Saving the Scientist (The Restitution League #2)(64)

Ada stared in wonder at Briar’s outfit. Dull black cotton with ribbon frogs in place of buttons and a curiously split skirt, it seemed designed for maximum movement.

“It’s purposely plain,” Briar explained. “You wouldn’t want a shiny button to glint in the moonlight, giving away your position.”

“And ruffles and bows only get in the way,” Meena added.

“I see your point.” How eminently sensible. Nothing to attract the eye or catch the tip of a sword. Such an outfit would work well in the laboratory.

“Let’s start with parasols.” Briar handed one to each of them.

Meena studied the pointed tip fondly. “It’s fascinating, the damage these can do.”

“Let’s demonstrate,” Briar said. Unarmed herself, she affected a menacing stance. “I’ll play the villain.”

Meena turned her back on her cousin and rested her hands on the handle of the umbrella, as if she were window shopping or waiting for an omnibus. “Do your worst.”

“She doesn’t mean that,” Briar said to Ada. “My worst is rather destructive, if I might be so bold.”

As Ada watched, Briar snuck up behind Meena, just as Ada imagined a cutpurse would. She reached over Meena’s shoulder, clearly planning to pull her back off her feet, but before Briar could gain any momentum, Meena ducked under her arm and spun around to face her, thrusting the tip of her parasol at the vulnerable underside of Briar’s chin.

“Excellent!” Briar stepped away. “The key is to react quickly, without hesitation. Had she given me time, I would have had her arms pinned to her sides.”

Ada nodded, fascinated by the skill and vigor both women exhibited. “But what if you’re unarmed?”

Meena and Briar shared a look.

“That’s the genius of Master Tadeoka’s training,” Meena said. “You’re never unarmed.”

Briar squared off about three feet from her cousin and raised her fists as if she were a pugilist preparing for a bareknuckle bout. “Show her the chin snap.”

Meena shook her arms out and nodded at her cousin.

Briar lunged, hands reaching for Meena’s throat. Just as her fingers curled into Meena’s collar, the shorter woman jabbed the heel of her hand upward, toward Briar’s chin. The women then demonstrated in slow motion how Meena’s blow would have snapped Briar’s head back most viciously.

But they weren’t finished.

As if moving underwater, Briar simulated how the blow would throw her backwards. Now Meena attacked, stepping forward as Briar stumbled back. She grabbed Briar’s shirtfront, pretending to pull her forward by a tie or a shirt collar. Once Briar’s upper body bent forward, Meena raised her knee. Had they been moving in real time, she would have slammed the top of her knee into Briar’s nose.

“And that,” Briar said as she whirled to face Ada, “would be that.”

“Fascinating!” Ada pressed her hands to her chest. “But you’ve been studying for years, the both of you.”

“True,” Briar said. “You could join us. There’s the most delightful group of forward-thinking women at Master Tadeoka’s studio. It’s growing rapidly, isn’t it Meena?”

Meena was studying Ada. “Briar’s right. You should consider it. You’d fit in wonderfully.”

How delightful that sounded. New friends. New skills to acquire.

Whether she and Edison continued their liaison or not, she supposed she was free to socialize with Briar and Meena as she chose. Lord knew the increased activity would be a good thing. Muscles she wasn’t even aware she owned still ached from her recent tumbles with the strong inventor.

Meena stepped aside. “Now you try it.”

Briar cupped Ada’s shoulders, moving her into position, with her back to the room. “Let’s begin with the parasol.” She pressed Meena’s weapon into her hand. “Imagine you’re trying to decide whether to pop into a hat shop to try on that little pink bonnet in the window. And remember, quick, decisive action.”

Ada gripped the curved handle of the substantial parasol. “But I don’t want to hurt you. What if I—?”

“Don’t worry,” Meena waved away her concern. “Briar’s too skilled to let you hurt her.”

Ada turned back to face the wall and tried to pretend she was engrossed in the offerings of an imaginary shop.

“All right,” Briar warned, “here I come.”

Even though she knew it was Briar’s arm snaking over her shoulder, Ada gasped. Instead of ducking toward her assailant and slipping out from under her as Meena had, she pulled away, in the opposite direction.

Briar followed her movements, leaning into her as she moved, pushing her further off-balance.

Before Ada toppled into the credenza, Briar pulled her back. “Well done!”

When Ada turned around, the girl was grinning. “That is precisely how one would normally react.” She smoothed the wrinkles bunched up over Ada’s shoulders. “That’s just what a criminal counts on. Instinct drives you to pull away, allowing him to push you down. Then he can grab whatever he wishes while you struggle to regain your footing. The thief would be off with your handbag and jewelry before you’d found the breath to yell.”

“But I knew you were coming.” Ada shook her head. “I knew you were coming and still I reacted badly. I can’t imagine what I’d do in a real scenario.”