Beatrice walked across the line that framed the temporary boxing ring. Her husband came in, too. They touched knuckles and took their stances.
“All right, Beatrice,” Ben hollered from the sideline. “Shuffle! Shuffle to the left.”
She did as her brother-in-law instructed, for he was an equally good coach as her husband, and she had a strong feeling he had a vested interest in her besting his brother. If only for the amusement of it.
Though she did not think she ever truly could. Will was such an excellent boxer, but one never knew; with enough practice, anything was possible.
Will circled the other way.
Both of them eyed each other, looking for an in.
She did not try to get close to him. No, she had to be patient and clever.
She did as he had taught her so many weeks ago. She began dancing right, then to the left, whirling about him, making him maneuver and go about the ring, chasing her.
Her cheeks flushed, and his eyes sparked at the game.
Will did his best to stay at the center, but if he wished to land a blow he would have to come after her, and so she kept him on his toes.
She grinned at him. “Tiring out, are you?”
“He’s an old man, after all,” Ben drawled. “If you work him hard enough, he’ll collapse like an ox.”
She laughed.
The very idea was absurd, of course. Will had the stamina of…well, an ox. It was one of the things that she absolutely adored about their married life. Nothing slowed him. Certainly not their merrymaking.
As they went about the ring, Will kept his guard up. For though he would never hurt her, he would also not humor her. It was something else she admired about him. He did not treat her like a doll, even if he was careful.
And then she spotted an in.
Beatrice darted forward and aimed a jab. Will blocked her blow with his sculpted forearm, and she winced at the strength of his body, which was akin to a brick wall. But she reveled in the fact that she was so strong.
He’d shown her strength of body. And it was a delicious thing.
Will gave her a quick nod. “Well done, Beatrice.”
“Come on now, Beatrice,” Ben called from the side. “I’ve got money on you—a whole bag of gold. I don’t want to lose it to my elder.”
She smiled at his encouragement but did not look at Ben, because if she did, of course, she could end up flat on the floor. Will had a deft way of being able to get her down on the ground without harming her. Then usually he would kiss her, which led to other forms of exercise—something that he would not do with Ben present, thank goodness.
She quickly darted back, and as they circled again and again, both of them began to breathe heavily. The exertion was quite something to behold. She found that boxing was far more taxing than a good long walk or a ride upon a horse or even a dance. She loved the feel of her body in her clothes, stretching, working, testing its limits as she’d never been allowed to do before.
She felt so liberated, so exhilarated with Will as her ally.
Will moved to the right a little too fast, and she spotted another chance. She wove nimbly in, and this time she jabbed right into Will’s lower back.
He let out a grunt, then whirled around and grabbed her in his arms.
“I’ve got you now,” he said as he headed for the edge of the ring.
And just as he gave her a satisfied smile, she delivered an uppercut, and his chin went back.
She beamed up at him, and he gave her a wolfish look of pleasure at her success. Pride shone in his eyes.
At that look, she felt overcome with feelings for him.
Will smiled down at her as he adjusted his jaw. “You’re learning so fast,” he marveled.