I draw my knife, savoring the whisper of the steel against the sheath as it slides free. I could go for the pistol, but I am far more confident with a blade. Gunpowder is far too impersonal for what I want these men to experience. “The last woman you will ever see.”

The taller one laughs. “Big words coming from such a small thing.” His lip curls into a sneer. “Bet you don’t even know how to use that thing.”

I smile. From the looks on their faces, it’s as ferocious as I hope it is. “Oh, you have no idea.”

And then, they charge.

I rattle off a silent prayer for Ana and the fight begins.

The two men are more competent than I gave them credit for. The quarters are close and they know them better than I do. And of course they would. They are Cristobal’s guards. Of course they know the house and all its nooks and crannies and twists and turns.

And they have swords. All I have is a knife. And a pistol, but I dare not use it now. Not when there is a house full of people upstairs who would most assuredly hear a gunshot.

The taller man is easier to dodge. His body is too cumbersome to move efficiently but he’s strong, and I’m shackled by a skirt and corset. Hardly at my best.

The shorter one is the bigger problem. He’s fast and agile, getting under my guard more times than he should.

I dance away from them, keeping myself between them and the door. The larger one charges at me, a low growl on his lips. I hold my ground for three … two … one. Stepping to the side, I kick out the hem of my gown, praying for a miracle.

And God sees fit to bestow one upon me. The heavy tulle catches on the man’s boot, tripping him up. With my elbow, I smash him in the back of the neck as hard as I can. He tumbles down the stairs with a series of dull thuds. He groans at first, and then, there is silence.

My victory is short-lived.

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

I shouldn’t have done a lot of things.

Shouldn’t have left Ana’s side.

Shouldn’t have let myself crow over the taller man’s head-first descent into the wine cellar.

Shouldn’t have worn this dress.

And I never should have taken my eyes off the shorter man. Not even for a second.

Because a second is all it takes.