ROMANTIC VENTURE

CHAPTER SIX

Two fires blazed at opposite ends of the huge banquet hall. Crystal chandeliers hung from the arched ceiling and cast their softly flickering reflections onto the gold and silver serving pieces artfully arranged on snowy white linen cloths. Serving girls passed among the guests in the glittering hall with enormous salvers of cheese and meat pastries. Children, offspring of the adult and nearly adult servants, scurried about proffering pitchers of ale and sugared wines. Platters were heavily laden with woodcock and sausages, and fresh and candied fruits filled great silver bowls on each table. Creamed onions in an aromatic sauce were available, and spiced vegetables were passed. Plates of cheeses and tiny pilchards rolled in meal and fried crisp were emptied and refilled. The revelers ate with noisy enjoyment as they called for more bacon or another helping of potage.

Lady Violet stood at the entrance to the room, regarding the guests carefully. She knew that she must act before appetites waned and individuals were seen to excuse themselves from the tables to stroll in the gardens or simply enjoy a quiet moment before resuming dancing.

"You must join me at the head table, dear Dominic," she said softly, her voice barely audible above the happy din.

Dominic eyed her guardedly. "I wonder that you voice such an invitation, my lady," he said, matching her quiet tone.

She smiled serenely. "We have business there," she said and swept through the crowds of servants toward the table where her family sat. Dominic followed, wondering at the advisability of the move. He knew that he would not be welcomed by at least one member of the Harper family, and if Maurette had told of their encounter, he might find himself discharged into the damp London streets. His behavior bad been something less than diplomatic, and though the queen had sanctioned his piracy, he doubted very much that she would warrant such impolitic treatment of the privileged daughter of this respected family. He chided himself for his baiting of the girl. But, God's blood, how was he to know that she would call him out for it! The chit was as unpredictable as the month of her birth.

When they reached the table, Dominic offered a courtly bow though he declined Elaine Harper's gentle insistence that he join the family.

"Oh, but you must sit with us, if only for a moment, my lord," she said. "We missed you and my mother at dinner."

"We were dancing," said Lady Violet, tilting a sprightly look up at Dominic.

The matter seemed resolved. Dominic breathed a silent sigh of relief. Of course, he could have counted on the chit's discretion, if not to save his reputation, then surely to preserve her own. The smile he bestowed on Elaine Harper was as much in acknowledgment of her sweet invitation as it was in remembrance of her daughter's proclivity to mischance. The girl had made enough trouble for herself this night; she was not about to bring more upon herself.

Dominic turned to Maurette, seated next to her improbable little suitor. He bowed solemnly, then turned to the giggling Imogene and offered her a genial wink. She responded with a nod of her blond curls.

"Oh, sir," she said joyfully, "could it be that I may steal you away from my grandmama when the dancing, resumes?"

Before Dominic could respond in the affirmative, Lady Violet's voice resonated in the big room. "This family," she said, "has more important things to think of than dancing."

All eyes turned to the regal figure who now stood behind her son-in-law at the head of the table. The dais on which the table was situated provided an appropriate stage for her announcement. A hush settled over the room.

"'Twould seem there is a dangling issue between the elder daughter of this house and our guest." All eyes were upon the countess as she walked to the edge of the dais and faced Dominic. His face was a mask. Even with the advantage of the added height, Lady Violet was forced to look up at him. She gazed boldly into his eyes, which were glittering like polished steel. Even if she could have read his fearsome warnings, he doubted that she would have been daunted. As he suspected, she went on.

"'Twould seem," she said, turning her gaze on first the assembly and then the family and then directly on Maurette, " 'twould seem," she said in a softer tone, "there is the matter of a challenge to be honored."

A collective gasp filled the hall. Alex Harper stood, knocking over his wine goblet, and stared at his mother-in-law in disbelief. Lady Elaine gasped audibly, and Maurette quailed at her grandmother's insistent regard. Surely she could not have said the words. And yet, there they were, hanging like a lightning-filled nimbus in the air.

"What is this challenge you speak of?" bellowed Alex Harper.

"'Tis only that your own daughter offered the charge upon our guest, the duke of Ravenshead, for a perceived slight. I do think that this matter bears investigation, do you not agree, Alex?" Lady Violet's face was a mask of innocence as she watched all eyes dart to Dominic Warbrooke.

"Is this true?" Alex Harper demanded.

"It is true," Dominic said evenly.

"The challenge," Maurette choked out, "was delivered in jest, Papa." She stood and crossed to the front of the dais. "I assure you no insult was taken or intended preceding that exchange." She swept the hall with a pleading look. Surely no one would expect her to duel with the Silver Raven. She looked toward Dominic but found no reassurance in the slow smile that was forming on his lips. Her eyes widened. His eyes had taken on a feral glint. Maurette flinched inwardly at the aggression she noted in his demeanor. His countenance, in truth, led her to the horrifying thought that he might enjoy facing her on the field of honor.

