“Indeed I am,” he said as they shook hands.

“Do you know if Henry Angelo is available?” Kendra asked. “I’d like to have another lesson with him if I could.”

Another woman, this one with red-gold hair, shook her head. “He’s out until this afternoon. For lessons, it’s best to book the time in advance.”

“I’ll do that next time, Callie,” Kendra said. “For today, is anyone up for a little gentle sparring with a novice?”

“It would be my pleasure since I’m no expert myself.” She turned to Lucas and offered her hand. “I’m Callie Kingston. I heard about your sparring session with your cousin. I gather that the two of you put on a dazzling show. I’m sorry I missed it.”

“I’ll see if I can persuade Simon to join me here next Wednesday. He’s my favorite sparring partner,” he said as they shook hands. “I’ll leave you to your mayhem and see if I can find a sparring partner of my own.”

Kendra set aside her cloak, then lifted a practice sword, testing the balance in her hand. “Now show me how bad I am, Callie!”

* * *

Lucas took off his coat and hat, enjoying the prospect of some demanding exercise. After collecting one of the practice swords racked along the opposite wall, he looked around for a prospective partner.

A sparring match was going on at the opposite end of the room from the women, and several other men were watching, so he approached one of the onlookers who also held a practice sword and looked ready to use it. “Hello,” he said pleasantly. “I’m Foxton. Would you like to do some sparring?”

“Foxton?” Looking revolted, the man scowled and made an elaborate show of turning his back.

Lucas felt as if he’d been punched in the belly. In the last few days of travel with Kendra, he’d not thought about his pariah status. Now it was brought back to him with sharp malice.

Then Athena Masterson was at his shoulder. “Would you be willing to spar with a mere female?” she asked. “Like Callie, I’m more accomplished with a gun than a sword, but the way to improve is by sparring with someone who is better, which you are.”

Lucas’s tension eased away. “I’d be delighted to cross swords with you. I have a suspicion that you’re better than you admit.”

“I’m not really,” she said as they moved to a clear space in the center of the room. “But I have had some unwelcome experiences of war when I lived on the Peninsula. That produces a certain ruthlessness.”