Lady Eugenia's Holiday (12 page)

“Closer, my dear,” he whispered.

Eugenia’s heart fluttered madly, he wanted to be as
close to her just as she did to him.

“I wish to speak to you.”

Talk? He only wanted to talk to her?

“And I do not want to be overheard.”

Disappointed, Eugenia leaned toward him and felt
his warm breath against her cheek.

“I do not wish to encourage talk of Franz or events
of Thomas’ demise.”

“How can we possibly avoid it?” Eugenia thought it
only natural for others to be curious. “Cynthia and Penelope have told me
Franz’s interpretation of our elopement. How you abducted me, and—”

“I never said it was me. Franz told them it was
Rothford.” A brief look of confusion crossed his face. “They must have assumed
that …”

“I suppose I cannot blame you for their
embellishments to your tale.” Eugenia understood that it was, after all, a
matter of interpretation.

“Thank you. I appreciate not having that last bit set
in my plate.” There was a bright spark in his dark eyes and he smiled.

It seemed as if it had been an age since he had
smiled at her. Grateful that she could rely on him to hold her as they danced,
Eugenia felt her arms and knees weaken as she melted in his arms. It felt
wonderful.

Eugenia was just about to tell him, right there on
the dance floor before everyone, what a fool she had been and how much she
loved him.

Then the music stopped and he released her. Eugenia
staggered out of his arms, her legs were barely strong enough to keep her from
collapsing.

“Shall we get some refreshment, my dear? You look
absolutely flushed.”

She could well imagine. Edmund headed off to find
the lemonade. Eugenia dropped her fan open, cooling herself, pleased that they
had progressed to speaking terms.

What could she manage in a roomful of people? Then
Eugenia considered a moment and thought … Why not take a page from Aunt Rose’s
book and simply leave because it was the very thing she wished to do?

A few minutes later, Edmund returned to Eugenia’s
side with a glass. She sipped the lemonade then suggested in the sweetest tone
she could manage, “Don’t you think we should be leaving?”

“If that is what you wish, my dear,” he answered. “Why
don’t you collect your aunt and we’ll be off. I’ll accompany the two of you
home before heading out for the clubs.” He raised her gloved hand to his lips,
without even kissing it, and sauntered off to make arrangements for their
departure.

Off to the clubs! Eugenia grew angrier and angrier
by the minute. She strode into the card room and up to the table where her aunt
sat.

“Are you ready to go home, Auntie?” Her aunt’s
presence in the carriage would ensure His Grace’s safety in Eugenia’s temper.
She would not be tempted to throttle her husband during their long journey
home.

“No, no, my dear, you go on ahead. A game of Whist
is about to begin. I can manage a ride home.” She waved her niece away with an
ace of diamonds.

Of all the times Aunt Rose decided to stay, it
would have to be this night. Then it occurred to Eugenia that her aunt’s
success in Society must have been knowing when to remain and when to leave
early.

Eugenia stepped outside the card room and spotted
Edmund loitering about the foyer. She snapped her fan shut in outrage. She
would tolerate his ignoring her no longer.

She loved him, loved him desperately, and still had
not managed to tell him. Once they arrived home he would leave her to be alone
again.

They would not depart from this residence until Eugenia
had her say. She caught up with him at the front door before he retrieved his
outerwear and tapped him smartly on the shoulder with her closed fan.

“I must speak to you, Your Grace.” She kept her
address formal, indicating the seriousness of her intent.

He motioned for her to step down the hallway where
they stepped into a small parlor. Edmund momentarily lagged behind and spoke to
a footman.

Inside the room, a fire burned in the hearth,
directing Eugenia’s path. In fact, she found herself pacing the floor, spinning
her fan around her wrist. Not only had she nearly worn out her satin slippers,
she may have ruined the carpet beneath her feet as well.

Stepping through the doorway, Edmund held a branch
of candles and set it on a round table for additional illumination.

“You wish to say something to me, Madam?” He
sounded equally as cool as she had been but his manner was far more relaxed.

Now that they stood here, Eugenia was not sure how
she would begin. She had not been alone with him for days. If she could not see
his expression, perhaps he could not see hers. She hoped the darkened room
would mask the discomfort of her admission.

“I wish you were not going out tonight.” Her
earlier anger and present fear turned to sadness, which overtook her. Eugenia
was certain she’d be reduced to a watering pot if he should address her in a
disagreeable manner.

“Excuse me?” He leaned toward her, tilting his head
to hear what she had to say. “What was that you said?”

“I said …” She cleared her throat and repeated,
trying to sound steady. “I wish you would not go out tonight.”

“Oh,” he said simply. “And why is that?”

“By the end of this night I had hoped to tell you
of my feelings and how I wish to remain your wife.”

“Married … and be my duchess?” he whispered in an
exhaled breath.

“I do. I would like that above all things.” Eugenia
nodded, swallowed hard, and waited for his response. After her talk with Aunt
Rose, Eugenia could be honest and tell him of her affection.

