Guarded Heart by Jennifer Blake Read Free Book Online

waiting for the rise of his sword arm. If he was lucky, she would not notice that condition had already been achieved by another portion of his anatomy. Removing the concealment of his coat had been a monumental error, a bit of provocation she had trumped without trying. He would do well to remember it next time he sought to disturb her composure.
    With a short nod, he lifted his foil, crossing the lady’s at the tip. Her blade felt steady, as if she might have gained confidence from the small respite. That was just as well for her sake, he thought with conscious benevolence.
    â€œBegin,” he said with an encouraging nod.
    She struck straight for his heart. Lips tight, teeth clenched, she came at him with every ounce of her strength and murder in her eyes. No tentative beating of blades or delicate forays, no exploration of his competence or the force of his objectives, just a lunging attack at his vitals that came close, too close, to succeeding.
    His guard came up before his brain kicked into motion. Slapping her point aside, he parried, defending with a scrape of blades that rained orange sparks onto the floor. There was only one thing to be done after that, and he did it with ruthless competence. Swirling his wrist in hard riposte, he caught her steel, bending, binding, lifting as he stepped into her guard.
    She cried out. The foil flew from her hand, describing a shining arch before it struck the floor with a hollow thud and went spinning away across the room.
    â€œGod’s teeth, woman, what do you think you’re doing?” He slung his own blade onto the table with a hard clatter before turning back to face her.
    She was holding her wrist, rubbing it, her face pale, almost bloodless. “Fencing,” she answered tightly.
    â€œCommitting bloody murder is more like it.”
    â€œIsn’t that the point?” The words had a strained sound.
    â€œThis isn’t a duel and I’m not your enemy. You’re here to learn to defend yourself. Slashing and stabbing in a wild rage won’t do it.” He paused, nodded toward her wrist. “Did I hurt you?”
    â€œIt’s only numb.” She shook her hand then let her arms fall to her side as she raised her eyes to his. “Perhaps it will be best if we stop here.”
    She was furious that he had disarmed her. He had expected no less. Still he had not thought she would give up so easily. “As you wish,” he said, and began to fold down his cuffs. “Consider this evening’s lesson an experiment, one without charge.”
    â€œAnd tomorrow evening?”
    His fingers stilled. “You expect to continue?”
    â€œOf a certainty. You said I was to say stop to end our passage at arms, not to end the lessons.”
    She despised him and seemed to scorn his methods. She was not, insofar as he could see, here with him this evening because she hoped for a passionate affair, nor had she a titillated inclination to make love to a man with blood on his hands as did some women he had known. He had done what he might to discourage her ambition, and thought she disliked it intensely. Yet she suggested another assignation.
    What did she want of him? That there was something, he knew very well; he could feel it with every instinct he possessed. Whatever her game, he should refuse to play.
    Oh, yes, he should refuse, but where was the pleasure in that? As alive and intrigued as he felt at this moment, it just might be that whatever she wanted from him, she could have with his blessing.
    â€œIt is best to rest a day between lessons until the muscles become accustomed to the exercise. I will be here the day after tomorrow then, madame. And you? Will you come to me all armored with woe and anger—oh, and something less in the way of petticoats?”
    â€œWait,” she said without a smile. “Wait, and you shall see.”
    Gavin inclined his head. It was puerile, stupid and entirely selfish under the