Page 57 of Shining Knight
“Not in the romantic, infatuated way you mean, perhaps… but the way I love you will last forever.”
“Oh,” she whispered. She knew he was right, but it still did not feel good to hear him say that. But in truth, was that not how she felt for him?
“You are being unusually, unnervingly quiet,” he said as they stopped on his front steps.
“It is so much to take in. A few days alone will help me sort through my muddled thoughts.”
He shook his head and put a key in the lock. The house was quiet and he showed her into a small study off the entrance hall. For how well she knew him, she had never been in this house. The study was dark and masculine, with mahogany paneling and a large desk of the same wood. A fireplace was flanked by two armchairs and a portrait of the viscount with his hounds looked down at her.
“You can wait here while I gather what I need. If we leave soon we will reach the cottage by dawn. We really must not make a habit of escaping Town in the dark,” he mused. “Is there anything you require while you wait?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
He left her alone, which was what she had wanted, but now she had time to think before she acted. She curled up in one of the armchairs. Was it a poor choice to run away? What she truly wanted was to go to bed, wake up and find this was a nightmare. If she left with Graham, however, then they risked more than a fake betrothal to her—for that is what she thought of it. When he’d had time to sleep on it, surely he would change his mind? For all Eugenia knew people thought her reckless, the gravity of the situation was very real to her.
She closed her eyes and was tempted to sleep. As long as she could convince Graham to leave her at Bexley, even if just for a few days, then that was what she would do.
*
Graham sat atthe escritoire in the drawing room, trying to think of what he could possibly say to convince Rowley to leave Eugenia to her rustication. In the end, he decided on complete honesty. He had caught her running away and had decided to use the few days to convince her they were well-suited. Even though he knew his duty, he wanted her to be convinced.
He sealed the letter with a note to his butler to have it delivered to Knighton first thing in the morning and then hurried back to Eugenia because he feared she would go on her own anyway.
She looked like she was sleeping. She was his. He let that thought germinate while he watched her in repose, but her eyes opened when he entered the room. It was one of the few moments where Eugenia was calm.
“Are you ready? The horses are waiting.”
She smiled and nodded as he helped her to her feet. “I am glad we are to ride. I was afraid you would bring the carriage.”
“I know you better than that, my dear.”
“Yes, you do.” She was clearly surprised, however, when they went outside to find her own mare.”
“How did you manage this?” She turned to look at him in surprise.
“I sent my groom.”
“Quite. Thank you,” she said as he assisted her into her saddle.
They navigated the streets of London to the Dover road with ease at that time of night—or early morning, as it were. As they reached the open road and gave the horses their heads, Eugenia began to laugh.
“Dare I ask what is so humorous at this moment when I would much rather be sleeping in my warm bed?” As he said it, he realized it was not true. He was very much enjoying himself and often he did not reach his bed until dawn, anyway.
“Stop being such a kill-joy! You may sleep when we arrive.”
“Am I allowed to stay, then? At my own house?” he teased.
“Long enough to sleep. I would not want you to have an accident on my account,” she countered.
“How gracious of you! I must warn you, however, this is a cottage in truth. I do not use the term loosely as Perth does. There are but four bedrooms.”
“However shall I manage?” She cast him a look of exasperation and then pulled ahead of him.
Watching her ride was a thing of beauty, even in the dark, but it was not yet a full moon and many things could happen in the dark. Many things could happen in the daylight, for that matter. He urged Xerxes to catch up and was relieved when he saw the flash of her comely form ahead.
“Eugenia!” he called, but at that moment he saw her horse slip and they both went tumbling down. “Eugenia!”
He had never known panic such as he felt in that moment. He felt as though his chest were being crushed and he could scarcely remember dismounting and rushing to her. “Eugenia!” He stripped off his gloves and knelt beside her. He cradled her face in his hands for a moment and slid his fingers down to find a pulse at her neck. “Thank God,” he whispered as he began searching her for other injuries.
