Page 54 of Shining Knight
“Of course it is,” Heath said, pouring himself and Edmund a glass. After he handed his brother a drink he raised his in the air. “He would hardly sacrifice himself for no reason. To Tinsley and Eugenia.”
Graham would never admit otherwise, for he could not completely answer that question himself.
Heath turned to Graham with a knowing smile. “You sly devil! I never would have thought you would offer for her, but there was no one I’d like better as my brother.” He walked over and shook Graham’s hand with fervor.
Graham smiled, knowing Knighton was watching his every move. He would not look him in the eyes. He needed to speak with Eugenia before Rowley did.
Edmund also stepped forward and patted him on the back. “I am very pleased by this as well. Whether you did it out of principle or love, I honor you for it.”
Graham inclined his head. This was taking on a life of its own.
“A toast to Eugenia and Graham: may you have the happiness the rest of us have been so fortunate to find,” he said, lifting his glass.
Graham took a drink and realized he was feeling the effects. Perhaps he was becoming soft in all manner of things. He frowned.
“Why the solemn face?” Knighton asked.
“No reason. It has been a busy few days and I find I am rather tired.” Graham excused himself from the brothers’ presence, then inquired of Quincy if Eugenia was available to talk. It was late, but he would prefer to resolve this before she could overthink everything and come up with reasons why they should not marry.
“I am sorry, sir. Lady Eugenia has retired for the evening and begged not to be disturbed,” Quincy said apologetically.
“Thank you, Quincy.” He accepted his hat and gloves and set out to walk home. It was just as well, he thought. It was rather late, and he had had more brandy with the brothers than he had intended. He wanted to have a clear head before he attempted to convince Eugenia of why this was right. He stopped at the corner and looked up at the sky. Nothing was falling down on him, he mused. In fact, he felt quite surprisingly content.
Somehow it mattered that Eugenia accept him—not to prove Knighton wrong, but because it felt right. He stumbled a little and grabbed onto a lamp post to steady himself. He looked up at the house and it swayed a little. He shook his head. He could not remember the last time he had had enough spirits to make him bosky. But he could hardly refuse to toast with the brothers over his good fortune, could he?
He chuckled and began to hum a tune. This was certainly not how he thought his bachelorhood would end, and would have laughed at anyone who had said Eugenia would become his future viscountess.
He looked up to where her window was. At least, he thought it was her window. He began to count one, two, three… no, hers was the fourth room—or was it?
He picked up some pebbles from the street. Would it not be romantic to serenade her by darkness? The devil! He was becoming a milksop! Was it the brandy or had Eugenia done this to him? Now all he could think about was her smile and seeing her happy again.
He had to talk to her before Rowley, anyway, so he began to concentrate hard on remembering which room was hers. He was saved from guessing by the opening of a window. At least he still had enough wits about him to step back into the shadows in case it wasn’t his fair Juliet come to profess her undying love for him. A hiccup had just escaped his lips when a large valise came flying down and dropped not five feet in front of him. That was soon followed by a rope and a delicious bottom in breeches being flung over the windowsill.
If he’d had time to think, he might have realized his fair damsel was trying to escape him. But brandy has a way of muddling proper thought and when she slid down the rope he was waiting to catch her at the bottom.
He decided the best way to silence her screams and convince her he would make a good husband was with a kiss.
