ROMANTIC VENTURE

CHAPTER FIVE

The entertainment for the evening proved a joyous complement to the ball. Alex Harper had imported a group of young masters from the country where they were making their warm-weather residence. Actors always added a festive note to any party, and Maurette's birthday ball would not have been complete without their talents.

As a rule, actors were considered an unsavory lot, never to be trusted as conscientious citizens. Each troupe endeavored to receive the sanction and protection of a nobleman to guarantee their behavior while they were in residence. Raucous or untoward conduct on their part was not acceptable, and the men were expected to comport themselves in a manner that would honor their patron's name. For the most part, the actors were a soft-spoken lot, serious in their demeanor and, under the watchful eyes of the gentry at least, businesslike in their approach to their art. On stage, however, there were few limits to what might be expected of them.

Maurette and Imogene seated themselves for the interlude that was about to be enacted and giggled appreciatively over the men who now danced and juggled and piped silly melodies as an introduction to the evening's masque.

The two girls watched in joyful awe as the masters gathered on the makeshift stage; one they had themselves erected with the aid of four upright supports and a board set on top. The guests found seating and quieted while shadows thrown by the wavering flames of the torches apportioning the area of the stage danced on their expectant faces. Elizabethans loved their entertainment, and this one proved as dazzling as any they had seen.

The troupe performed a ribald interlude involving a ruffian named Christopher Sly. His wild antics, including an improbable brawl with a barroom bawd, enchanted and amused the audience. Maurette found herself laughing uproariously when the bejeweled and painted woman finally dragged the drunken Christopher over her knee and spanked him soundly. The bawd's young and innocent daughter intervened and brought the young Sly to his senses with sweet words and hot broth. When the girl's mother discovered the two in gentle communion, she promptly set to beating the unfortunate hero within an inch of his life, the actor doing several back-flips to emphasize the impact of the woman's blows. Maurette and Imogene gasped audibly at the physicalness of the battle, then applauded heartily when the young daughter and Christopher turned upon the woman, giving her a dose of her own medicine. The bawd's ensuing acrobatics sent the appreciative audience into gales of laughter.

Noting their mother's admonishing glare, Maurette and Imogene realized they really should not be enjoying anything that outrageous so thoroughly. The sisters placed their hands primly in their laps and contented themselves with joining in a final round of exuberant applause as the actors came out to take their bows. The painted bawd and her innocent daughter were particularly appreciated when they removed their wigs and revealed themselves to be men.

Maurette was the last to cease applauding as candles and torches were re-lit and the room was once again bright with light. As the music started up, Maurette's mind flew back reluctantly to the reality of her situation. She wondered if Dominic would report her inexcusable behavior in the courtyard. She did not believe so, else why would he have protected her when her grandmother had discovered them? In any event, the duke of Ravenshead did not seem the type to complain to others of injustices done him. He seemed more likely to carry out his own justice in his own manner And, Maurette reasoned further, his own behavior had been less than exemplary If he dared to call her out for her unladylike boldness, she certainly had her own tale to tell and her own rationale for seeking justice.

When Timothy Braden invited Maurette to dance, she accepted. She did not note the silver gaze that accompanied her and the earl of Rice onto the dance floor.

Slanting a look up at young Braden's callow face, she thought he was a handsome lad. He had a nice face and was from a well-connected family He spoke well and rode well, and he had certainly made his devotion to her obvious. She really did like Tim, she mused as she as she listened to his light-hearted to his chatter recalling the events of the interlude just performed. She laughed easily as they danced in companionable and courtly fashion.

Maurette darted a glance in the direction of Dominic saw he was watching her from where he stood in isolation at the end of the room. His brooding demeanor unnerved her, and with deliberateness, she turned her attention back to Timothy.

She dimpled prettily for this worthy boon companion. Timothy would never cause her embarrassment as had that titled interloper Timothy would never force her into compromising attitudes and provoke emotional responses from her that she did not care to display. Timothy was deferential and constant in his attitude toward her, always gentlemanly.

At another, Maurette pondered, she might have termed him dull, but tonight she was grateful for his comfortable presence and proceeded to flirt with him outrageously.

The young man was surprised and delighted with her coquettishness, which Maurette had not shown him before. Perhaps it signaled a new and more fruitful area their relationship, one he had hoped to explore during the latter years of their acquaintance. Maurette was a delightful and fascinating creature, and Timothy felt his masculine sensitivities to her feminine wiles overtake him.

When dinner was announced, many of the young couples continued dancing, but Maurette decided that this was an excellent time to introduce her parents to the new facet of her and Timothy's relationship. She knew it would make her mother happy, for Elaine had always liked Timothy and encouraged his suit. Maurette led the young man to the banquet hall where she invited him to join the family for supper.

