Page 56 of A Winter By the Sea
Next they worked on advancing. “I retreat while you advance.Bring the right foot forward and then the left, keeping them in the same position.”
Again he retreated and Emily advanced.
“Very good,” he encouraged. “Very graceful.”
“It is rather like a dance,” she observed.
His mouth quirked. “If you are accustomed to dancing with a weapon, I suppose.”
“Do we always take turns advancing?”
“Only in practice. In a bout, I would try to force you to keep retreating off the mark.” He demonstrated, advancing and advancing again until she was forced to retreat all the way to the end of the room, her back coming into surprising contact with the wall. For a moment he pinned her there with a practice tip and a pair of intense brown eyes.
Holding his gaze, Emily felt more breathless than before.
She licked lips that were suddenly dry as her heart beat hard. Voice not quite steady, she said softly, “N-now what?”
For a moment longer he held her gaze, and then his focus dipped lower, to her mouth.
Was he going to kiss her? Did she want him to? But what about Charles?
Instead, he inhaled deeply and stepped back.
After they both caught their breath, he continued the lesson.
Again they advanced and retreated, their foils clanging together. Emily was grateful for the blunt button-shaped tips.
“Fencing becomes you,” he said. “Your color is high, your eyes bright from the exercise, and your posture elegant.”
Finally, she bent over in surrender, hands resting on her knees, panting. “Sorry. I am done in. So much for my elegant posture.”
He chuckled.
“Fencing is more taxing than I would have guessed.”
He nodded. “No better exercise. It employs every muscle and instinct and trains the mind to think quickly.”
She straightened with a final long breath followed by a whooshing exhale. “I think I’ve had enough for one day.”
“Good session.” He held out his hand to her.
After a moment’s hesitation, she put her hand in his. “Opponents shake hands, do they?”
“In friendly matches, yes. Thank you, Miss Emily, for obliging me. I have sincerely enjoyed your company.”
“And I yours.” She added tartly, “Though if I cannot walk tomorrow, I shall know whom to blame.”
———
Later, after wiping down the tub and tidying the bath-room, Emily gathered a load of towels for the laundry, every muscle sore from fencing. She carried the pile toward the water closet to see if there were any damp towels in there. Turning the corner, she heard the door knocker echo from the hall below. She paused at the banister and peered down.
The housemaid, Jessie, hurried to the main entrance and opened the door.
A masculine voice asked, “Is this the Summers residence? Have I the right place?”
“Yes, sir. Who may I say is calling?”
“Charles Parker.”
