Page 14 of Shining Knight
Truth be told, Eugenia was relieved. He was still handsome and kind, but she had hoped for something more when she married.
She walked up the hill behind her aunt and Lady Oglesby to join the other guests mingling near the food. Part of her was envious of the gentlemen, because she was rather a good cricket player herself. However, she was determined to behave with complete decorum, so there would be no tying up her skirts and joining a team. This was not Devonshire.
She really missed Sibyl on days like this. She was surrounded by females she was not completely comfortable chatting with. It felt as though she always said the wrong thing and she never knew what it was. They would still smile and tolerate her, but she could always sense their withdrawal.
Looking around, she spotted Graham talking to Kitty Ravenhill, this Season’s beauty. Eugenia could not bear to be in her presence and had a difficult time refraining from saying so. Graham knew she thought the girl shallow and cruel, but he did not seem to think so by the way he was smiling and flirting with her. Eugenia knew the girl’s heart to be as black as her hair and her name, and she found it impossible to pretend amiability when in the presence of such people.
He caught her staring and raised his glass in greeting. She inclined her head and then decided to meander through the famous rose garden. Maybe someone more pleasant was there. In fact, Lord Perth should be attending. Was he also playing cricket?
Only solace was to be found amongst the riot of roses, which was more than she could say for the tents, where it felt as if everyone was staring at her and judging her. If only one of her brothers and their wives would come back to Town, perhaps she would not feel so alone. She knew she could not escape by herself for the entire afternoon. Perhaps she could steal just a few more minutes and then she would dutifully go to cheer on Farnsworth and his cricket prowess.
*
Graham was notenjoying looking for a wife at all. It had only been a small suggestion in the corner of his mind, which had somehow taken on too much significance after the conversations at the club the evening before. There was clearly some sixth sense amongst gently bred females to smell when a man began the search. Miss Ravenhill had cornered him from the moment of his arrival and was making his skin crawl. If that were not enough, he had noticed Farnsworth bringing Eugenia to the party in a regal fashion along the Thames, the way they had traveled in Georgian times. Could she truly be considering him? What was Knighton thinking?
He was surprised when he saw Farnsworth abandon her to play cricket, but perhaps the duke thought to impress Eugenia with his athletic prowess. Wearing the ridiculous bonnet he had helped her purchase, Eugenia walked up the hill behind her aunt. The hat had brought her such joy and he could only smile at seeing her wear it.
He frowned as he watched Eugenia walk away on her own and wondered how long it would be until he could extricate himself from Miss Ravenhill. He wanted to mend this silly rift between Eugenia and himself, and if she was going somewhere alone it was perfect timing.
Miss Ravenhill actually excused herself and he wondered how long he should wait until he could follow Eugenia. He greeted a few acquaintances, then went after her to the garden. It was odd, he thought, as he made his way between large bushes taller than his head, that he had missed Eugenia these two days they had not spoken. He had not realized how much they had confided in each other before. He wanted to share things with her that he knew she would find amusing, and he wanted to hear her thoughts on Perth and Farnsworth. It could not have escaped her notice that the duke was thirty years her senior.
When he was deep into the garden, he heard voices and stopped in his tracks.
“I must say, Lady Eugenia, that I had not thought you capable of snaring a duke and an earl,” a female voice said with complete and undisguised malevolence.
Graham frowned as he moved closer to try to distinguish the voice. It was vaguely familiar, but no female of his acquaintance would speak to him in such a manner.
“I do not think ‘snared’ is the right word,” Eugenia retorted. Good for her.
“As long as you stay away from Mr. Tinsley,” the other voice snarled. “I think I will have him for myself.”
“I wish you luck with that, but I have no intention of staying away from one of my oldest friends.”
Graham walked faster through the maze of bushes until he could confirm his thoughts. Eugenia’s antagonist was indeed Miss Ravenhill.
“I know you have wanted him for yourself,” the black-haired beauty continued, “but a silly chit like you could never satisfy him.”
It took all of Graham’s strength to be still and not go and strangle the woman. Did she think he could not see through her spite? The whole of London knew Ravenhill was under the hatches and intended to sell his beautiful sister to the highest bidder. It would not be Graham.
“Tinsley and I?” Eugenia repeated. “That is preposterous,” she said, though the look on her face was almost comical.
“Come now, I am not that bad,” he muttered, without stopping to ponder any further.
Fortunately, Miss Ravenhill missed the look on Eugenia’s face which he was close enough to spy through the leaves.
“When Perth and Farnsworth open their eyes and discover how…” She looked Eugenia up and down in a disparaging way. “Unladylikeyou are, they will change their minds about offering for you.”
“They already have. Does that make you jealous, Kitty?”
Miss Ravenhill narrowed her dark eyes, making her look like a snake. “Be careful. You do not want to make an enemy of me.”
“If this is your good side, then no thank you.”
“Stay away from Tinsley,” the beauty commanded, marring her features with an ugly scowl. Tossing her head, she turned and stalked away.
Graham watched her leave. “Good riddance,” he said.
“Graham! You startled me,” Eugenia said, one hand to her chest as he took a seat on the bench beside her.
