Page 52 of Shining Knight
Her brothers and sisters smiled at her as though nothing were wrong, and she could not help but wonder if something was happening without her knowledge. Graham would tell her, if no one else would, but she did not know when she would have a chance to speak with him again.
“Remember, Hardy, return her to me,” Rowley commanded.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Sir Martin parroted. He was a pleasant dear, if a bit simple. At least, she had never had a serious conversation with him.
The next dance was a quadrille and as they took their places, a hush fell over the room.
“I beg your pardon, Hardy, but I really must insist upon this dance with my betrothed,” a voice drawled from behind her.
Oh, no. This was one of those rules Eugenia was supposed to remember. It was something about not refusing to dance, but it was unpardonably rude of Ravenhill to cause a scene like this. She turned with undisguised fury.
“I say, Ravenhill, I awaited my turn and you can wait for yours,” Sir Martin said nervously.
“I am not your betrothed,” Eugenia growled in a quiet voice, but the orchestra had stopped and she had no doubt everyone in the room heard.
Ravenhill laughed. “There is no need to be shy, my dear. Everyone already knows about our inability to control our passions.”
Suddenly, Graham was at her side and she saw Knighton and her other brothers walking towards them.
“Why do we not move this off the dance floor so others may enjoy themselves?” Graham asked calmly, yet he was already leading her away.
Eugenia was mortified. Trouble always found her even when she behaved well. All she wanted was to be normal. Was that too much to ask? Now there was to be no privacy for this discussion. All of her shame was to be laid open, bare for all the gossips to feast on like vultures.
“You, Ravenhill, are a coward,” Graham said with quiet savagery as soon as they were off the floor. “You knew she would never agree to dance with you or ever be alone with you again, so you accosted her when she already had a partner.”
“I would prefer we remove to Knighton House for this discussion,” Rowley declared as soon as he reached them.
Petersham, Hardy, Farnsworth and her brothers all surrounded Ravenhill, Nevertheless, he would not yield.
“Of course I am ready to discuss settlements, Your Grace,” he announced loudly—and, of course, Lady Jersey and Lady Cowper were close enough to hear and witness every word.
“I am not betrothed to you, Lord Ravenhill,” Eugenia stated, grinding out the words as she tried to maintain some semblance of decorum.
“I have witnesses to say otherwise.”
“Nonsense!” Graham exclaimed, stepping forward.
“Do you deny you found us in an embrace?”
“Most vehemently!” Graham answered.
“How dare you thus insult my sister!” Knighton said with icy disdain, stepping forward.
Eugenia could not allow Rowley to challenge this scoundrel. She had to do something. No one else should have to suffer. Before allowing herself to think about it, she grabbed a glass of orgeat from the nearby table and took several steps towards the black-hearted villain. “We are not betrothed. I am not compromised, and I will never marry you.” She threw the punch in his face.
“I will have satisfaction!” he demanded as the liquid dripped down his face.
“You will have nothing,” Graham announced, stepping between Eugenia and Ravenhill. “You cannot possibly be betrothed to the lady when she is already betrothed to me.”
*
Graham felt Eugeniatense beneath his hand, but he squeezed her arm and looked down at her with the most love-struck expression he could manage.
Ravenhill began to sputter with indignation, but Petersham and Hardy took him by the elbows and started to escort him from the hallowed assembly room halls before he could issue any challenges.
The image of ducal reserve, Knighton turned to usher his herd from the ballroom as well. They could hardly resume dancing as though nothing had happened.
Eugenia still had not said a word. He imagined she was storing up quite a tirade to spew at him once they were private.
