Page 31 of Shining Knight
Perth stood quickly. “Would you care for that walk now, Lady Eugenia?”
“Yes, of course. Will you excuse us, Graham?”
He was chewing, but lifted his cup in salute as he began to rise.
She waved him back down. “No need for me. We will see you this afternoon?”
“Oh, yes. The shooting. I would not miss it for a pony. It seems as though we are due for a rematch.”
She scoffed. “You have never beaten me before.”
“Not since you were five,” he agreed. “Perhaps today will be my lucky day.”
Perth took her arm and practically dragged her from the breakfast parlor. “Let me fetch my bonnet, my lord.”
“Of course. I will wait here,” he said as he released her.
She tried to walk slowly up to her room, but slow was not her habit. She found her new straw bonnet which was adorned with dandelions tucked into a matching green ribbon.
She smiled when she saw it atop her head and thought it very dashing. When she descended the stairs, Perth was waiting there for her, smiling appreciatively.
She took his arm and he led her out into the garden. “You are very familiar with Tinsley,” he remarked.
“Oh, yes, he is like a brother, “she stated as she always did. “Surely you knew that from Emma or Heath?”
He smiled pensively. “I suppose so.”
He led her through the formal parterre, set below the back terrace. Some neatly patterned lines of shrubbery lay centered around a large, tiered marble fountain, where water trickled gently from the top, flowing down each layer.
They passed through the shrubbery and he led her down a gravel path. “There is something I wish to show you.”
“I am happy to be shown,” she replied, unable to think of anything more pithy to say.
They passed through a screen of evergreens, then the view opened up into a wide expense of cliffs and water and downs. There was a bench there for viewing pleasure, and he led her to sit down before joining her. He felt very large and the bench seemed small. Too small. She was acutely aware of him as a man. He distinctly did not feel like one of her brothers.
She felt him fuss with his hat in his hands and lifted her gaze to find him looking down at her.Oh, my…
“Lady Eugenia,” he began and then looked out over the water. “As you are aware, I invited you here to meet my family and to ensure we would suit.”
She nodded hesitantly.
“I sent a letter to your brother, and had hoped to hear a reply before speaking with you, but it appears I do not have the luxury of time.”
The confusion must have shown on her face.
“Surely you do not miss the way the other gentlemen here are vying for your attentions?”
Her first instinct was to deny it, but then she thought about it.
“You do understand, I see, but the fact that you must think about it does you credit. I had known about Farnsworth, but the others…” He shook his head. “I am convinced I must speak to you now.”
Others? The only other two gentlemen here were Ravenhill and Tinsley.
He moved in front of her and kneeled on the ground, taking her hand. “Lady Eugenia, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
She felt outjockeyed. She had certainly not expected this from a morning constitutional through the garden.
“Do I speak too soon?” he asked sheepishly.
