But the idea of another man laying claim to her bed, touching her intimately, made Ewan clench his sword hilt. “I thought you had no desire to wed.”
“I don’t.” She touched her weapon to his. “But my father won’t let Katherine wed until I do.”
He hadn’t known about that condition. Honora lifted a hand in dismissal. “Don’t fear. I’ll find a way to change his mind.” With a shrug, she added, “But I wouldn’t make any man a good wife. Ranulf was right about that.”
“Honora—“
“No, it’s true. Tell me honestly, if I had Katherine’s dowry, would you wed a woman like me? A woman more comfortable with a sword than a spindle?”
Ewan studied her vivid green eyes, the shorn dark hair. Upon her face, he saw the self-doubts, the belief she held that she was undesirable. “I would wed you in a moment if you had your sister’s dowry.”
Uncertainty and panic swept over her face. “You’re lying.”
He’d made her uncomfortable with the admission, which hadn’t been his intent. To alleviate her panic, he added, “And I’d likely murder you the next day.”
She seemed to relax at that. “I might murder you first.” Circling him, she tapped her sword against his. “Care to spar with me? Unless you’re afraid I’ll win.”
He wasn’t, but he didn’t want to injure her further. “Can you fight with your left hand?”
“Somewhat.” With a slight smile on her face, she made the first strike. Ewan blocked it easily, and she grimaced. “I haven’t practiced much.”
He waited for her to make the next move, keeping on the defensive.
“Don’t you dare let me win,” Honora ordered.
“Have I ever?” He parried another strike, moving easily as she tried again to find a weakness.
“No,” she admitted. Venturing a smile, she added, “It’s why I’ve always liked fighting with you.”
He made no comment, though he’d enjoyed their sparring as well. But now, the fight had taken on a different cast, one he hadn’t expected. As she wielded the sword, he noticed the flush of excitement on her face, the fullness of her mouth. His awareness of her grew more intense, and he had to remind himself of all the reasons why he needed to end this fight and bring her back to Ardennes.
He quickened his speed, slashing his blade toward hers while releasing his own frustration. But Honora met him, blow for blow.
He wasn’t sure how she’d managed it. A trace of pride lined her cheeks. Her green eyes warmed with the challenge, even as he spied a faint perspiration upon her brow.
“I was grateful for your training, years ago.” She lunged forward, and he parried the blow. “No one else would teach me.”
“You were as good as any of the others.” He tried again to loosen the weapon by striking hard against her blade. Once more, she kept it steady.
“Sometimes better than you,” she teased.
He struck again, using his strength against her. Honora grunted as he slashed the blade, and when her grip faltered, he sent the weapon spinning into the grass. “Not this time.”
She bent to pick up the sword, but Ewan stopped her. “Leave it. Rest for a moment.” He walked beside her, toward the river. Honora bent down and scooped a handful of water to drink. The droplets trickled down her throat toward her bodice.
Ewan couldn’t have torn his gaze way if he’d tried. The blue fabric clung to her skin, outlining firm breasts that he’d caressed in his hands only last night. He wanted to run his mouth over the water, peeling back her gown to expose her body. In his mind, he imagined pouring cold water over her nipples, watching them bloom. He’d warm them with his tongue and his mouth, suckling her until she grew wet.
She tempted him in a way no woman ever had. Everything about her—not only her fiery temperament, but the softness of her face, the way she moved. The way he’d always been able to talk to her.
Enough. This was a path to madness. The sooner he wed Katherine, the sooner he could be away from Honora.
“Do you want to start again?” she asked.
Aye, he did. But not a sword fight. He turned away so she wouldn’t see his reaction to her. “It’s late. We should go back.”
“Go back if you wish. I intend to keep training.” She wiped her mouth with her palm.
“Not here, you won’t. You’re going back to your father’s castle. It’s not safe for a woman to be alone.” He wasn’t about to leave her behind, no matter how she might protest.
