No doubt Simon was right, but Lucas wasn’t particularly concerned about women in the future.

He was concerned about Kendra now.

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

How long had it been since Kendra had looked forward to a new day as she did on this day? She was ready and waiting when Lucas wielded the knocker at Thorsay House.

He smiled at her, looking as if he was anticipating the day as well. “Because of the rain, we decided to travel by carriage.” His gaze moved to her divided skirt. “That’s your fencing costume?”

“I had this outfit made for riding astride,” she explained as he helped her into her cloak. “I grew up in Northumberland, you know, and we northerners are much less formal than southerners. I like riding astride, and I like the freedom of movement I have with divided skirts, so I had this one made in mourning black after my grandfather’s death. I hope you’re not offended?”

“Not at all,” he said as he held the door open for her. “I respect practicality.”

“I’m looking forward to learning how to use a sword properly,” she said as they descended the steps to the waiting carriage. “It could be useful if Denshire comes near me!”

“Not advised except for self-defense,” he said firmly. “But it’s never a bad thing to know how to defend one’s self.”

They reached the light carriage and he helped her inside, where they sat opposite Simon. There was enough space for the three of them, but only just, which meant her leg and Lucas’s were touching, a fact she tried to ignore. She was too aware of him—and she liked it.

“Good day, Kendra,” Simon said with a smile. “Do you know the history of Angelo’s Academy?”

When Kendra shook her head, he said, “The founder, Domenico Angelo Malevolti Tremamondo, was an Italian sword master.” The names rolled melodiously from his tongue, a reminder that Simon was European as well as English. “The story goes that he fell in love with a beautiful English actress and followed her to London. Once here he looked around and decided the English were in dire need of fencing lessons to make them equal to swordsmen on the Continent.”

“He wasn’t wrong,” Lucas said. “His academy prospered, he took Angelo as his last name because it was simpler, and the academy is now run by his son Henry. The last I heard, Domenico was teaching the boys of Eton and Henry’s son, Henry the Younger, was preparing to eventually take charge of the academy.”

“I hope they continue to teach women,” Kendra said. “Why should men have all the fun?”

Lucas smiled wryly. “Because we have arranged the world to suit male tastes. But women like Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin are changing that.”