>From across the room Dominic had watched Maurette's flirtatious display in blazing silence. As he eyed her exit with the unsuspecting Timothy with disgust, he felt it would give him no end of pleasure to swat the shapely backside of that impish little chit for leading that that poor youth to what would surely be a bloodletting. That innocent young gallant would in all probability faint if the fair Maurette ever showed her vixenish nature to him as she had in the courtyard to Dominic. The earl of Rice would not know what to do with that wild and untamed aspect of the politely bred Maurette of his acquaintance. Dominic allowed himself a small smile as he contemplated Timothy's reaction had she challenged him to a duel. There was no question that the young man would have fumfered, cleared his throat, and tried to cajole her out of her pique. Dominic knew what his own reaction would have been if the countess had not appeared just then.

He should, by rights, have accepted the hellcat's confrontation, regardless. 'Twould have served her right to be forced to face her own reckless behavior.

"Your secret is safe with me, but not for long, I fear." The voice was soft and melodious. Dominic stopped short in his musings and turned to find a startling pair of sapphire eyes upon him. Lady Violet met his surprise with calm amusement. The corners of her lovely lips quirked as she noted Dominic's sullen attention on the dining room. "She has not gone far," said the dowager.

Dominic bowed respectfully "I am honored by your attention, my lady," he said for lack of other words.

"Will you invite me to dance?" said Lady Violet with a dainty curtsy.

"Why-why yes, my lady," Dominic said in bewilderment.

"Do not be so surprised," said Lady Violet, taking his arm and allowing him to lead her onto the floor. "I love to dance, you see, but all the men worth dancing with fear that, in my dotage, I will break. I am not, I assure you, fragile; I only appear so."

The countess's stamina on the dance floor, once proved, was happily and perhaps rather wickedly essayed by her partner. "I told you, I love to dance," she reminded Dominic as he executed a complex routine that she followed expertly. They both laughed.

"My granddaughter is lovely, is she not?" the countess understated when the dance had slowed.

Dominic growled his assent then looked directly down into the woman's eyes. "Your granddaughter is is..."

"Yes?" questioned Lady Violet innocently. "Please go on, sir."

"She is…"

"You seem to be having a difficult time with words this night," she said pertly.

Dominic regarded the countess in amazement. This exquisitely beautiful older woman was flirting with him, toying with the duke of Ravenshead, the nefarious Silver Raven. He held her firmly, and they negotiated another complicated step. Dominic chuckled low in his throat. The apple had fallen not far from the tree, he decided. He cocked a silver eyebrow and looked directly into her lovely eyes.

"Your granddaughter is lovely," he stated and added, "She is of excellent stock."

Lady Violet nodded. "Indeed, sir. I envy the man who wins her hand in marriage, don't you?"

"Marriage," said Dominic archly. Then amending his attitude, he said, "Envy is not quite the response I would conjure for myself in thinking of another's marriage to your fair Maurette."

The two danced in silence for a few moments, and when the dance ended, they regarded each other with mutual admiration. Dominic led the countess to a window seat. In deference to her age, he offered her a chair, but she contented herself with settling down on the padded sill.

"You seem to display a distinct aversion to the word 'marriage,'" she said easily when they were seated opposite each other in the cozy embrasure.

"Is that your assessment, my lady?"

"It is, sir."

"'Tis not the word I hasten to avoid but the condition."

"And yet," she continued relentlessly, "Our little Maurette interests you."

"Very much," Dominic said. It was his turn to do some toying. He did not know how far he could push the countess, but his instinct told him that her sense of adventure at least matched that of her granddaughter and that her spirit was not easily splintered. "You will undoubtedly be taken unawares to learn that the young lady we speak of has challenged me to a duel."

"Has she?" said the countess tranquilly. Her poise irritated Dominic.

"Naturally I am interested in such a lady," he said, emphasizing the last word.

"Naturally," said Lady Violet, amusement evident in her bright eyes. "Did you insult her?"

"I spoke the truth to her."

"Ah," said the countess with understanding. "That is always dangerous."

"More dangerous than I had anticipated," said Dominic ruefully.

"Our Maurette is not in want of courage where she perceives offense."

Dominic smiled. "She perceived offense this night, my lady."

"And, I suppose, none was intended."

"I must admit to a desire to-test a reaction," he said with a wide grin.

Lady Violet liked his smile. She liked this young nobleman, in truth, as much as any she had met. "What was the outcome?" she asked sweetly.

"Outcome?" asked Dominic, suddenly serious. "Why, there was none. Your appearance on the field of honor ended the matter," he said, his smile returning.

"I see," said the woman, rising thoughtfully. "Shall we go into supper, young Raven?"

This woman bemused him. She was, at once, regal and serene; yet she was possessed of a kittenish, playful nature. He did not remember his emotions ever having been so tangled in the course of one conversation. She had a certain feminine power and a decided female mystique that intrigued him as much as he had ever been intrigued and by much younger women. If the granddaughter had a tenth of the grandmother's finesse, she would almost be worth a matrimonially inclined perusal, that is, of course, if Dominic were matrimonially inclined.

The legendary privateer watched in admiration as the legendary beauty swept her way across the ballroom floor. He was alert to any one of a hundred possibilities where it concerned that infinite woman. With her, anything was possible. She glanced back at him over a slender shoulder. Dominic arched an eyebrow. Then, with a smile and a shake of his head, he followed and entered the banquet hall with the lovely countess, composed and contented, on his arm.