Page 36 of Shining Knight
“Let me in!”
“I cannot!” she cried back at him.
“Are you right behind the door?”
“No,” she called back.
Loud thumps and splintering followed. In a few short minutes, the door crashed into the room.
“Genie!” he shouted, running towards her and emitting a string of profound curses when he observed the situation.
“Is he dead?” she asked as Graham flipped Ravenhill away from her.
“We need light. I think he is still breathing.”
Ask and ye shall receive, she thought bitterly, the sounds of the household waking intruded upon her notice. Then steps could be heard coming towards her room; on their arrival, most of the owners were holding tapers.
“What in the world?” Perth asked, being the first to arrive, followed by the countess, the duke and Lady Augusta. She could not see anyone else’s face, but she was certain they all were witnessing her shame.
Eugenia began to shake as the horror of what had happened sank in.
“He is still alive,” Graham pronounced.
Eugenia was not sure if she was pleased or disappointed by that. The man had intended to violate her. Hehadviolated her, even if her virtue was still intact. The rest of the events went on as though she was an observer. Things happened around her and she just watched.
“Send for the doctor,” Graham said to the gathering. “I do not believe anything vital was damaged. Perhaps he passed out from the pain.”
“It appears that he climbed in at the window,” Lady Augusta said. Why was she in there?
They lifted Ravenhill and put him on the bed. Her aunt came over and placed a blanket around her. “Are you hurt, my dear?”
She could not form words, but shook her head as tears formed in her eyes instead.
“Take her to my chamber, Tinsley,” her aunt ordered.
Graham scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the room. When he placed her on the bed, she wanted to cling to him, but instead she stayed curled up in a ball.
“Have her things packed. As soon as I have attended to Ravenhill, we are leaving.”
“Do not do anything rash, Tinsley,” her aunt said.
Eugenia could feel his gaze on her; she barely had the energy to move her eyes to meet his. He walked over and gently brushed his fingers across her face.
“Whatever happens, Genie, you did nothing wrong.” He kissed her forehead and then left her. She felt utterly desolate.
*
Graham could barelycontain his fury. Bruises had already begun to form on Eugenia’s skin when he put her down. He should have protected her better. It should never have fallen to her to protect herself. But how would she feel if Ravenhill died? She might never recover from that. Her family would support her, of course, but no one would want to marry her and her name would be tarnished forever. Even Knighton could only pay so much to conceal the damage and anyone who could be bought did not deserve her.
He opened the door to find the Countess in the hallway, then re-entered Eugenia’s room to find Perth, the duke, and Lady Augusta there with the doctor. Thankfully, Lady Emily had not been present and Petersham and Hardy were in a different wing.
Graham waited for one of them to speak as Ravenhill lay still upon the bed.
“Dr. Walters thinks he will live if infection does not set in.” Perth finally spoke.
“She struck him very effectively in the shoulder, which immediately incapacitated his arm. He was awake for a few moments, but I have given him a sedative. I will call in the morning to see how he goes on, my lord,” the doctor said. “I will see myself out,” he pronounced and left them alone.
“Did she say what happened?” Perth asked.
