All Hallow's Eve by Wendi Sotis Page A

specifically your father’s? ”
    When he received no answer, he looked at Elizabeth . H er eyes were directed towards his neck , and she was breathing more quickly than usual .
    As a result of a discussion with Mr. Bennet when the gentlemen were departing the previous evening , this had been the first time that he had appeared before her without a cravat . William now wondered if listening to her father had been a mistake — perhaps he was offending her ?
    William said, “ I apologize, Miss Elizabeth. Would you feel more comfortable if I wore a neck cloth? I have it with me , but your father suggested we not wear them during training… ” he broke off and moaned internally as Elizabeth ’s heightened colo u r caused his heart rate to increase further .
    “ No, it is quit e all right. I am not offended. A ctually, I have seen many men without neck cloths . I t is just that ... I ha d never noticed before … ” Her voice trailed off as she tilted her head back and to the side a s her hand moved to touch her own neck. “ When you swallow , and sometimes when you speak— part of your neck moves ! Does that happen to all men, all of the time ? ”
    William could not stop himself from swallowing, and then he coloured , knowing that she had seen what happened to his neck as he had . “ I – I have not paid very close attention to other men’s necks. I do not know how to answer you . ” It suddenly occurred to him that all the gentlemen would be without neck clot hs today . Th e thought that she might spend part of the day looking at other men’s necks was very disturbing . Perhaps that is why British men wore neck cloths in the first place! Had his lack of a cravat exposed some great flaw in him that he should keep hidden from this moment on ? William had to keep his hand from moving to cover his throat whil st h e quickly offered, “ I will pay close attention and give you an answer as soon as possible. ”
    She nodded, and mov ed his arm into the correct position. “ Both are correct. Part of what I teach you has been handed down T ribally and part is my father’s own method. ”
    He had to think back over the past few minutes to gain some insight into why Elizabeth had furnished this information. After he remembered his question to her, he replied, “ So, other I mmun would not have known some of these moves? ”
    “ Correct . Anything specific to my father’s technique would not be known by another Immun unless th at man was trained by my father and skilled enough to remember them all. My father usually customizes his training to each person’s style and will only show the moves that he knows th at person w ould be able to perform . Alt hough with the four of you , he has chosen to teach as much as possible in the time allowed and hope that you remember most of what you are able to do . There is not time enough before the Olc arrive s to analyse your achievements in stages and choos e which to teach , as he normally would. ”
    “ From what you are saying, would that mean that you — ”
    Elizabeth’s back stiffened as he spoke , and she interrupted him, “ I am skilled enough to perform all techniques equally well and entirely able to teach them. ”
    William raised his eyebrows and looked at her seriously. “ You mistook my meaning , madam . I do not doubt you r proficiency in the least . ”
    She closed her eyes for a moment before s t a t ing, “ I apologize for jumping to conclusions, sir. The one opinion that I have found most common among men is the idea that women are inferior in every way possible—other than child b earing and child rearing. In my experience , about half of the men feel they are more skilled at child rearing as well , even those who have had nothing to do with that endeavor, ” she said with a raised brow and a throaty laugh. Immediately sobering, she continued, “ T hrough the years , I have had to do a great deal t o defend my competence. You are the first to have