Free En Garde (Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective Book 17) by Carolyn Keene Page A

“I think Damon faces tougher competition than I do,” DeLyn said loyally.
    “No, don’t you be modest, Lyn,” Mrs. Brittany chided her. “You’ve worked so hard to get that high ranking of yours. Damon’s got to hustle to keep up. Would you believe, Miss Drew, that Damon was the one who started fencing first? I don’t know how he got the notion to take up fencing—he was just a little boy, nine or so. DeLyn was still taking ballet classes, weren’t you, honey? The community center offered lots of free classes for little kids back then. Two years later, Bela saw Damon at a junior meet and asked him to study at the salle. Being a single mom, I thought it would be easier if I could send both children to the same activity, so we persuaded DeLyn to go to fencing class too. And oh, my, how fast she took off! Bela says she has a natural gift.”
    DeLyn frowned. “But Damon’s still an excellent fencer.”
    “Of course, honey. I was so thrilled when you both got those scholarships. I don’t know how we would have scraped together the money for college without that. But you’re Bela’s star. You’re the one he’s always asking to do public fencing demonstrations, like at the mall two weeks ago.”
    “Just because he needs to attract more girls to the salle,” DeLyn said. “If they see a girl fencing, they can imagine themselves doing it. Nancy, can I get you a cold drink? Come into the kitchen.” Clearly, this line of discussion made her uncomfortable.
    In the small, bright kitchen, I asked, “How’s Damon feeling?”
    DeLyn sighed. “Physically, just fine. But he’s in a rotten mood. Lately it seems he’s always in a rotten mood. Especially at the salle—Bela is constantly on his case.”
    “Bela can be a difficult guy,” I said, hoping to get DeLyn to open up.
    DeLyn opened the refrigerator door, but she just stood there for a minute, as if she had forgotten what she was looking for. “He’s been on my case too. He’s so demanding—he expects me to win every bout I fence! And there’s Damon, sitting on the sidelines, watching me win and feeling jealous.” She leaned against the refrigerator door, lost in thought. “And that makes Damon feel even worse—he feels guilty about being jealous of me. You don’t understand what it’s like to be a twin, Nancy—we’re closer than most brothers and sisters. He’s not just my brother, he’s my best friend. Can you blame me if sometimes I lose, just to make him feel better?”
    So that was it! “Have you told Bela that you’re throwing some bouts on purpose?” I asked.
    She shook her head as she took out a pitcher of lemonade. “Bela wouldn’t understand. He lives and dies to compete, that old fox. You’ve seen the way he is with Paul Mourbiers—and how many years has it been since they fenced against each other? No, he’d have no sympathy for me losing on Damon’s account.” She poured two glasses of lemonade.
    “But don’t those losses affect your ranking?” I asked.
    She wrinkled her nose. “Yes. I try to lose only in events that aren’t sanctioned by the national organization, so it won’t be factored in. But the coach of the university team keeps track all the same. I have to play it carefully—I can’t afford to lose that scholarship.” Her eyes welled up with tears.
    “I know you’re worried about Damon losing his scholarship,” I said sympathetically. “But yours, too?”
    DeLyn set down the pitcher and lowered her voice. “My scholarship isn’t in the same danger. To tell you the truth, Nancy . . . Damon’s always been a borderline case with the school team. They didn’t offer him the scholarship right away—not until I was in the final stages of accepting mine. You know, I almost went to another school, where the scholarship paid even more. Then the university offered Damon a scholarship too. That sealed my decision to go there.”
    “Do you think they only gave one to Damon to attract you?” I asked.
    DeLyn