Page 88 of Shining Knight
“Graham and I are going to take a walk,” she announced to the room at large. Nobody seemed to pay them any attention. Graham was part of the family.
“You should get a cloak. It looks like it is going to snow,” he said.
“Wonderful!” she exclaimed excitedly as they hurried into the entrance hall to don their coats, hats, and gloves.
They walked for a few minutes on the familiar path towards the woods. Their breath steamed in front of them and the cool, crisp air tingled on their cheeks. The scent of pine was heavy, just as it ought to be near to Christmas. Eugenia did not pester Graham for conversation; she knew he would talk if he needed to.
They passed Primrose Cottage and continued on until they reached the bridge over the river– the site of many adventurous escapades amongst the six of them. His family’s property was just on the other side. It was a beautiful view down over the valley from there. The moon was bright and you could see the gables on the top of the Abbey.
Graham stopped and shoved his hands into his coat and looked off into the distance. Still Eugenia waited. She stepped up onto the bridge and walked to the center, leaning far enough over the railing to watch the water flowing beneath. It was something she could do for hours in the daylight. She loved to watch for fish and other animals that lived in their own world beneath the surface. Unfortunately, she could not see much at night, except for some ice forming around the edges. She exhaled and a cloud of steam misted the air then disappeared into the darkness. Was Graham going to speak? She looked over at him and he was watching her.
“I have been thinking a lot this week,” he began.
It was all she had done as well. He joined her in leaning over the railing and watching the water below.
“At first, I thought, if you did not want me then I would have to let you go. Then, as I realized you were consuming my every thought, I decided that perhaps I would try to convince you.” He shrugged a little and she felt it more than she saw it. “I had to do something or I would have run mad, so today, I decided I would shower you with gifts.”
“That was not necessary,” she said softly.
“But it is. I did not want you to think I took you for granted as a lady.”
“I have never thought…”
He held up his hand. “I am not saying that I have mistreated you, but you need to understand that I think of you as more than a friend in order for this to succeed.”
Perhaps he was right.
“So, I determined to court you properly. I went shopping today,” he said, pride in his voice.
“Your gifts were perfect.” She smiled, thinking of them. “I confess I was too miserable to fully enjoy them, however.”
“And what made you miserable, if I might ask?” He turned his head enough that she could see the Knight eyebrow in elevation.
“I realized I had been a proper arse.”
He chuckled at her gutter language.
“I did not know about your father. How could I have been so selfish?”
He reached over and took her hand. Even through gloves, she could feel the warmth.
“That is the other matter I wished to talk to you about. I mentioned that I spoke with my father before I arrived.”
“I thought he was improving?”
“Be that as it may, there is no guarantee he will continue to do so. He spoke of hoping to regain strength enough to greet my mother and sister. He spoke of wanting to see me wed and with children, and how that might not be possible. He spoke of perhaps going south to the warmer climes…” She could hear his voice becoming thick with emotion.
She squeezed his hand and gave him time to gather himself.
“It made me recognize that none of us are guaranteed time. I also realized that I want to fulfill at least one of his wishes.”
She felt him move. “Graham?”
He still held her hand, but he had dropped to one knee before her. He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “I do not know how to say this, but you deserve a proper proposal. You know that I love you, and I realize you want more than you think I can give you. I am not certain what that other kind of love is, but I have been in an agony of despair, knowing you wanted me to stay away from you. I have thought of little else except how to win you. I have racked my brain for what gifts were special enough to send you so you would know that I appreciate you. In short, I have been consumed by you. Is that love as you wanted? Can you find it in you to return my affections and marry me?”
He slipped his free hand into his pocket and pulled out a betrothal ring. It was difficult to see it by the moonlight, but it sparkled nonetheless.
“Can it be true?” she whispered as she felt a tear roll down her cheek.
