The heroine of Book 3 of my Dragonblade series is the sister of the hero of book 2. If you have read book 2 (and, if not, please do so before 17 December), you will already know that Miss Audrey Moreau (aka Lady Annalise Dutton) has had an unusual upbringing, being raised upon a pirate ship, having been shuffled from place to place and from one scheme upon her “uncle’s” part to another.

She has been left alone in an empty house and forbidden to leave, for any reason. One way she “entertains” herself is to practice the fighting skills her uncle has demanded of both her and his daughter Caroline. Caroline is better with some weapons than is Audrey, but Audrey excels with a sword, especially after her brother and Beaufort assist her.

Learning to fence involves mastering footwork, blade work, and understanding the rules of the sport. Begin by focusing on the fundamental En Garde position, advances, retreats, and the lunge. 

Footwork:

• En Garde: This is the foundational stance, with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and weight balanced, ready to move in any direction. 
• Advance and Retreat: These are the basic movements forward and backward, where the front foot leads when advancing and the back foot leads when retreating. 
• Lunge: A powerful forward movement with the front leg extending to reach the opponent while the back leg remains straight. 

Bladework:

• Basic attacks: One must learn different types of attacks like the straight thrust, disengage, and attacks with a cut over, depending on the weapon.
• Parries and ripostes: One must practice defending against attacks by deflecting the opponent’s blade and then immediately launching a counter-attack.
• Right of way: For foil and sabre, understand the concept of “right of way” to determine who is awarded the point when both fencers attack simultaneously. 

Enjoy this short scene where Annalise fights with Lord Marksman. (You saw this same scene from his point of view in book 2. If you have not read “Lyon’s Obsession” before now, SERIOUSLY, you are behind on this tale before you begin.)

“You shall learn that a true lady does not prefer a battle of swords over a battle of wills,” she countered. As if they performed another previously choreographed form, he joined her in the room’s middle, where he bowed and she half curtseyed. “Shall we dance again, my lord?” Audrey asked with a nod of recognition of their situation. 

Lord Marksman smiled easily, and she would admit, if only to herself, the smile made him handsomer than she recalled his being, assuredly nothing to compare to Lord Beaufort’s countenance, but more than passable, nevertheless. “I imagine you and I will often share the floor together, my dear, only minus the swords.” They were close enough for him to tap the end of her sword with the tip of his. “I await your first move, my lady.” 

Audrey suspected he meant to taunt her with the repetition of the words “my lady.” Yet, he would soon discover she did not enjoy being teased. She quickly circled her sword over his and knocked his momentarily to the side, but he recovered faster than she had expected and prevented her blade from landing the first strike. 

“Nicely done,” he said as he prepared to attack her. The moves he executed were ones she recognized as the type a fencing “master” might use against a novice, but Lord Marksman would soon learn she was no beginner. 

They sidestepped, moving together in a circle of sorts, each keeping himself or herself at a distance from the other. Audrey was glad she had earlier donned the boys’ style drawstring trousers, beneath her gown while she climbed on chairs and tables to clean the light sconces. It would be more ideal if she did not have a skirt over the drawers, but the dress was full enough and short enough for a certain freedom of movement. They periodically made maneuvers with their swords to test the other’s alertness.

After the fourth time, their swords struck harder than she expected, and Audrey realized she had moved too close. She could hear the sailors who had long ago taught her to use a sword say, “Ye’ve gots to keep a safe distance. Test yer opponent, gel, without puttin’ yerself in danger.” 

The two swords caught the flickering light of the candle providing a brief moment of a silvery rainbow arching over them. She prayed that such was to indicate a good sign for her success. 

Lord Marksman feinted to the left, attempting to elicit a response from her, but Audrey prided herself on being wise enough not to fall for those particular tactics. His lordship had learned from a proper master, whereas she had learned from the more-adventurous and cutthroat sailors on the ship her uncle had captained in those early years of traveling the world with her Uncle Jacobi and Caroline. Her technique was not as polished as that of Lord Marksman, but it could be equally as lethal, if his lordship provided her the opportunity she sought. 

They separated, slowly circling as before. Catching their breaths. Testing. Analyzing. “Formidable,” Lord Marksman remarked. “You are quite formidable. Whoever taught you, taught you well.” 

“I could say the same of you, but I shall not,” she retorted. Lord Marksman laughed. “I adore your spirit, my lady.”

Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World 

A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!

They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.

Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.

Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?

Tropes You’ll Love:

• Enemies to lovers
• Self-declared bachelor
• Friends to lovers
• Adversaries
• Damsel in distress
• Best friend’s sister
• Different worlds/experiences
• Soul mates
• Emotional scars
• Fish out of water

Read in Kindle Unlimited!

Enjoy these books in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.

Book 1 – Lyon in the Way

Book 2 – Lyon’s Obsession

Book 3 – Lyon in Disguise

Book 4 – Lost in the Lyon’s Garden

Book 5 – Lyon on the Inside

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1V963YZ

Please Note: The price of this book will increase to $3.99 on 11/26/2025.