Page 51 of The Duke's Spinster

“Who?” Mimi demanded with fire in her eyes.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Like hell it doesn’t matter. And don’t tell me to watch my language,” she warned her sisters.

“I wasn’t going to.” Nobi had a similar fire gleaming in her eyes. “If someone’s hurt our sister, we’re going to make him pay.”

“That’s right,” Joan added.

“It’s not your fight, my dear sisters. I don’t know how, but I’ll come out stronger for this.”

Mimi looked downright devilish as she said, “I know exactly how you’re going to make him pay, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“What are you talking about, Mimi?”

“The fencing tournament,” she said proudly. “You’re going to enter it. And you’re going to beat him in front of everyone.”

“I can’t do that,” Boudicca said.

“Didn’t you say you beat him when you practiced here together?” Joan asked.

“That’s different.”

“How? If you’re skilled enough to best him here, you can beat him anywhere,” Nobi said.

“I do believe that’s true. Though it pained Wesley to admit it, he conceded that I was the better fencer.”

“There you have it,” Mimi said.

“That’s not the issue.”

“What is?” Joan asked.

“Only men are eligible to enter that fencing competition. You all know that.”

Mimi blew a raspberry with her lips. “Pffff…that’s the easy part, Bodi. We’ll make up a name for you, you’ll change in your own space and leave your mask in place whenever you’re in public. Easy.”

“I wouldn’t say easy—” Joan started.

Mimi glared at Joan. “It is easy. And it is the best way for Bodi to get revenge. Don’t you all agree? She can beat him. And he would be humiliated in front of everyone.”

“I suppose…” Joan said. “Do we really want to see him humiliated?”

“Annihilated would be better,” Mimi threatened.

“That doesn’t sound very loving,” Boudicca said.

“Loving? What has he done?” Mimi scoffed, then muttered, “The bastard.”

“He’s not—”

“Whatever. This is about revenge. Love’s first cousin. They’re related. Trust me. And nothing tests a relationship better than familial ties.”

“Mimi might be bloodthirsty,” Nobi jumped in, “but I think her plan is the best thing to do.”

“See?”

“But”—Nobi put her hand up to stay Mimi’s comments—“I think her plan is best for a different reason.” She turned to Boudicca. “This is your dream, Bodi. Don’t let a man get in the way. Whatever he did, and to be honest, I’m not sure that whatever bet he may have had didn’t turn into some real feelings for him. I know. It’s hard to believe, but I saw the way he looked at you. Especially during your dance tonight. I think his heart may have been involved. But that’s not important for us to decide. That’s only for you to determine. And if you don’t want to discuss it with him, I respect your decision. However, I do believe you should enter the competition and win. Beat every man you match up against. And then, when the tournament is over, reveal yourself. If you want. You’ll have created a scandal, without doubt. But there will also be no doubt in anyone’s mind should they wonder who to hire as a fencing tutor for their daughter.”

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