Godric nodded, spreading his arms out wide to gesture around the room.
“We will be practicing some defensive moves that might involve a lot of falling, so I requested for some padding to be put in place to keep you from getting hurt.”
“How thoughtful,” she mumbled, slipping off her shoes so she could walk on her stocking clad feet to him. “I actually did not think you still wanted to help me with this matter.”
“You were right to ask,” he said as she drew closer. “It is quite necessary for you to have at least a fundamental set of skills to defend yourself, in the event of untoward occurrences. A lot of men do not know how to exercise patience or respect when it comes to women – much like Mr. Crane – and sometimes it willbe up to you to remind them that you do not belong to them. It is vital that you are able to quickly escape when necessary and if you are cornered, find a way to weaken him. I do not expect it to be easy, but if you are quick and witty, you should be able to slip away. I will not chaperone you forever, and neither will your brother. At some point, your safety might be in your hands. And it will be up to you to do what is necessary for your well-being.”
Nora nodded and tried to calm herself as anticipation and dread began to mingle beneath her skin.
“So… what now?” she asked.
Godric tapped against his left cheek with a finger.
“Now, you try to hit me.”
She stared at him incredulously.
“Surely you jest.”
Godric smirked. “Why does it sound difficult? I am sure you envisioned doing worse to me. Much, much worse things, even.”
For some reason, his words sparked a flame within her stomach and the heat crawled up into her cheeks. Looking away, she sputtered,
“Yes, I have imagined pushing you into the well at the backyard, but I have never dreamed of acting out on that fantasy. I do not want to actually cause you harm.”
“That is a precious thought – that you could actually inflict any pain on me,” Godric scoffed, folding his hands behind him as he leaned forward and angled his left cheek towards her once more. “I appreciate your concern, but perhaps you should land a hit first before you begin to worry about my well-being. I know you want to.”
Nora hated that he was absolutely right. He was graciously offering her a chance at retribution for all that he had done to offend her. Would it not be foolish to let such an opportunity pass her by?
She stepped back, feigning as though she was going to walk away, then she quickly swung at him, her open palm heading for his face. But before it could make contact, Godric grabbed her by the wrist, his eyes bearing a hint of amusement.
“I sensed a lot of aggression in that attack just now,” he remarked.
“Does that surprise you?” Nora huffed, her heart thundering in surprise at how easily he intercepted her.
“Not really. But I am quite impressed by how strong you are. That was a fine attempt, but you need to know that as dramatic as it is to slap a man, it is a well-known trick, and many know how to avoid them. You should find more cunning waysto reproach a man.” He used his grip on her wrist to pull her closer with a single tug. “In the future, I recommend a swift kick between his legs. That will bring even the largest man to his knees.”
Nora quirked an eyebrow at him and he tutted playfully.
“Do not think about it. Now, if you find yourself in this sort of situation – your attempt to strike has been foiled and now you are being held hostage – the obvious next plan is to get yourself free. Struggling will not work, no matter how hard you try, and it will likely tire you out quicker. Instead, focus on attempting a second strike. Aim lower – his jaw, his torso, a kick to the shin or at the family jewels, like I said earlier. Make it quick and make sure it hurts. When his grip slackens, you then slip away and run as fast as you can. Do not stop, do not look back until you are certain you are safe.”
Nora could feel the heat of his skin find hers through her clothes and she willed her attention not to stray any further.
“W-Well, all of that sounds very complicated.”
“Because we have been theorizing until now,” Godric pointed out, letting her go. “A little bit of practicing should strengthen your understanding. Go on – hit me again.”
Nora flexed her wrist and paused thoughtfully, trying to think of a way to get close enough to actually strike him. Pulling back her skirts, she lunged at him, bring her hand up as though she wasgoing to hit him. But when he reached for her, she drew back and kicked at his shin, managing to hit his knee.
He stumbled, then whirled around to face her properly.
“That was quite impressive. I did not think you had it in you,” he commended.
“Oh, is that because you are not in any way an engaging teacher?” she questioned, sticking her tongue out at him.
“My teaching abilities are just fine,” he sniffed, pointing at her legs. “Do you know those are made for more than running and kicking? With the right moves, you can bring your attacker down.”
Nora beamed eagerly, stepping closer to him.
