AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Madalene exited the room and stopped at a table in the entry hall to pick up her mufflers. The padded gloves helped her greatly during her boxing lessons. She headed towards the rear of the townhouse and a footman opened the door for her. He discreetly followed her outside and stood guard.
“Miss Dowding,” Mr. Payne greeted in a pleasant tone as he put his own mufflers on.
Madalene stopped a short distance away and smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Payne.” She took a moment to study her young, slender teacher. He was dressed in a brown jacket with a matching waistcoat and buff trousers. She always thought he looked deucedly uncomfortable as he sparred with her.
“Put your mufflers on, if you don’t mind,” Mr. Payne ordered.
Slipping her hands into the padded gloves, Madalene motioned to the footman, who quickly tied the strings to secure them onto her hands before returning to his post.
“Are you ready to start your boxing lesson?” Mr. Payne asked as he punched his two tan mufflers together.
“I am.”
“Good,” Mr. Payne said. “Adopt the proper posture, please.”
Madalene set her body by placing her shoulders forward, slightly bending her knees and bringing her fists up.
Mr. Payne nodded approvingly. “That is good,” he declared. “Now, I want you to hit me as hard as you can.”
“I couldn’t possibly,” she attempted.
“Hit me,” he ordered.
In a swift motion, Madalene brought her fist up and hit him squarely in the jaw, causing him to stagger back.
Mr. Payne looked at her in surprise. “That was an impressive blow,” he said as he brought his muffler up to rub his reddened jaw. “You must be practicing at your country estate.”
“I have been.”
“Well, I won’t be underestimating you again, that is for sure.” Mr. Payne walked closer to her and stopped.
Madalene gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“This is boxing,” Mr. Payne said. “You don’t apologize for a well-timed blow.” He brought his mufflers back up. “Are you ready for round two?”
“I am.”
They continued to spar on the lawn until the sun was high in the sky. Madalene felt the sweat trickle down her back as she blocked his blows and returned a few of her own.
Mr. Payne put his gloves up and stepped back. “I believe our lesson is over,” he announced, his breathing labored.
“Must it be?”
Chuckling, Mr. Payne said, “You have become an admirable opponent, Miss Dowding.”
“That is kind of you to say.” Madalene motioned again to the footman, who untied the strings of her mufflers, and she removed them from her hands.
“There is nothing kind about it,” Mr. Payne pressed. “It is merely the truth.”
Another footman approached them with a tray in his hands and extended it towards them. Madalene accepted a glass of water and took a long, lingering sip.
“How long do you anticipate being in Town?” Mr. Payne asked as he removed his mufflers.
“Only for a few more days.”
“Would you care for another lesson before you depart?”
Madalene placed her empty glass back onto the tray. “I would, very much so,” she replied eagerly.
