Miranda ignored her.
“Tie it around my wrist, Miss Weatherby. The épée’s large bell guard will protect it.”
Anne secured the cloth with a double knot. “I have every confidence in you, sir.”
The Grump tucked Miranda’s handkerchief into the waistband of his trousers, the cloth dangling down the right side of his body. “I have no need of extra protection. Your kerchief is safe with me, Lady Miranda.”
The braggart.
Anne’s gaze darted around her, worried she’d voiced her insult aloud, grateful when no one reacted.
The two men took their places on the lawn and examined their weapons. Silence settled over the group as Lord Grump and Mr. Grey stepped closer. After an exchange of words, both men nodded—first Mr. Grey, then the grouch—before they assumed the en garde position.
Time stretched as each man took the measure of the other, checking distances and delivering a few practice thrusts.
Everything stilled, and Anne thought she would die of boredom as neither man moved, but then Mr. Grey lunged forward and attacked.
Honoria turned a concerned look toward Burwood. “They can’t really hurt each other, can they?”
“Relax darling. The practice épée has ablunt tip.” Burwood squinted his eyes toward the men on the lawn. He straightened in his seat, alarm ringing in his voice. “Unless...”
Anne’s heart pummeled against her ribcage as her gaze shot back to the two men dueling on the lawn.Oh my goodness!
Colin strainedto retain his focus. Damn his pride and stubborn need to save face. When the footman had brought the wrong épées, he prepared to tell the man to take them back and retrieve the correct ones.
But Grey pushed him over the edge to foolish recklessness. “Are you that eager to impress Lady Miranda, sir?”
Was he? And yet, something about the expression in the man’s eyes held a challenge.
And damn if he’d back down from a challenge. “We have our fencing jackets, and I trust we are both experienced and gentlemen enough not to deliver a fatal blow.”
Grey gave a solemn nod and assumed his stance.
Colin studied his opponent. Grey’s height put him at a distinct advantage, especially with those long arms. He didn’t have to wait long for Grey to make the first move, and when Grey attacked, Colin parried, then riposted, sending Grey retreating.
Back and forth they moved in the masculine dance. Grey proved a worthy opponent. For a man his size, Grey was swift on his feet, and Colin had difficulty making contact.
After Colin executed a perfect thrust, which sent Grey stepping back, Lady Miranda’s voice rang out. “Well done, Lord Manning!”
Until that point, the match had remained civil—at least as much as a fencing match could be. Perhaps forgoing practice épées was not as foolhardy as he supposed. And impressing Lady Miranda would go far in Colin’s decision to pursue her.
With a steely determination in his eyes, Grey recovered his guard quickly. “Let’s make this more interesting, shall we?” He tossed the handle of the blade into his left hand.
Hellfire!The man could duel with both hands, even with a right-handed blade! However, it did leave the handkerchief tied around his right wrist unprotected.
And why did the fact that the Elfin Menace bestowed the favor upon Grey bother him so much? He pushed the question aside and concentrated on the bout. But it would be doubly sweet to win the matchandretrieve the favor for himself.
Those long arms of Grey’s forced Colin to esquive several times to prevent Grey from scoring a point.
The match became more heated, and Colin knew the moment he’d let his emotions get the better of him. Grey feinted, and when Colin attempted to parry, Grey disengaged, his blade circling Colin’s and rising to meet his chest.
But as Grey attempted to score his point, Colin dodged again, completely forgetting the vulnerable kerchief as he turned his body to the left.
Grey’s blade came down in a slash, tore the handkerchief from Colin’s waistband. As it floated to the ground, Colin doubted the wisdom of using real blades.
Shouts came from the terrace, but both Colin and Grey ignored them and concentrated on the bout.
Anger rallied Colin, and he scored a point when the tip of his blade pressed into the fabric of Grey’s padded fencing white but didn’t puncture it. Satisfaction swelled in Colin’s chest at his demonstration of blade control.
