Page 93 of Shining Knight
“I was never acquainted with him! It is different, I assure you.”
Granny looked up at the ceiling and leaned her head back in her chair, knocking her wig askew. “There is little advice I can offer you, other than to trust your husband. Things are very different now. My marriage was a business arrangement– the merging of dynasties. It seems all these marriages are for love these days and I am no authority on that.”
Eugenia certainly had not expected that answer.
“Do not look so astonished, gel. Your grandfather and I were fond of each other, but I certainly had no say in the matter. The union was arranged when we were children.”
Eugenia almost did not have a say. Ravenhill had taken that away from her, and she was grateful for Graham.
Her grandmother leaned forward with a naughty glint in her eye. “If I were to have Mr. Tinsley as a choice, I would be begging him to take me to Gretna Green!”
“Granny!” Eugenia chided as though scandalized, but her grandmother only laughed. “You must admit he is devilishly handsome, and charming to boot.”
“I cannot argue with that,” Eugenia replied. “He is almost too handsome. It is quite intimidating to think one’s future husband is more beautiful than you.”
“Oh, pish! You are one of the greatest beauties in society, Genie.”
“I have never been called beautiful. Troublesome, wild, eccentric even, but not beautiful.”
“I may be old, but I am not blind. It is just as well. You know Tinsley is marrying you for the right reasons—not for your fortune or connections, which are still good reasons, mind you.”
“I suppose that is true.” She had to fidget. It annoyed her grandmother no end, but she could not be still.
“If no one called you a beauty, they are either blind or captivated by all your other qualities.”
Eugenia snorted, then stilled. “What do I do about other women? I do not think I could bear to look the other way.”
“You are afraid you will not be enough for him?” Her grandmother finally seemed to understand.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then you must make it completely clear to him before you wed. Somehow I do not think he is the type to stray.” She leaned forward, as though the room were full of people and she had a secret. “Remind him that you are a crack shot and know how to use a knife.”
Eugenia laughed.
“And about the other matter,” she added, “just ask him. He will be more than happy to instruct you, I assure you. My generation might not have had love-matches, but we were not prudish. If the animals can make sense of it then we can, too.”
Perhaps it was as simple as that.
“Now, ring for some tea,” her grandmother commanded, “and tell me what is going on up at the house. My nerves prefer hearing it at second-hand.”
Eugenia pulled the bell-rope and then sat back down while they waited. “Rowley and Emma are busy with George, as usual. He is walking everywhere and speaking a few words.”
“Humph. I suppose I should go have a look at that.” Granny had closed her eyes while she was listening but one popped open as she made that pronouncement.
“Cecilia looks as though she might deliver here, instead of returning to Kent for that happy event.”
“As large as a whale, is she?”
“She is, rather.” Eugenia laughed. “And Edmund…” she began.
“I know all about Edmund. He visits every day. I think it is the vicar’s nature to see if I am still breathing and pray for my soul.”
“That is their calling,” Eugenia muttered.
The butler entered with the tea and set the tray on the table before them. Eugenia prepared the tea the way she liked it and handed a cup to her grandmother. She took a sip and murmured appreciation. “You always make it better than anyone else.”
“That is because it is how I like it myself.”
