From Inside the Grey House:
“I have a request.” Her voice mirrored her shaky confidence. Joseph continued to hold the sword to her but raised an eyebrow. She was stalling and he knew it. “Can we wait until Vincent returns?”
“No. He would never allow this fight to start. Take this rapier and face me as I demand.”
She wrapped her hand around the hilt, testing the weight of the blade as Joseph let go. “Won’t you get in trouble then?”
“I’m the master of the fight. I do not intend to be stopped by the master of the house.” He bowed to her. “We will fight each round until there is an obvious winner, not to the first hit. Best of three wins. Ready?”
Cat Stark 