“You are not betrothed to Lord Shiveley, but someone wanted to marry you, and you ran away to avoid marrying him. Was that man Lord Shiveley?”
“Why do you want to know so badly?”
“I want to know what manner of trouble my family will encounter in the future.”
“I do not intend to cause your family any trouble.” Evangeline avoided looking at him and kept her jaw tight, even as she struggled to keep a tight rein on her emotions. “I shall leave Glynval now if you wish.”
“I do not wish you to leave. I also don’t want you to have to marry anyone you don’t wish to marry. I was only trying to discover the reason for you running away from your previous home. Come. Let us forget about it and read. It is your turn.”
Evangeline chose to skip ahead to a different part of the Bible and read the gospel of the Apostle John. After several chapters, Westley put down the book and sighed. “I can’t read any more. Would you like me to teach you knife throwing?”
“Reeve Folsham said he would teach me the fighting skills that he taught his own daughters.” She should think of an excuse to get away from Westley before he asked more questions about her past and about Lord Shiveley. But what she should do and what she wanted to do were two completely different things.
“Come. I can teach you something.” He stood and held out his hand to her.
Chapter Eighteen
Westley extended his hand to Eva to help her up. Even though he still wasn’t sure he trusted her, something about her made him want her to trust him. Was it because she was so pretty, with her lovely red hair and green eyes and fair face? Or was it because he still felt bad about the way his people had treated her about the poison mushrooms? Besides, if she was telling the truth, she’d been the one who saved him from drowning.
When she placed her hand in his, he felt it all the way to his shoulder.
She let him pull her to her feet. A strand of hair had come loose from her braid and dangled by her cheek. Why could he imagine himself brushing the hair off her face and behind her ear? He never had a thought like that when he was with Sabina. And now, after what Sabina had done to Eva, lying about the mushrooms and possibly lying about who she saw running away from the river, he no longer had any interest in the miller’s daughter. But Eva . . . He must be careful. After all, she was still hiding something from him.
He walked toward the barn where she had practiced archery with Reeve Folsham that morning.
He turned and said over his shoulder, “Are you coming?”
She started to follow him and pulled a knife out of her pocket.
When they reached the barn, he showed her how to hold the knife properly for throwing. He demonstrated, throwing his own knife and driving the point straight into the side of the barn. Eva tried it. The side of her blade hit the wooden wall and bounced off.
“This is more difficult than it looks.” Eva bit her lip.
“After a bit of practice, you will be as good at it as you are at archery.”
She was preparing to try again when Reeve Folsham approached.
“I see your teacher has returned. I shall go. I need to speak with my father. And I’m glad your ankle is better.”
“It is much better. I thank you.” Her smile was captivating. He actually stumbled as he walked away.
Evangeline hid her amusement behind her hand as Westley stumbled. He was nearly as clumsy as she was.
Reeve Folsham began his instruction by saying, “I am going to teach you how to defend yourself the way I taught my own daughters. Knife throwing is a good skill to know, but it is no good if your attacker is in your face, grabbing your hands, or if you cannot reach your knife.”
Evangeline nodded.
“Now, if you don’t have a knife, look around for something to use as a weapon—a rock or a block of wood or something else heavy or sharp or hard. If you find something, strike your attacker in the head or the throat or between the legs. If you don’t have a weapon, use your knuckles to attack his eyes or his throat. Strike hard and fast, then run. And always scream as loud as you can to raise the hue and cry.”
Evangeline nodded.
“Now, if I were to attack you from behind, like this—” He went behind her and put an arm around her neck. “You can try to elbow me”—she tried but missed, as he was standing too far back—“but that won’t work, so you have to stomp on the middle of my foot.”
Instead of stomping his foot, Evangeline stomped beside it. “Then what?”
“Then when your attacker loosens his hold, you can take a step back and reach his midsection with your elbow. Slam him a good one to his ribs. That should loosen his grip enough so you can get free. Then turn around and ram your knee between his legs. Or if that doesn’t work, strike his throat with your knuckles.”
Evangeline followed his every word and move. They practiced several moves until Evangeline almost wished someone would attack her so she could use her new skills.