Page 16 of Forever Her Bachelor
“Miss Price had business with Papa. The important thing is we’re here,” Beatrice challenged, meeting her sister’s glare for a moment before she hastily looked away.
Jessie’s heavy boots took four loud steps to where Pippa stood. “We may be women, but a woman has power. You can outmaneuver the strongest man if you know what to do.” Jessie pointed a long, roughened finger at Pippa. Her thick sandy-brown hair against her honey-colored skin and green eyes made a striking combination.
“Aye, a woman has brains, and that will win anytime over a man who thinks with his bollocks,” Ini added in a Jamaican accent, her gaze never leaving her mending.
Jessie gave a curt nod to Ini’s comment before she spread her legs in a wide stance, mimicking Pippa and Beatrice. “You’ve got several weapons at your disposal.” She held up scarred hands,and Pippa couldn’t help but wonder what horrors the coarse woman had endured as a child. “The heel of your palms, your elbows, and your knees. Each one can be used as a weapon and save your life.”
“What about my fists? Surely they are a weapon.” Pippa asked, closing her ungloved hands. They seemed small and inadequate to her own eyes.
The thought of actually punching someone had never occurred to her, but if she had to do it to save her own life, surely she could.
“You can use them, but they may not do as much damage as you think. Hit me.” Jessie beckoned her with her hands as if she was asking for a turn around the room.
Pippa blinked several times, at a loss for words. She had never actually hit another person before, and the thought of it was a bit exhilarating if she was being honest with herself. “I-I couldn’t.”
“You will if you want to protect yourself. Now, do it!” Jessie yelled, causing Pippa to jump in fright.
Pippa squeezed her hands tightly into fists, trying to prepare herself to hit Jessie. She was not as delicate as some of the other ladies in society. The deep breath she took filled her lungs, causing her chest to rise as she slowly dragged her right foot forward before she threw the punch with every ounce of strength in her.
Pippa’s fist connected with Jessie’s very hard shoulder. Jessie barely moved an inch from the weight of the punch. “Drat!” Pippa shouted. The pain in her hand was excruciating, and she feared she had broken a bone. Pippa couldn’t help but notice that her minor hit did nothing to Jessie at all.
Flexing her hand, she inspected her reddened flesh, happy that there wasn’t any obvious damage.
“Exactly. That’s why you go for the vulnerable areas, particular those that don’t have bones to break your own.” Jessie held out one finger at a time. “Eyes, nose, throat, and cock.”
“Jessie!” Beatrice admonished her sister, her gaze shifting to Pippa. “Pippa is well bred; she’s not use to such improper language.”
Although she appreciated her friend wanted to protect her delicate sensibilities, Pippa would’ve preferred for Beatrice to interrupt the attack on her person instead.
Jessie faced her younger sister, her hands braced on her wide hips. “You think for a second a cutthroat or that bloke she’s going to marry is going to mince words if they’re laying hands on her? You’ll learn everything isn’t numbers and roses, girl!”
Pippa’s body trembled at the thought of being mistreated by anyone, especially someone who was supposed to love her the rest of her life. She had seen love before with her parents and a whisper of it with her friend, Chauncey.
“Perhaps not, but you still must remember Pippa is the granddaughter of an earl and a member of theton.” Beatrice reminded her sister of Pippa’s lineage, which really was of no concern to Pippa.
Beatrice rarely stood up to her elder sister, and Pippa thought her an impressive sight to do it on Pippa’s behalf. Jessie was correct. There would be no kindness toward her from the Duke of Summerset. The fear of that simple fact had Pippa questioning her own motives. She wanted to save her aunt from destitution and a cruel husband, but could she sacrifice herself? It was the one question she’d asked herself over and over.
“If she wants to be treated like a lady, she’ll go to a fancy ball, but here is where she will learn to defend herself, and I won’t mince my words!” Jessie folded her arms over her chest, her deadly glare now trained on Beatrice.
Pippa was tired of the pair speaking about her as if she was not standing in the same room as them. “There is no need. I am quite accustomed to colorful language.” Pippa rubbed her hands together, nodding her head. “And I am capable of speaking for myself,” she added, looking from one sister to the other.
Pippa was tired of every person in her life treating her like a child. She was a woman grown and had her own voice, her own mind, and her own life to live, regardless of what her uncle and future husband believed.
“Good. Go!” Jessie charged at both Pippa and Beatrice, her speed unlike anything Pippa had ever seen. She might as well have been standing in front of a team of horses all rushing her at once.
“W-What!” Pippa shouted as the other woman battled with her sister, quickly knocking Beatrice to the ground before she turned to Pippa.
She took several hasty steps back, practically running away from Jessie, but before she could widen the space between them, Jessie grabbed Pippa roughly, taking her by surprise and spinning her around so that her back was pressed to the other woman’s chest.
“What do you do?” she asked with her hand at Pippa’s throat and the other twisting Pippa’s arm higher up her back.
Pippa tried not to panic. She knew Jessie wouldn’t purposely harm her, or so she hoped. Pippa twisted her body to no avail until she finally gave up. “I-I don’t know.” Pippa hated her own weakness and helplessness. The frustration was evident in her labored breathing and the tears forming in her eyes.
Jessie released her. “Good. You don’t know, but you will. Now, attack.” Jessie demanded of her, the directive making Pippa stiffen.
“Very well.” Pippa stilled her nerves before she charged at Jessie, her arms outstretched. Before she could lay hands on theother woman, the wind was knocked out of her by an open hand to her ribs that felt more like a punch.
Falling unceremoniously to the dirt-covered floor, Pippa was thankful to be wearing one of her more serviceable gowns. It was a dull-gray dress, one that she often conducted experiments in.