Page 72 of Shining Knight
“I trust your selection is satisfactory?”
“Of course it is,” she said. “This is one of my favorites.”
“All of them are your favorites. Now answer my question, please.”
“I do not want to. I do not know if I can. It seems wrong, somehow.” She frowned and two lines formed between her brows.
“You and me, together?”
“Yes,” she said sadly, staring at her ice.
“We are always together. Consider, if you will, the scandal sheets.”
“Must we?”
He ignored the question. “We are together in them more often than not.”
“But not in a scandalous fashion,” she argued, as if she had no idea where his remarks were leading.
“We are together because we are friends. We enjoy each other’s company. What better prospect could there be for a marriage?”
“Love, attraction,” she began as her face flushed. “It is different,” she managed, the last word ending on a squeak.
“Surely, it is better to be different than not to have each other at all?”
“You will only ever see me as the hoydenish little sister, Graham. Friends, yes, but I know there is more to marriage.”
I see you differently now, he wanted to shout. He would make her understand.
She ate her ice in silence and then she set it aside, the spoon clinking in the dish.
She drew a deep breath and then spoke. “I think we need some time apart, Graham.”
Before answering, he watched her fidget and avoid his gaze. He had not expected her to request time apart again after the last debacle. “I also planned to visit my family for Christmas, if you recall.”
“Devonshire is big enough for the both of us. We shall not be sitting in each other’s pockets. You won’t feel the need to watch out for me every moment, like you have done here with my brothers being gone.”
At this very moment he felt like strangling her. She was not seeing reason. She had been willing to martyr herself with Farnsworth or Perth, but she could not accept him. He was becoming more infuriated by the moment.
“Very well, I can leave you alone for a while in Devonshire.
“Hallo,” a voice called. “Eugenia, my dear, are you in there?”
“It is my aunt,” Eugenia said as she slipped across the seat and looked out of the window.
Graham saw the Duke of Farnsworth standing nearby. Eugenia took another deep breath and put a smile on her face.
“Good afternoon, Aunt,” she said. “Your Grace.”
“Will you come down and take a turn about the square with us?” Lady Hambridge asked.
“Of course,” Eugenia answered.
Graham climbed down and then helped Eugenia to alight.
“Fetch your bonnet,” her aunt scolded, as though she were a small child.
“My bonnet had a mishap. If it is bothersome, then we may talk later. I am certain the whole of London will have heard of my bonnet’s fate by tomorrow morning, at any rate.”
