Her eyes widened. “Ye will.”
“Aye.”
She hesitated, suspicion in her gaze. “What sort of proof.”
He shrugged, rolling his shoulders in a way that made his plaid shift. “Hit me.”
She stared. “I beg yer pardon!”
“Hit me,” he repeated, tone flat. “If ye can land a single blow, I will step aside and let ye run to whatever doom ye are after.”
Her outrage was immediate. “That is absurd.”
“Is it? Ye said ye can defend yerself. So. Defend yerself.” He spread his feet, hands loose at his sides. “I will nae strike ye in return, of course. Just try to strike me.”
Her jaw clenched. “Fine.”
He bit back a smirk.
At least this would be over quickly.
She launched herself at him with an indignation that might have been impressive on someone taller.
Maxwell stepped aside, barely shifting his weight. She stumbled past him with a muffled sound of frustration, caught herself, and spun back.
“Stand still,” she demanded.
“Nay I dae nae think I will.”
Her eyes narrowed. She darted in again, this time aiming for his arm. He caught her wrist with insulting ease and raised a brow.
“Is this truly yer best? Would think Frederick might have taught ye better.”
She wrenched, small fingers twisting, but he did nae loosen his grip. She glared up at him, hazel eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and something like fear. Not fear of him. Fear of failing.
He dropped her wrist at once.
“Again,” he said.
She attacked with more thought this time, trying to get around him, switching sides, grasping at his sleeve. His boots barely scuffed the packed earth as he pivoted, deflecting each attempt with a flick of his wrist or a shift of his shoulder.
Her breath grew harsher. Her steps less steady. Yet she kept coming.
He almost admired it. Almost.
“Ye are nae even trying,” she accused, panting lightly.
“Oh, I am trying,” he said. “I am trying nae to hurt ye.”
Color surged in her cheeks. “Ye think I am weak.”
“Hardly. I think ye are determined,” he said. “And far too proud for yer own good.”
She swung at him then, wild, frustrated, utterly untrained. He caught her fist between his hands, closing his palms gently around her trembling fingers. The tremble startled him.
She froze, chest rising and falling, breath coming too quick.
Then her eyes filled.
