I think it's best to find out from your lady what kind of sword she would prefer. I know mine would like a very nice late period small-sword. So that's on the shopping list at some point.
Yeah, sharp and/or heavy objects over places people will be, and are likely to bump them or the wall that they're on, makes be very nervous. What's worse is that people have an instinct to try to catch expensive things when they start to fall, so I make a point of telling people "It's a sword, it will be fine. However, you will not. Just get out of the way if it falls."