sound of the waves nearby soon sent me to sleep.”
He gave a nod as though it was just as expected. “I always sleep best here.”
Eugenia took a bite of a scone and wondered if mundane conversation was to be her lot if she married him. But that was unfair, she reprimanded herself again. Her brothers would frequently make no more than polite greetings first thing. She certainly should give him more than ten minutes to decry his conversational skills.
She dismissed her thoughts and relished the melting of the fresh scone and butter on her tongue.
“Would you care to take a turn about the garden after breakfast?”
“That would be acceptable, my lord.”
“I find nature very pleasant first thing in the morning. It is a pity our society favors late night pleasure and thus misses most of it.”
“I have never been able to sleep late into the morning,” Eugenia admitted, and then mentally cursed herself for it. What if she decided he was not to her taste? Would she be obligated to eat breakfast alone with him every day?
“I will confess,” he was saying, “that I suspected as much. I see you riding in the park when most ladies are still abed.”
“Good morning,” Graham said, entering the room; it immediately brightened. He patted Eugenia on the shoulder, like one of her brothers would have done, and she noticed Perth frown.
“Is your food unsavory, my lord?” she asked with concern.
“No, no. My food is excellent.”
Graham filled his plate and sat down across from her.
“Did you sleep well, Tinsley?” Perth asked. Apparently this was the first question of the day for everyone.
“I did, rather,” Graham answered as he accepted a cup of coffee from the footman and then selected one of the scones from the tray. He looked around and his gaze alighted on the orange marmalade.
Eugenia snatched it before he could.
“Eugenia,” he warned.
“I just wish for my share. I remember a time when you took all of the jam before anyone else could.”
“So you hid it from me every time I visited thereafter.”
“Only until everyone else had had a chance to have some.” She turned to explain to Perth. “You should know our Tinsley is a glutton for anything resembling jam. He fancies marmalade in particular.”
“Would you mind taking your serving and passing the jar? I promise not to take more than my share. I was only twelve at the time,” he explained to Perth.
Eugenia bubbled up with laughter. Moments later Graham joined her.
