Marlow
I snatched the foils from a shelf above my bed, tucked two gloves under my arm, and checked my face in the mirror. I looked tired. Itwasrather late. So, I splashed some cold water from the basin on my face and grabbed a mint leaf from my plant by the window.
Not my smartest move, teasing her this way, but I had her attention now, did I not? And if there was one thing I was good at—one thing I could impress her with—it was fencing.
I could best Reynolds blindfolded.
At the end of the night, Georgiana would fall asleep thinking aboutme.
In truth, it wasn’t a fully formed plan, but it was a start.
I checked both directions before rushing out of my room and back to the library.
Georgiana was pacing by the window. She’d moved the chairs and table, opening up a space for us in the center of the room. Her eyes followed my entrance, and she looked over the foils with that distinct crease between her brows.
I grinned. “Ready?”
She tightened the ties of her robe and held out her hand.
I gave her a glove that she swiftly pulled on.
“You might want to wear a mask,” she added, accepting a foil.
The way she said it made me think she worried that she might accidentally hurt me, but then she taunted me with a confident raise of her brows.
“No need.” I twisted my foil in my hand. “Whenever you’re ready.”
She cleared her throat, watching me turn the handle over, and took a similar grip on hers. Then she planted her foot back firmly and lifted her free hand behind her in a confident stance.
“Pret.”Ready.
Her perfect French drew me up short. As did her stance. She was ... impressive.
And she seemed to know it. She smiled. And for the first time in my entire life, I felt that ping in my chest old men talked about. A fiery feeling, spreading. It was like her smile was sunshine shooting straight through me, and all the water in the Atlantic could not have extinguished it.
I let myself feel it fully. Reveled in it.
Love.
My gaze washed over her a final time, and I swallowed hard, mimicking the stance.
“En garde.” My voice broke on the word.
Georgiana waited. She watched me for any movement, but I’d thought to letherlead. I did not want to make a sudden move that might hurt—
She lunged at me, foil aimed straight for my chest. My instincts took over in time to parry back.Clink, clink.
The force sent her teetering, and I froze, terrified I’d hurt her. Regardless of what she wanted me to believe, she wasn’t accustomed to this. She was off-balance. Her footwork was all wrong.
“Just your arm. See?” I clinked my foil on hers. “Push it forward. Aim here.” I pointed at my chest.
She quirked a brow.
“Allez,” I directed her.Come.
I waited. And waited.
She stomped her foot, and I twitched just enough that she grinned at having startled me. Devilish woman, distracting me like a professional. She stared. Her arm must be getting tired. I thought perhaps she was seconds away from quitting, when suddenly she attacked.
