Page 24 of Never his Duchess

“Valuable? They look rather rusty,” she said, shrugging, and handed it over to him.

“For something so old and rusty, it certainly works well, don’t you think?” He let the saber fly through the air, making a few practiced moves.

“You fence?”

“Of course. It is expected of someone of my standing. Even if my role as heir was rather… in flux over the years, I still learned all the things a gentleman should—hunting, fishing, fencing, shooting. The question is—how do you know how to fence? It’s not an accomplishment a lady usually possesses.”

She pursed her lips. “My mother taught me.”

“She did?” His eyebrows rose.

“Yes. She learned it from her brother, who was quite skilled. They would sometimes spar, and I would watch. I begged her to teach me, and eventually, she did. My father did not like it. He didn’t find it suitable for a young woman. But I loved it.”

“I’d like to see how good you are,” Nathaniel said with a grin. “What do you say—you and I?”

She tilted her head to one side and placed her hand on her hip. “You would fence with a woman? Is that not beneath your standing?”

“We are in the privacy of my home. What I do behind these walls is entirely up to me—and you. But if you’re?—”

“I’m not scared of you,” she fired back. “I’m certain I could beat you.”

“Oh?” he said, amused. “I wouldn’t be so certain. I have seen you fence, and there’s certainly room for improvement. On the other hand, I’m very accomplished.”

Her blood boiled at his display of arrogance.

“Is that so? Well, in that case, I shall take you up on it. It seems you could stand to learn a lesson in humility.”

“Oh,” he said with a chuckle. “If you think so. Tomorrow at noon. In the fencing room. Ask your maid where it is—she can tell you.”

He was about to walk away when she called after him.

“You forgot something. A wager.”

“You would place a wager on our match?” he asked, his tone laced with amusement.

“I would. And you shouldn’t be so worried about it, given how confident you were a moment ago.”

“I’m not worried at all. Tell me—what is your wager?”

“If I win, you will leave me alone when it comes to courting potential men. For a month.”

“A month?” he scoffed. “I think not. A fortnight.”

“Very well, a fortnight,” she agreed.

“At last, a touch of reason,” he said. “And if I win?”

She shrugged, as though not bothered at all, though she was deeply worried about what he might come up with.

“If I win,” he said, “you will accompany me to Almack’s—and there, you will dance with every single gentleman I point out. For two Wednesdays.”

“Oh,” she groaned. “The place of boring lemonade and bland, dry cake? I do not have a voucher.”

“Neither do I, but Julian can get us both vouchers for a night or two. I’m certain—his aunt is one of the lady patrons. Now, are we in agreement?”

She took a deep breath, then stepped forward and extended her hand. “We are in agreement.”

He slapped his hand into hers and curled his fingers around hers. A jolt went through her, but she steadied herself so he would not notice. What was wrong with her? He was annoying. More than annoying—he was absolutely impossible. And yet, her body was reacting as though she had some sort of secret attraction to him.