“You make fun of me.” There was resentment in her tone, but he was pleased to see her shoulders relax.
“I believe I would serve as a better partner, though I must warn you”—he paused to glance meaningfully at the sack of grain—“I will not hold still while you poke at me.”
Her sudden smile spilled over him like a burst of sunshine.
“But I wonder,” she said, raising her sword in his direction, “will you squeal like a pig when I do stick you?”
He laughed out loud. “I am shamed to admit this is my first time matching swords with a woman, so please be kind.”
She barely gave him time to take up position before she attacked.
“You have natural skill,” he allowed after a few parries and thrusts. “All you need is more practice.”
“But you, sir, are astonishing,” she said, a little breathless. “Quite the best I’ve seen.”
His chest swelled as if he were a youth of twelve.
“And I thought you excelled only at drinking games.”
Ouch.“So you’ve been watching me. I am flattered.”
The deep flush of her cheeks pleased him to no end. He deflected a determined jab to his heart.
He played with her as he did with the younger squires—hard enough to challenge, but not so hard as to discourage. When she pulled her skirt out of the way with her free hand, though, he missed his footing and very nearly dropped his sword.
She stepped back, her brows furrowed.
“Showing your ankles was a clever move,” he said, giving her a low bow. “A trick I’ve not seen before.”
“It was not my intention to rely on anything other than my skill.” Her tone was as stiff as her spine. “I would not be so dishonorable as to stoop to tricks.”
Good Lord.“If your opponent is both stronger and more skilled than you are,” he said, keeping his voice even, “then you must use what advantages you do have.”
Sword arm extended, he motioned with his other hand for her to come forward. He suppressed a smile when she took up her sword again and came toward him.
“Then, once you have an opening, you must use it,” he said. “Never give up your moment, as you just did. Do not hesitate. Your opponent may not give you a second chance.”
“You do not care how you win, sir, so long as you do?” Her tone was scathing.
He sighed inwardly. How naive could she be?
“Use whatever rules you like when you are playing, Isobel. But if a man less honorable should find you alone as I did today, you will wish you knew how to fight without the rules.”
She narrowed her eyes at him but did not speak.
“It would be preferable, of course, if you did not wander about alone. You forget you are in dangerous country here.”
“ ’Tis not your place to lecture me.”
Someone should.“Now, do you want to continue playing at sword fighting?” he asked, deliberately baiting her. “Or do you want to learn how to protect yourself from someone who intends you harm?”
Green eyes sparking with fire, she raised her sword and said, “Teach me.”
Oh, what he would love to teach her! God help him, she was breathtaking like this.
“You should carry a short blade, as well,” he instructed as he fended off her attack.
“Why? You think you can knock my sword from my hand?”