Once the jackstraws were put away, they repaired to the schoolroom for a lesson in defensive techniques. With Lord Octavius’s description of the valet’s attack in mind, Pip practiced diligently, and perhaps Lord Octavius had been thinking of the valet, too, for after she had broken Mr. Pryor’s nose and gouged out his eyes, he said, “There’s something else I’d like to show you.”
“There is?”
“This is a choke hold.” Lord Octavius stepped up behind his cousin and hooked one arm around his neck. “How do you think you’d get out of it?”
Pip examined the hold. Mr. Pryor couldn’t bite his cousin when he was held like that, or kick or punch easily. “Elbow him in the stomach?” she suggested. “Stamp on his foot?”
“Those are both possibilities.” Lord Octavius released his cousin and beckoned to her