“My mind is quite made up. I have always thought of
you in the highest regard and with great affection.” Eugenia gazed up at him. “Actually
… I believe I have had these feelings for a very long time as you pointed out
to me weeks ago. However, it has been only very recently have I come to learn
that. I’m being silly and quite contrary, aren’t I?”

“You’re not silly at all.” A smile lit up his face
and she could see he was working at keeping his composure. “My heart, my
dearest, you know of my love. I have always loved you.”

Eugenia knew he loved her, ever since their time in
Brighton, ever since he was Franz.

“Your aunt Rose, Mrs. Templeton, persuaded me that
if I should retreat, allow you some time to ponder our predicament, that you
should come ‘round to the right way of it.”

Aunt Rose had suggested … she had intervened?
Eugenia was not entirely pleased that her aunt had interfered in her personal
affairs, more specifically, in her marriage. To advise her niece was one thing,
but her niece’s husband …

Edmund fumbled at the pocket of his vest and pulled
out something so small it fit in the palm of his hand. Eugenia could not
imagine what it was.

“I have a …” He glanced at his fingers, fumbling
together, demonstrating his nervousness. “I had hoped … That is, if you truly
loved me then … perhaps we might …”

Edmund held up a simple gold band for her to see. “Will
you marry me?”

Eugenia blinked up at him, finding his reply quite
unexpected. “I beg your pardon?”

His voice was calm, although he might have felt
nervous, but his manner was most sincere when he took her trembling hand. “I
haven’t had the chance to ask you if you would do me the honor of becoming my
wife.”

“But we are already married,” Eugenia pointed out.

“Our marriage is a legal mishap that should not
have occurred. You nor I had any say in the matter even though it was what I
desired. I do not believe you would have ever consented to wed me.”

He pressed a kiss on the back of her hand, taking
his time, doing so slowly, tenderly, and ever so lovingly.

“I thought you might like to be asked. I should
think every young lady would want the choice of saying yes … or no. Would you
do me the honor, Genie?” He looked deep into her eyes and waited.

Eugenia found that she, quite shamelessly, returned
his gaze. “It is kind of you to ask.” She felt the moment awkward and did not
really know what to say next. Perhaps he was correct in thinking she had been
adverse to them being married because she had no say in the matter.

She took a step back, away from him. “I suppose I
might accept if I felt assured that you would not neglect your husbandly duties.”

His eyes widened and he replied, “Don’t you mean,
my husbandly rights?”

“No. Since we are married, I expect my husband to
behave in a certain way, and it is your duty to do so.” Eugenia meant every
word.

“Oh, sweet, Genie, you’re such an original! Only
you could see it that way.” He laughed. “You are as enchanting as the first
time I met you.” His broad smile somehow grew broader. “You stuck that adorable
little nose up at me.”

“I did no such thing.” Eugenia tried to recall
exactly when that might have happened.

“It was when I was Franz,” he reminded her.

“I never stuck my nose up at Franz,” she pouted.
Not that he could have seen anyway. It had taken her a bit of time but she did
come to see his true nature.

“And I loved you for it!” he laughed.

“You did?” Eugenia wondered how he could have found
her behavior in any way charming.

“You too, came to my rescue.”

Eugenia could not imagine to what he was referring.

“How many times had you protected Herr Mueller from
the poisonous barbs of Lady Penelope?” Edmund traced a line with his fingers
along her shoulder. “You’re vastly imaginative, totally impulsive, and utterly
irresistible!”

“And you don’t mind?” She felt a bit self-conscious
about the string of multisyllabic adjectives it took to describe her.

“Not in the least.”

“And as to being married,” she blinked up at him, “are
we? Truly?”

“I believe our situation is no worse than saying
vows over an anvil. If it is your wish that we should stand up in St. George’s
before all of London, we shall do so. You’ll look magnificent in your simple
white silk gown with a touch of lace. The church will be filled with the
bountiful floral contents of ten hothouses worth of peonies. And an enormous,
superbly lavish breakfast would follow.”

Eugenia’s eyes widened as he outlined the wedding
of her dreams. “How did you know that’s what I’d always wanted?”

“I was there, Liebling, do you not remember? We
spent much time together weaving fanciful dreams!”

He had always been there … as Franz Mueller the
musician and as her brave, handsome duke … watching her, protecting her, loving
her.

“Are you sure you will be able to leave the life of
an Austrian musician behind and take your rightful place as the new duke? It
sounds as if you miss Franz.”

“I envy him because you were his steadfast friend.
But with you by my side, dearest Eugenia, I can face anything.” He held the
gold band for her between his thumb and index finger, its reflection winked in
the fire light.

“And I would not want to be anywhere else.” She
smiled and slid her finger through the wedding band.

“Being married to you will be a joy beyond compare.
You are the very best thing about returning to my old life.” Edmund pulled
Eugenia into his arms to kiss her. “Let our duet begin!”