Page 67 of Shining Knight
She turned to see Kitty Ravenhill a few feet behind her. Even though she knew it was for the waiting crowd’s benefit, she could not help but relish the look on Kitty’s face. It was a small, petty victory, but a victory nonetheless.
They made their way through the crowd and passed into the theatre, only to be stopped in the foyer by a large assemblage of persons offering their congratulations. It seemed as though every member of thetonwas present.
When they had finally reached the stairs on the far side, in order to enter their box, there was a stir behind them. Why, Eugenia wondered miserably, could they not be left in peace?
“Oh, Lady Eugenia,” Kitty Ravenhill called, smiling falsely as she caught up to them.
Eugenia could hardly give her the cut direct, though she very much wished to. She turned and inclined her head, not feeling the need to do anything further.
“When is the wedding to be?”
Eugenia swung her gaze from Kitty and looked up at Graham with a smile that she hoped conveyed all of the things a female in love should for her betrothed.
“We have not yet set the date,” Graham answered. “We shall make plans while in the country for Christmas.”
“I think that is a wise choice, sir. You certainly would not want to behasty.”
There were enough gasps heard around them at the implied insult that Eugenia knew the remark had been made for everyone else’s benefit, not just to harm her. Eugenia realized she was being provoked, but she refused to give in and plant the scheming wanton a facer as she deserved.
“Have you heard of Miss Bell’s school for young ladies?” she asked calmly. “I hear they have most excellent lessons in deportment,” she drawled and pointedly turned her back on Kitty Ravenhill.
*
“Well done, pet.”
“It was that or throw hercross buttockin the middle of the theatre, which would have been much more satisfying.”
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool,”he said in her ear.
Eugenia laughed. “Perhaps this play is better than I remembered.”
“I think we have already covered the highlights. She certainly gives kittens a bad name.”
“I cannot think of a greater misnomer.”
They took their seats at the front of the box and Emma and the duke seated themselves next to her, then Heath and Cecelia, Isabella and Edmund sat behind them.
Eugenia appeared far more conscious of everyone staring at her than usual. Normally, she paid scant attention to such scrutiny. Graham noticed her pretend to read the play-bill for a moment, but this was one of her least favorite works by Shakespeare, and she quickly tossed it aside. At that moment Graham knew she could not have cared less about who the actors were.
Again the crowd stirred, which was something he could tell even over the roar of the bucks in the pit, and he looked up to see what the fuss was about. Directly across from them, Farnsworth was ushering in her aunt, along with Lady Augusta and Lord Perth. Graham saw Eugenia’s cheeks burn, though very few knew the true story. Nevertheless, they knew her two suitors had been replaced by him…
Graham put an arm around her chair in a possessive fashion and leaned towards her. “This would be an excellent moment to smile at me.”
She looked up at him and complied.“Oh, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes!”
His eyes crinkled appreciatively at the humor. “Does it truly bother you, pet? Were you more attached to Perth than I suspected?”
“No,” she answered truthfully. “My heart is not affected. My pride, on the other hand, is dreadfully bruised.”
He laughed heartily. “That’s my girl. Anyone who defects so easily is not worth another thought.”
He watched her gaze move over to where Lady Augusta was practically hanging on Lord Perth’s arm. “May they enjoy their cold, proper marriage together.”
Then her gaze drifted to her aunt and the duke. “Now my aunt may have her happy resolution. I hope the duke will do right by her, and give up the silly notion of marrying someone he does not love.”
Graham gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as some singers took to the stage for the opening act before the play. Three plump men began singing in Italian and bumping in to one another, then trying to push the others out of the way to vie for the audience’s attention. Eugenia laughed appreciatively.
“It is good to hear you laugh again. You have not been happy these past weeks.”
