ROMANTIC VENTURE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Games of cards or chess before the blazing hearth characterized Maurette's next weeks at Ravenshead. Dominic accompanied her to her chamber each evening after dinner. Sometimes they invited Geoffrey and Ben in for whist. Geoff, more often that not; excused himself from these "family" evenings and went about his own business.

Though Kitty had been confined to the servants' quarters when she was not serving Maurette directly, she was, at Maurette's insistence, allowed to join them. Dominic had long since decided that he would not interfere in this situation. Lydia and Maurette seemed to have come to some sort of peace concerning Kitty. Though the girl was in awe of Dominic's presence, she suffered her whist lessons and even beat him once at chess. The lessons, Dominic had conceded, were harmless enough and even enjoyable in light of Kitty's intelligence and enthusiasm. However, it was decided by all that Lydia should not be apprised of these sub rosa activities.

One night Geoffrey stayed very late, for there was ale aplenty, and the man of whom Dominic had spoken some days before, Rodrigo the household's resident dwarf, was present. Geoffrey watched the man curiously, but no mention was ever made of anything about which Dominic had spoken. And finally, after an hour or so of riddles and entertainment provided by the vital Rodrigo, Geoffrey turned to his own diversions-ale and the petty serving girl, Kitty.

Maurette was particularly enjoying the little man's company. She inquired as to why she had not seen him on her arrival at Ravenshead.

He simply laughed his infectious laugh and said, "The martin haunts the westward tower, covering himself when comes the shower." His intelligent eyes beamed whenever he spoke in riddles and he often spoke in riddles. After each he would execute a jaunty cartwheel and strut cockily with his odd rolling gait round the room, waving his plumed hat as his feat was applauded along with his wit.

"Where do you abide, Rodrigo?" Maurette inquired through a bubble of laughter as the man engaged in a particularly clever robotic performance.

Rodrigo gave a small shrug as he sat down on the floor near the fire. Though he smiled, there was a sadness about his eyes that was noted only by Maurette "In a pause," he said enigmatically, "in a sigh, dear lady. And," he added, his usual enigmatic good cheer returning, "in a well-positioned dam's good graces." He giggled and pulled his knees to his chest. "Come and visit me, if you dare,* he said, glancing at Maurette between his folded knees.

" 'Tis enough," Dominic said good-naturedly as he drew the little man to his feet. "Enough riddles and enough ale," he added with a pointed look toward Geoffrey and Ben. "'Tis time we ended this evening of debauchery. We thank you, Rod, for your good company." Dominic led his guests from the chamber.

Ben smiled genially as he was ushered from the room. "It has been a most enchanting evening," he said, bowing to Maurette. His eyes were glazed with unaccustomed drink, but as he took Maurette's hand in a courtly gesture, he noted her reflective aspect and decided, if he could in in fact remember it, to ask in the near future the reason for her darkened mood.

As he left the chamber, Ben tried to recall what the dwarf had said in answer to Maurette's inquiry-whatever that might have been-to cause her mood of reflection. He reminded himself, as he weaved down the gallery to his own chamber, what every learned man knew.

"In the words of Master Hippocrates," he muttered as he propelled himself into his room and onto his bed, "'Everything in excess is opposed to nature.'" Then prayerfully he murmured, "If I live, let ale be barred from my lips." He held onto the sides of his bed as the room spun in sickeningly distorted circles. "If I live," he added as his stomach lurched obliquely, Please let me die."

Geoffrey was lying on one of the small settees near the fire. Kitty sat on a low stool near his feet, which were slung ungracefully over the sofa's delicate arm. She gazed worshipfully into his roguishly sparkling eyes.

"'Tis time, Geoff," said Dominic. "though we have enjoyed your company immensely"-here he eyed Kitty and added pointedly-"some of us, in truth, have enjoyed your company more than the others, but 'tis time we said good night. My lady and I wish to retire." Dominic placed a powerful arm beneath Geoffrey's broad shoulders and lifted him to a seated position. "Can you make it, old friend?"

Geoffrey nodded, and a foolish smile crossed his lips. "C'n I pierce holes in a girl's petticoat?" he asked slyly.

"I am sure you could, old Geoff. But not tonight, I fear." Dominic laughed and helped him stand. He ushered the big man to the door. "Shall I escort you to your chamber, Geoff?"

"Oh, please let me," said Kitty. She stopped short as Dominic and Maurette eyed her in surprise. "'Tis only that he seems in need of a woman's gentle handling," she said shyly. Maurette smiled. "Is he mobile, Dominic?" Dominic drew away from Geoffrey and essayed the man's balance.

"He is." said Dominic, satisfied that Geoffrey could walk steadily and would not topple over onto the slender Kit. "Take him, young Kit," he said genially.

