Page 20 of The Duke's Spinster

Boudicca rather thought Nobi was speaking from personal experience, given the specificity with which she asked about physical reactions. “It’s been more sinking feelings, heavy limbs, erratic heartbeats, and dreaded steps.”

“Well, that’s…something at least?” She sounded hopeful.

Boudicca huffed. With her level of spinsterhood, she would likely never have physical reactions like that to a man. It was despairing, even though she thought she had already accepted her fate, there was some disappointment welling within her. And it was perhaps exasperated by Mimi’s incessant taunting.

“Wes-ley and Bo-di.”

“Mimi, do you want to know what’s happened or not?” She practically stamped her foot at her youngest sister.

“Quiet, Mimi. We want to actually hear what’s going on between Bodi and Wesley, not just hear your childishly melodic ode.” With Joan and Nobi on her side, Mimi finally shut up.

“Right then. He’s courting me. We’ve done what a typical courting couple would do.” And she summarized the preceding days’ events, only leaving out the trifling matters. Like her feelings on it all. “So that’s that.”

“Do you like him?” Joan asked.

“I don’t know,” Boudicca shrugged. “I can’t take his courtship seriously. There must be an ulterior motive.”

“He’s not the enemy,” Joan said gently.

“That’s just it. He feels like the enemy.”

“All the more reason to get to know him better,” Nobi said, lifting a finger to the air. “Know your enemy and know yourself. You know, The Art of War and all.”

“It’s not a battlefield, Nobi,” Joan said.

Mimi took a step back, en garde. “Love is always a battlefield.” She swished her sword through the air.

Boudicca rolled her eyes. “Well, as silly as it sounds, it does feel like it’s a battlefield.”

“Then the only way you’ll really know him is to show him who you really are,” Joan crossed her arms. “But can you do that?”

“I’ve only been myself with him.” Boudicca’s tone sounded strained even to her own ears.

“Have you?” Joan was quiet, but she wouldn’t back down from a challenge, especially when she knew she was right.

“I have.”

“So he knows that you fence?” Joan countered.

“No.”

“He knows about spinsterhood plans?”

“No.”

“Fencing school for girls?”

“No.”

“Interest in politics?”

“No.”

“Favorite color?”

“I don’t know.”

“Bodi,” Joan paused, “the man knows nothing about who you really are. You have to show him.”

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