Page 106 of To Love A Spy
“While you will look quite seductive lying in my bed with naught but a froth of lace on your legs.”
The thought of sharing Lynsley’s bed from now on stirred a lick of pure pleasure in her belly. “That is most ungentlemanly,” she murmured, brushing close by him as she took up position in the center of the circle. “Trying to distract me is bending the rules of engagement.”
“All’s fair in love and war, remember?”
“I will keep that in mind.” An instant before Da Rimini called“en garde”,she pivoted and flicked her sword down, swatting him across his bum with the blade.
“Touché”
The girls hooted and stomped their feet.
“First honors to the females.” Lynsley inclined a courtly bow. “But unless senility has set in, I seem to recall that class bouts are two out of three.” He angled a sidelong glance at the youthful faces. “No smirking, Verona. You are still on probation.”
The young Merlin took cover behind Marco’s broad shoulders.
“You are putting on quite a performance,” said Valencia dryly as they resumed a starting stance. “I’m not sure the students will ever see you in the same lordly light as before.”
“I thought you said I should appear human.” His mouth quirked. “And heavens knows, my dear, when I see your lovely limbs in action, I am all too aware of being a mere mortal man.”
Their blades crossed with a velvet click.
“Now girls, watch closely!” announced Da Rimini. “It’s not everyday that we have a chance to observe poetry in motion.”
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways . ..” recited Lynsley in a voice that reached only her ears.
As Valencia bit back a laugh, the marquess moved with deceptive quickness. Even though she knew of his speed and agility, the feints and footwork took her off guard. His blade pricked one breast, then the other breast. “Tit for tat,” he called, flashing a wicked grin.
“The cock shouldn’t crow quite yet,” she retorted, a remark that drew lusty laughter from Da Rimini and Musto. “The match is not yet over.”
They broke cleanly for the third try.
Snick, snick, snick.The quicksilver clash of their swords was evenly matched. Parry, feint, riposte—the courtyard echoed with the ring of forged metal and flesh moving in perfect harmony.
A pas de deux—a glorious dance for two, choreographed to a symphony of steel.
Valencia spun, feeling light as a feather. This was home, the one place in the world where she was meant to be. Ducking low, she feinted and flashed a smile.
Their gazes met, and Lynsley winked. He hesitated for an instant, just long enough to let her next slash knock the weapon from his grip.
A raucous cheer went up as the girls applauded the victory.
He dropped to one knee. “It seems I have no choice but to surrender.”
Valencia waggled her sword. “Why say you, girls? Shall we make him run the perimeter of the grounds as punishment for the loss?”
His brow waggled. “At my age?”
“Si, si, have mercy on the old man,” drawled Da Rimini. “He had better save his strength for his wedding night.”
“Youaregoing to marry him, aren’t you,cara?” asked Marco. “Or are you and our saintly leader going to continue living in sin?”
“I have always thought piety vastly overrated,” snickered Da Rimini. “I’d take up residence in the hottest corner of Hell if such a lady would share it with me.”
“You can still change your mind,cara,” added Marco. “I am at your service?—”
“Marco, my friend,” interrupted the marquess. “Unless you wish to contract your own nuptials as acastrati, you had better keep a respectful tongue when talking to my soon-to-be bride.”
Lynsley remained kneeling as he slid his hand up the length of Valencia’s sword. Pulling the hilt from her grip, he peeled off her leather gauntlet and pressed her palm to his lips. “Just so there’s no misunderstanding, let me make my position clear to one and all.”
