Page 62 of Shining Knight
Knighton was staring at him as if he were keen for a fight. He sighed. He should have known it would come to this.
“Eugenia, go inside.”
“What?” She looked back and forth between him and her brothers. “No. You will not engage in fisticuffs over this—over me.”
Eugenia stepped in between them with an arm stretched out to both Graham and Rowley, as though she could hold them off. It was not the first time they had engaged in fisticuffs—after all, they were male—yet never before had she been the object of dissension.
“I will not have you fight because of me!” she shouted. “Graham did try to convince me not to leave, but insisted on accompanying me rather than have me travel alone at night.”
“He should have brought you to me,” Rowley said quietly, still looking at Graham.
“Really? So that you could make my life more miserable?”
“Eugenia, you know he wants only what is best for you.”
“As long as it runs in harmony with what Society thinks,” she snapped.
“I do not deny it,” Rowley defended himself. “I have lived longer amongst these people than you. I have seen people be ruined and shunned. Is that what you want for yourself, for your children?”
“If I am ruined, there will be no children,” she argued. She threw up her hands and paced back and forth for a moment. “Do you not understand that I only wanted a day or two away to reflect and consider?”
“I had agreed to give you some time after you were seen in public, Eugenia. Why sneak away like a thief in the night?”
“Because he insisted on saving me.” She flung herself around and pointed a finger at Graham.
He watched the exchange, trying to leave the siblings to sort through their discordance, but that was too much. “You would rather have Ravenhill?”
“You do not wish to be saved by Graham, I take it?” Rowley asked.
“He saved me last night, and for that, I am truly grateful but I cannot see him shackled to me for life.”
Graham threw up his hands in surrender. She always made it about him…not herself.
“You must maintain this charade for some time,” Knighton said. “It will forfeit your chance with Farnsworth, however.”
She glared at her eldest brother, looking very much as though she were about to plant him a facer for mentioning the duke.
“Very well. It is coming upon the festive season. I do not think the town would speculate wildly if we all returned to Devonshire. Would you be agreeable to that, Tinsley?”
He inclined his head, but he was quite angry nevertheless. “We will need a few days in Town in order to make it plain we are not running away.”
“I agree that is best,” Rowley responded, adding, “There is one last bill I would like to vote upon before we leave anyway.”
“Gather your things, Sister. I would like to be back in Town before nightfall.”
“Yes, brother.”
Eugenia gave Graham a look which he could not quite read before she marched back into the house to collect her belongings. Whether it was apologetic or defiant, he could not quite determine.
“I would still like to pummel you,” Knighton said when she had gone inside.
“The feeling is mutual, but we both have her best interest at heart.”
“I appreciate your regard for her, my friend. Yet I cannot have you sacrifice your own freedom and happiness for her.”
“What if she is my happiness?” Graham asked angrily. “I am no martyr, I assure you. Genie and I deal quite well together. If it were anyone else, you would march us to the altar before the week’s end!” He ran his hands through his hair and looked to Heath and Edmund with a plea of frustration.
Edmund stepped forward. “If this is what you truly want, then use this betrothal as time to convince her,” he suggested.