Kitty moved gratefully to Geoffrey's side. They started off, and before they were a few steps from Maurette's chamber, the girl's sweet voice could be heard crooning an ancient lullaby. Geoffrey enveloped her slim shoulders in one big arm, and they shuffled off to his chamber.

The happy evening ended with a sleepy Maurette falling into a peaceful slumber in Dominic's arms. As always he had made tender love to her and transported her to a world of rapturous quiescence. As always she awoke the next morning and found herself alone.

Boredom plagued Maurette almost constantly. The crushing rains that traditionally marked the month of September and the early part of October-rains that bore down bridges and flooded usually benign streams - had kept her inside. And the rains had added to the gloom of the castle.

Being unaccustomed to enforced inactivity, Maurette was restless She longed for something to do. Each morning she would arise and take her breakfast on a tray near the now constantly blazing fire. After her morning toilette she wrote letters to her family; that had become a daily ritual.

To allay any fears they might have for her, she kept the letters short and cheery. "Yesterday we entertained several of the neighbors for tea," she would find herself writing, or "Dominic and I have accepted an invitation to a lovely ball, and I am at my wit's end as to what to wear." Neither of these things had truly happened. Nor had Maurette helped to plan a menu or seen to a purchase for the household. Maurette looked up from her writing on this morning and realized that, in truth, she knew nothing whatever about the place in which she lived.

She had attempted several small forays outside her chamber, but had been puzzled to find Lydia always in the vicinity. Maurette would catch a glimpse of the woman at a chamber door or spot her in a far gallery She wondered if the chatelaine was truly spying on her, but dismissed the idea as irrational. Sometimes, when her boredom overwhelmed her, she would enter the withdrawing room to find a book. She did not do this often, however, for she felt the chamber to be dominated by dirt and the terrible lusting raven of the family crest. She would cringe and choose her reading matter quickly, for the maleficent sentinel seemed to guard those envious with a proprietary hostility.

Maurette crumpled the paper on which she was now writing of yet another invented activity. From this moment she decided, she would tell her family of actual adventures. That very evening she would ask Dominic if she might be given a few responsibilities. She would ask if she might plan a ball or a small tea to introduce herself to the neighboring houses. Though, if she could, in truth, involve herself in these activities, she might feel less gilt over having falsely written of them to her family. In fact, the events might well have taken place before her letters arrived at Harper House, she consoled herself.

Kitty entered the chamber and Stood shyly near the entrance. Maurette turned to find her awaiting her daily lesson. The two young women enjoyed their studies very much. Maurette had found several volumes in the detested withdrawing chamber, from which they read every day. Kitty was a quick student and eager to learn. Maurette would read a passage while Kitty enthusiastically followed each word. Then, as she began to study individual letters and the sounds they made, Maurette would encourage her to pronounce phonetically a word here and there. Their work was tedious but rewarding.

Today Kitty was to read an entire passage by herself. Nervously she moved to the small sofa near the fire and sat down, nearly hugging herself in her excitement. Maurette picked up a volume from her nightstand and opened it to a page they had been studing.

"Here you are, dear Kit," she said, gently handing the open tome to the girl. "Today, you shall attempt Master Roger Bacon."

Kitty nodded solemnly. She took the volume and began to read uncertainly. "'Th-there are in fact…four very sig-sig-signif…icant stumbling blocks in the way of gr-grasping the truth.' " She looked up at Maurette with a small smile of triumph. Maurette applauded her initial effort and urged her to go on. As she read, Kitty became more and more confident and her words began to flow smoothly.

Maurette's eyes widened as her pupil completed the difficult passage. "Why, Kit," she breathed raptly, "you have learned well." She drew the book from Kitty's hands and knelt before her. Taking the girl's hands in hers, Maurette looked up at her in awe. "You are magnificent," she said.

Kitty's eyes were a-shimmer with tears of gratitude. She embraced her teacher warmly. " 'Tis you I bless for my new attainment," she said softly. She drew back from Maurette, and a puzzled looked crossed her face. "Can you tell me, though, one thing, my lady?" Maurette looked into the girl's warm, intelligent eyes. "Please tell me what the passage means."

In their small luminescent circle of firelight, the two women smiled at one another. They both realized there was much to be done.

At dinner that evening, feeling confident that her small requests would be received equitably, Maurette brought up the subject of sponsoring a small entertainment. She felt Lydia's narrow gaze upon her as she mentioned to Dominic that she would enjoy a tour of the great house-hold. She was sure that he hesitated imperceptibly before telling her that she could certainly satisfy her curiosity on the morrow. Even Geoffrey and Ben seemed mildly taken aback by her inquiry.

"Is there a problem?" She inquired as she glanced from one to the other.

