Page 42 of Shining Knight
“You can hardly call out a man who is already injured. Eugenia took care of him herself.”
“I am glad to hear it, but she will be the one to suffer for the scoundrel’s actions.”
Eugenia saw her brothers wince.
“Do not tell me it is not so.”
“Their plan is to marry me off as quickly as possible. Your cousin no longer wishes to be betrothed to me.”
Emma spun around to face her. “My cousin?”
Eugenia could no longer speak. “Please explain things to her. When you have more information, please let me know.” She retired to take a walk in the garden, too angry and upset to speak any longer. She had known this was what would happen, yet it did not make it any more palatable.
Graham touched her arm as she tried to leave the room, but she shook it away. She did not need to see the pity in his gaze. She needed to be alone and the garden was the closest to somewhere peaceful she could find within the environs of the house.
*
Graham remained inthe corner, more disturbed than he would like to admit about Eugenia’s situation.
He listened to Knighton explain to his duchess everything that had happened, including Perth’s involvement and rejection.
“You cannot mean to force her to marry somebody just to hush up a scandal!”
“I hope it will not come to that,” Knighton replied. “I—we—all want to see her happy.”
“What doesshewant?” the duchess demanded.
“To return home. But you know what will happen if she does not face the situation.” The duke threw up his hands as if he knew there was no good solution.
“She is welcome to live with us at The Grange, if that is her wish. The people there will not shun her.”
“She did nothing wrong and if she runs away, Ravenhill wins,” he countered.
“There has to be a better way,” Edmund said thoughtfully.
Graham agreed, but remained quiet.
“Perth would have been the best way, but I refuse to twist anyone’s arm for the privilege of wedding my sister,” Knighton pronounced.
“What do you plan to do next?” the duchess asked.
“I sent an express to Brighton as soon as I heard from Tinsley. I expect a messenger back soon.”
“I will go and discover if he has come,” Heath said as he stood. “I do not think Quincy would have interrupted our family meeting.”
Graham wanted to find Eugenia, even though she doubtless wanted to be alone. The brothers overwhelmed him at times, and she may well have felt outnumbered.
He left the study, where the duke and duchess were still debating what was best to do with their sister. Truly, he did not wish to be part of that conversation at present, except it was amusing to watch her stand up to the duke without hesitation.
Quincy seemed to know Graham was looking for Eugenia. “She is in the garden, sir.”
Graham gave an appreciative nod and then walked slowly across the marble floor, past the ballroom towards the terrace doors. He opened them slowly and looked around. She would probably be at the back of the garden.
The bright, sunny day was a blunt contrast to the dark, dire situation they were facing.
He walked quietly—thoughtfully—through the lush green grass and flowering bushes, where bees were buzzing about their business.
When he reached the end, he paused to watch her on the wooden swing Knighton had had placed there for her, beneath the large birch tree.
