Page 7 of Shining Knight
She let out a snort. “Mr. Tinsley seemed to think so, but at least he did not dismiss me.”
“He does not have that authority,” Eugenia snapped, just refraining from stamping her foot.
She accepted a cup of tea from the maid, who then went to pull out some gowns from the dressing room. “This is the only one I have pressed except for the violet one, but that is not suitable.” She held out a white gown bedecked with lace and ruffles.
Eugenia was sick of white and ruffles and looking like a doll. Really, did the maid not know better than to bait her? Bold was precisely what she wanted. She scowled and waved it away.
Stevens shook her head. “As you will, my lady,” she said politely, although the look on her face said she thought Eugenia was overstepping yet again.
“I am sick of wearing white, Stevens.”
“Yes, miss.”
It was just a dress and it was her favorite color. Besides, it was her birth date– not that anyone had bothered to remember. This was her favorite dress, and she had been saving it for a special occasion. If she had to go to a ball when she would rather stay at home, then at least she could comfort herself by wearing something she liked for once.
Stevens dressed her hair and then slipped the purple silk gown over Eugenia’s head. She actually felt feminine and pretty in the gown, despite thetonthinking her an ungraceful tomboy. Tonight she would prove them wrong.
She descended the staircase and heard her aunt gasp. “You look beautiful, niece, but are you certain you wish to be so bold?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?” she answered.
Aunt Hambridge shook her head. “We are too late to change.” They started out of the door and her aunt stopped. She returned to her sitting room and brought out a few wrapped parcels. “These are for your birthday, my dear. I forgot to give them to you earlier, but I think you will wish to have them now.”
Eugenia’s heart warmed at being remembered. She quickly opened the note attached to a slender package.
Genie,
These were Mother’s. I think it time for you to have them. I hope your day was all that you hoped. Your loving brother,
Rowley
If he only knew. With a huff, she opened the gift to find a beautiful diamond necklace and matching earrings.
Rowley had not thought her mature enough for such a gift before. Her eyes filled with tears as Aunt Hambridge helped her put them on. Perhaps, if her brother was beginning to believe in her, then maybe Society would too.
*
Graham did notmind balls and dancing like some of his acquaintances. He did not even mind dancing with the young maidens. He only had one rule– he only waltzed with married ladies, widows, or family. Eugenia was considered family. He had always been good at charming people– hence his natural abilities as a diplomat. Besides, he had made that unspoken promise to Eugenia before her come out that he would always dance with her.
Tonight was the Everleigh ball– one of the largest of the Season. It would be a crush, yet still it would be noted if one did not attend. Part of him wondered if Eugenia would be there after the afternoon’s incident. He could tell it had shaken her. Yet, she was a good sport and generally did not seem to let things upset her. He wondered if she simply forgot things she did not think mattered, ergo, her gallop along Rotten Row. Had that truly been this morning? It had been quite a day and it was not yet over. He closed his eyes as his valet tied his neckcloth, hoping the ball would be uneventful. He had not realized what a calming influence Lady Sybil had been on Eugenia until it was left solely to himself to rescue her and put out the ensuing fires.
By the time he arrived at the ball, it was as crowded as he had suspected. After greeting the hosts, he looked around the room, glittering in the candlelight, and breathed in the fresh fragrance of hot-house flowers mixed with the odor of warm bodies. The terrace doors were open, but it did little to mitigate the heat. His gaze strayed past acquaintances and the rainbow of brightly colored gowns twirling about on the floor. It was already the second set. Where were Lady Hambridge and Eugenia? Graham frowned inwardly. Perhaps Eugenia had taken a chill, but he could not remember her ever before being sickly or catching any complaint.
He would call on her tomorrow. Perth, Sir Martin Hardy and Petersham were chatting near the terrace doors, and Graham made his way towards them.
“Evening, Tinsley,” Perth said cordially. “Is Lady Eugenia to be here tonight? I had thought to begin my courtship in earnest.”
“I have not yet seen her. I assumed she would be here.” He toyed with mentioning the incident at the park, but thought better of it. Perth was high in the instep, and he might take the situation out of context. Graham secretly hoped the story remained quiet. He had not been able to discover anyone of their acquaintance who had witnessed it.
“Look at that, by Jove,” Sir Martin Hardy said appreciatively, looking over Graham’s shoulder. It was probably just the dashing widow Winslow, who was fond of grand entrances, but Graham turned anyway.
He glanced over and then immediately had to take a second look. “Eugenia?” he asked, as a whisper mostly to himself. She looked different…lovely.
“That is Lady Eugenia,” Perth remarked. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I mean to have a dance before there are none left to have.”
Graham heard him, but was rather slow to follow as he tried to comprehend the image before him. He had known she was beautiful, in the same way that all the Knights were beautiful with their dark coloring, but he had never seen her look so exquisite. She wore a gown that was both bold in color and the cut. If he had had doubts about her womanhood before, they were all gone. As he walked towards her and Lady Hambridge, who had immediately escorted her niece towards the dowager’s circle, Eugenia was already surrounded by gentlemen. That was nothing new, but the way she was being ogled was.
He waited patiently in line, though there were a few young bucks he would be happy to send on their merry way. When at last he reached her side, she did not have her usual welcoming smile.