Lady Violet glanced from one to the other. "Was I mistaken, Dominic, in my understanding of your earlier comment? Did you not tell me that my granddaughter made you a challenge?"

Dominic hooded his gaze. "She did, your Ladyship." He lifted his eyes to Maurette's ashen face. His strong, bronzed hand fingered the golden hilt of his sword. "I cannot but believe that the child was bantering with me. 'Twas foolish banter on her part, 'tis true. And though I have never, in my life, disregarded a challenge honestly made and steadfastly maintained, in this case and given the child's lack of judgment, I will offer my apology to my host and hostess. That any circumstance that would cause them discomfort should arise on my account is most lamentable."

Maurette reeled from his designation of her as a child. she faced Dominic with the full depth of her righteous abandon. A wiser head would have grasped at the opportunity given her to retract the rashly made challenge. She recoiled only momentarily at the menacing glower she encountered in Dominic's eyes.

"The challenge was, I assure you, honestly made," she said angrily.

He arched a finely shaped silver eyebrow, which only whetted her fury even further. "Indeed," he said quietly. His tone seemed a warning that the assembled company hoped their enchanting little Maurette would heed.

"Indeed," Maurette said sharply. "And," she added with an uncertain waver in her voice that only Dominic detected, "It is, of course, steadfastly maintained."

"So be it," said Dominic softly.

The crowd reacted with gasping outrage. Lady Elspeth was exceedingly verbal on this circumstance. "Surely he does not mean to fight the child," she said indignantly. "'Tis one thing to play at dueling with her father, but quite another to face a queen's knight in an actual contest."

The guests were in agreement. The mere expectation of a duel would have been enough to feed their conversation for months, but the actuality of such a brutal display was not food for idle gossip. The situation was becoming fraught with-distortion. No longer was the picture of the mischievous Lady Maurette, with donned breeches and brandishing a sword, quite so titillating as it had been. Suddenly real danger was facing their favorite. Each individual eyed her potential adversary with fearful dismay. If he dared to harm her… The thought was unfinished for its horrifying significance.

Dominic Warbrooke stood before his tiny challenger. His demeanor indicated both deference and dispassion. In truth, he could not conquer his admiration for this courageous little swashbuckler.. He wondered how in God's name she would get herself out of this. Or, he thought soberly, if she would.

Alex Harper, recovering from his mother-in-law's disclosure and from his daughter's ill-advised affirmation, finally stepped between the two rivals.

"My daughter," he said, addressing Dominic, "has an obstinate sense of justice. For this I blame myself in full measure." At this point, he placed an arm around Maurette's slender shoulders. His purpose in doing so was to offer his paternal protection as well as to subdue his daughter's anger. "'Tis not unlikely that the challenge was made in earnest, though my daughter has said that no offense was taken or intended." He turned to Maurette hopefully. "Did you not say that, child?"

"I was mistaken," Maurette said evenly, not taking her eyes from Dominic.

"Mistaken?" Alex said despairingly. "Now, now, Maurette, think on this, my precious. In any event," he said, turning back to the duke of Ravenshead, "this is a peaceful household, good sir. In all things, we strive for negotiation as opposed to violence. I will assume, therefore, that my daughter will withdraw her exception to any utterance to which she may have taken offense. I will further assume," he said with stalwart sureness, "that you, my lord, will accept the apology of my, household for this distraction."

Dominic inclined his head slightly. "If your daughter will accept this condition, I shall not press the matter."

Maurette's eyes flashed lavender sparks. "Papa is most protective, and I am grateful," she said, her voice' steady. "But," and here she paused while the crowd waited, holdings its collective breath, "I shall not allow negotiation on this matter. If Lord Warbrooke accepts my challenge-and I am offering him the option-there can be no question of the attendant result." She shrugged off her father's arm. "I can see that words will not settle this matter. They are such tenuous tools. Lord Warbrooke is, I am told, a man of action. 'Tis action he shall have." Without warning she step- to Dominic and swung her delicate arm forcefully. With an appalling crack, her small hand connected with his bronzed jaw. Dominic barely flinched, but his eyes widened imperceptibly and then became slits of unyielding metal.

Slowly he reached up to touch his face where Maurette had slapped him. "I see," he said almost inaudibly, "that the lady will accept no quarter in this matter. I see, too, that youthful exuberance and rashness cannot be attributed only to hotheaded young men. 'Tis now I who demand satisfaction." He bowed grimly, then rose again to his full intimidating height. He gazed down on his small assailant, whose wide eyes were liquid and arrogant. "twill await your presence in the courtyard, my lady," he said, then turned and strode from the room.

A horrified hush fell over the assemblage at the terrible outcome of this night. They watched as Alex Harper growled beneath his breath and flung his napkin onto the table. Lady Elaine used hers to fan herself in a helpless frenzy. Imogene sat next to her in awed disbelief. Timothy Braden looked dumbly at his childhood friend standing in deep reflection. The stately and serene Lady Violet watched them all, a small secret smile touching her lips.