Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A fter being summoned to take his place, John strode forward and called, "My Colichemarde, good man!"

"John," Frederick said, trailing just a step behind him. "This is meant to be nothing other than an exhibition for the ladies. Do try to remember that."

When John turned about, Frederick handed him a foil that had a blunted tip and he frowned. "If I must participate in this nonsense, why do I…"

"Be a good sport," Frederick lectured.

"Exactly," John countered. "Fencing is not an exhibition. It is an art form. A sport. A chance to show off my grace and agility."

Frederick snickered. "You can still do all those things, but you must do so with a blunted tip so as not to injure your opponents."

"Go on, Frontershire!" Lord Gilwood cheered. "Begin the bout!"

"Very well," John grumbled as he slashed the foil through the air several times, testing its weight in his hands. "I will play this bout, but…"

"Tut, tut," Frederick reproved. "Play nicely, Frontershire, or I shall steal all the spoils later and leave not a lady for you."

Mildly amused by the way Frederick was egging him on, John stepped forward, nodding respectfully at his opponent and beckoning for the match to proceed.

The gentlemen had only been at play a matter of seconds before John realized his skills far exceeded those of his competitor. Feeling slightly sorry for the young man, he dropped back a pace, but Lord Gilwood's voice rose from the throng, encouraging him to do no such thing.

"Do not play with the boy, Frontershire. Strike! Now!"

Upon that cue, John landed a hit, and the bout ended abruptly.

"That was almost too easy," John murmured as he handed his foil off to Frederick then moved to resume his spot next to Miss Templeton and her father.

"Well done," Lord Gilwood congratulated. "But in the next bout, do not wait so long. You must seize the opportunity when it presents itself and strike. You must…"

John stopped listening to the viscount because his eyes drifted around the head table until they came to find Lady Olivia. She was not looking at him but instead engaged in conversation with a gentleman named Ridgewell. John only knew him vaguely from the time they spent in town together, but even as he searched his mind, trying to come up with some concrete knowledge of the gentleman, he tripped upon nothing.

How can I know nothing but his name?

Intrigued, he watched as Lord Ridgewell excused himself then ambled away, so he might take up a blunt tipped foil and compete.

When Lord Ridgewell skipped away from the table, smiling cheerfully, Olivia went after him, and she stood as close as she could get to the action. No sooner had the bout begun then Ridgewell defeated his opponent quite handily, and Olivia clapped ecstatically, granting the victor a resplendent smile, the sort John had not seen grace her face throughout the tenure of their short acquaintance.

Who is he to make her smile in that way?

Recognizing that his feelings were being tested, and he was allowing the fascination he had for Lady Olivia to show, as Frederick had suggested at breakfast, he resolutely turned away from the pair and gave the full strength of his attention to Viscount Gilwood and his daughter, Miss Templeton.