"Not at all," Dominic said evenly. He smiled then and patted her hand, which rested tensely on the table next to her plate. " 'This only that none of us can imagine your wanting to explore this musty old place."

"Aye," said Lydia, swallowed her wine with audible difficulty. "We stay to our rooms for the most part." She swept a disdainful glance at the high ceiling and at the archway leading from the family-dining hall. "You expect to discover history here, but all you will find is soot and spiders' webs."

Maurette gave Lydia a sweet smile. "Perhaps that is the first thing that I should look to," she said. "After all if we are to have people here, we must surely concern ourselves with the cleanliness of the place." Maurette added tartly, "If there is one thing my mama taught me, it is the value of cleanliness."

Lydia smiled derisively. "You mama has never lived in an ancient castle, methinks."

Maurette arched an elegant brow. Lydia had a tendency toward sarcasm that Maurette found decidedly tiresome. Though they saw nothing of each other during the days, as per Maurette's suggestion, their dinners together each evening were becoming more and more strained.

"I am perfectly prepared to face a full chart of responsibilities," Maurette said archly, "I shall roll up my sleeves on the morrow and face them with a vengeance."

The diners glanced at each other uneasily, and Dominic cleared his throat. "We do not, as a rule, invite people here, Maurette," he said carefully.

Maurette smiled sweetly and brushed Dominic's cheek with her fingertips. "Then," she said amiably, " 'tis time you started." Her voice did not betray the trepidation she felt as the company regarded each other in suppressed bemusement.

It was much later, in the privacy of her chamber, that Maurette approached Dominic on the subject. "I do not understand, Dominic, why you seem so hesitant to grant me this small boon." Her voice held a yearning that was both sad and sweet. " 'Tis only natural that I should desire the company of gay people, and, as to a tour of the castle, it is most perfectly natural that I should wish to better know the home in which I live. I barely leave my chamber. Why," she said with sweet sincerity, "I have never even seen your bedchamber."

"That," he said, "can be easily remedied."

Dominic laughed and whisked Maurette up into his arms and conveyed her into the dimly lit gallery. The flame light of the low burning torches brushed the stone walls with wavering shadows as they passed. At the far end of the gallery, Dominic shouldered his was through a huge door and set her down.

Maurette gazed at the tiny chamber lit only by a low fire. The bed was little more than a cot. Fresh rushes whispered beneath her feet as Maurette moved into the room. She inspected a low table near the bed and found a nearly gutted candle and a small volume of Master Marlowe's writings. She looked up at Dominic.

Dominic smiled, and his strong white teeth glinted in the darkness. " 'Tis not a very lordly chamber, is it?" He said gently. He crossed to where Maurette stood and lit the low candle. He picked up the little book, and it fell open to a much-read passage.

"Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss!
Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flies!
Come Helen; come give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for heaven be in these lips.
And all is dross that is not…

Maurette," he finished with a breath.

Maurette moved to him and reached up to take his face into her small white Hands. She drew his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. He took Maurette into his arms, and there they remained in a lingering embrace.

Then Dominic drew away and regarded Maurette ruefully. He turned away from her and stood with his head bowed for long moments, his broad back, usually so proud and straight, bent as if under some heavy weight.

"Tell me what's troubling you, Dominic," Maurette said tenderly.

"This is not a household fit for a spirited young woman, I fear," he said softly, turning to face her, and a small smile crossed his lips. "" Was foolish to bring you here, Maurette. 'Twas my selfish desires I considered and not you." He held up the volume and offered a small shrug. "My 'Helena,'" he added with a deeper smile.

Maurette placed a hand on his chest and gazed into the softness of his gray eyes. She returned his smile. "Your problems are my problems. Allow me a proper place in your life, Dominic," she urged gently. " 'Tis all I ask. 'Tis all I need."

There was a simple longing in her tone that clutched at Dominic's heart. He could not imagine another moment of his life without her. Bending his head, he caught her soft lips in a tender kiss, and she yielded with consuming tenderness. Enfolding her within his arms, he drew her ripe suppleness to the long lean length of him.

Maurette drew away just long enough to unfasten the lacings of his shirt. She reached inside to brush the masculine hardness of his lightly furred chest with her fingertips.

He groaned as he felt the coolness of her touch upon her warm flesh. Sweeping her up into his strong arms, he carried her to the bed where he laid her down and gently began to remove her clothing. She wore a soft filmy dressing gown and nightdress, which he eagerly lifted, from her shimmering body. In the shadows of the firelight, her silken softness shone in iridescent splendor. His hands melted into her tender flesh, and she arched willingly to his passionate ardor.

Much later, when she felt the rippling muscles of his chest beneath her soft cheek, she mused lazily that this stalwart gallant needed a few lessons himself. She smiled and nestled against him in the narrow bed. In spite of himself, he would learn to enjoy the solicitude of a loving woman.