Page 6 of Shining Knight
Chapter Two
Eugenia was stillshaken from her ordeal—a child could have drowned—and decided to use this as an excuse to stay at home and not attend the Everleigh ball that night. She huddled into a blanket near the fire while her hair dried and tried to warm from the inside out.
The worst part was, Graham had not even said anything to her. He had helped her home without troubling to find her aunt, and had directed the servants to prepare her a warm bath. Besides the fact that misfortune seemed to plague her no matter her best intentions, how had Graham been at the same place at the same time? He always seemed to be there when trouble found her. Yet what else could she have done?
A soft knock on her door broke her trance-like musings. The door opened and her aunt Hambridge looked inside wearing a puce gossamer satin. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” she answered, still feeling a bit nervy on the inside.
Her aunt came inside and took the chair near her by the fire. She was dressed for the ball that Eugenia had decided not to attend.
“Would you care to tell me what happened?”
That surprised Eugenia. “You have not heard?”
“Only a disjointed version from the servants.”
Eugenia put her forehead on her knees; she had drawn them up before her. “Trying to be someone I am not is exhausting. I shared some bread with a little boy to feed the ducks. They all went after him and he became frightened and fell into the water. I went in after him when it was apparent he could not swim. That is all.”
Her aunt stared into the fire. “Perhaps it is time you sought a husband.”
Eugenia’s head popped up and her jaw snapped open. “That is all you have to say? Not, are you unharmed? How lovely that you saved a child from drowning.”
Aunt Hambridge waved her hand. “Yes, all of those things, my dear, but you must see that you will be portrayed somehow as having caused the incident, not to mention looking indecent, with your gown clinging to you. I fear you must find a husband soon before you acquire a reputation for notoriety.”
“I cannot believe we are having this conversation,” Eugenia muttered.
“I agree it is not fair, but once you are married and start begetting babies, all of this will go away.”
“My pension for accidents?” she asked doubtfully.
“That and your restlessness. You are bored and lonely with Sybil now gone.”
Well, that was true. “But there is no one I wish to marry,” she argued. “I will simply return to the country if my presence is so embarrassing.”
“Sulking does not become you. Now, hasten and dress for the Everleigh ball.”
Had she not heard that more than once today? She wanted to sulk. “I do not feel like going.”
“Neither do I, my dear, but we will go and if there is any talk of this afternoon’s mishap in a negative light then we can correct the story.”
“I am chilled and wish to sleep. One night away from parties will not make a difference.”
“It will make all the difference. I will have some tea sent to you while you dress. And Lord Perth called while you were out. He wished you to save him the first waltz.”
“I imagine Emma instigated this.”
“Even so, it will do good to be seen dancing with him,” Aunt Hambridge replied.
Perth was nice, Eugenia supposed, but she always felt a little uncomfortable with him. He was too perfect.
Her aunt stood and left the room while Eugenia threw her head back and moaned. If only there was a suitor her family would approve of, or who would accept her as she was. Unfortunately, outspoken and outlandish was not à la mode, but it was who she was.
Her maid entered the room bearing a tea tray and looking repentant. She was a pretty ginger-haired girl, much of an age with Eugenia.
“I beg your pardon, my lady. I did not mean to abandon you this afternoon.”
“Nonsense, Stevens. Trouble seems to find me. Spending a few minutes with your beau is not criminal when I gave permission.”
