Page 32 of Shining Knight
“No, no. No. I am honored, my lord.”
“I should have waited to speak to your brother, like Farnsworth did. It is my deuced competitive nature,” he said, rising and running his hand through his hair.
“I am very flattered by your offer, my lord.” She should accept.Say it, Eugenia.
He held out his hands. “Do not answer me until you speak to your brother, if you wish. Only promise me that you will accept no other first.”
“As Farnsworth is the only other to have offered, I can assure you I have already decided that he is better suited to my aunt than I.”
He pursed his lips. “They do seem rather…”
“Smitten?” she offered.
“But he needs an heir.” As if that explained everything, she reflected dryly.
“He has several nephews,” she replied.
Perth sat down next to her again and took her hand. She watched the strange event feeling curiously detached. She had as good as betrothed herself to this man and she felt almost nothing except relief that she would please her family.
“I confess I feel a great sense of relief, knowing you have already decided against the duke.”
She turned to smile at him and discovered he was leaning towards her. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips and gave her hand a squeeze. “May I say how happy this makes me, Lady Eugenia? You will make an excellent countess.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
“Shall we?” He stood and offered her his arm, but she noticed his attention was caught by something in the distance.
He immediately tried to lead her back towards the house.
“What is it?” She turned back and immediately saw what had disturbed him. “Oh. That was unexpected.”
“The scoundrel!”
Farnsworth and her aunt were walking along the shore, hand in hand. He bent over to place a kiss on her lips that made Eugenia blush. It was nothing at all like the one Perth had just bestowed upon her.
“I am sorry you had to see that,” he said, looking down at her with a crease between his brows.
“I am not. They deserve happiness just like we do.”
“Your graciousness does you credit, my lady. However, he should not court you yet…”
She held up her hand before he finished. “It is quite permissible. I think he suspected he would not win my regard.”
“It certainly eases any reservations I had with regard to trying to steal you away from him. I assure you, I would never be so careless with your affections.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Eugenia did not think her aunt and the duke were being careless. They were on a deserted beach, early in the morning, and had a realistic expectation of complete privacy. She was happy for her aunt. She only hoped something might come of it; then she would not feel so guilty.
*
“Is it tobe bows or pistols, my lord?” a servant asked.
“I will defer to the ladies,” Perth said, looking lovelorn at Eugenia. Graham had never thought a man could look such, but the earl appeared completely smitten.
“Why not both?” she answered. Graham knew too well how proficient she was at both.
“An excellent notion,” Perth agreed. “That way, more people can participate if they choose.”
There was a nice park to the east of the house where targets had been placed for their afternoon’s entertainment.
