I let my hand slip down from MarSn's shoulders to the small of her back, and could feel the beginning of her cleft. I longed to slide it down farther, and cup her b.u.t.tocks, but knew better.

"You dance a bit closer than a chaperone might approve of, Damastes."

"I apologize to the invisible iron lady. But not to you." "You are a shameful man, sir. Does the army teach you such behavior?"

"That and worse, my good Countess. For instance, there isa dance done by soldiers of myreal regiment, in faraway Mehul, when they visit the sinful dens of Rotten Row, that requires the man to put both arms closely around his partner. Of course we officers would never partake of such an ostentatiously s.e.xual pastime as that." 'Ts the dance slow or fast?"

"It alternates, and I've seen women leap from the floor and wrap their legs around their accomplices, and then lean back until their hair brushes the floor."

"Sinful, perhaps," Mar n said. "And definitely acrobatic." She laughed. "Wouldn't that shock the good people of Nicias if we suddenly began such a turn?"

"Possibly," I said, a bit drunk with the notion, "but I at least wouldn't notice their response." "Careful, sir."

There was a touch on my shoulder, and I came back to earth and prepared to relinquish Maran reluctantly to an interloper. Standing there was Elias Malebranche. "Good evening, Captain a Cimabue."

Anger just at his presence flashed through me, but I said nothing, and stepped back. Maran looked puzzled, but moved toward Malebranche, ready to dance away. She smiled at him-the landgrave was a not unhandsome man, I had to admit.

"No, Countess, I am not asking for the dance, but thank you for the honor," he said. "My master wishes to have further converse with you." He nodded at me. "We shall need the honor*of the lady's presence for only a few moments. So if you'll excuse us..."

Maran's face reddened.

"Captain," she said to me,"I am not sure I understand what mis man really wishes, but I am most shocked he would ask me to leave my chosen escort at his master's beckon, for some sort of dialogue he is afraid for you to overhear. I gather you know him?"

"Yes," I said, pushing my own rage back, and put an expression of puzzlement on my face.

"Yes, now I think I do. Forgive me. Countess Agramonte and Lavedan, tins is Elias Malebranche. I believe he has a t.i.tle... ah yes. Landgrave."

Malebranche bowed, Mar&i barely inclined her head. Before Maran could respond to the insulting invitation, I said, in my smoothest courtier's tones, "My humblest apologies, Landgrave Malebranche. But I did not recognize you without your yellow silk cord."

Malebranche's eyes flashed rage, and he spun on me.

"What does that mean, sir?"

Instead of answering him directly, I spoke to Mara'n.

"The good landgrave has close friends in the hills and now elsewhere who have most unusual ideas on how to enrich themselves. I shall not speak their name here, but his a.s.sociates are the sort of murderous sc.u.m you might expect a man who behaves as he does to a.s.sociate with."

Malebranche's words came through gritted teeth.

"Your manners, sir, are exactly what I'd expect from a peasant foot soldier. My master merely thought the lady might enjoy the company of a gentleman, rather than a mercenary from a forgotten and barbaric state who's probably taken vows of celibacy to match his costume."

There could be but one response to that. I was about to explode, but saw Malebranche's hand unconsciously caressing the haft of his knife. If I struck bun, he would be ent.i.tled to defend himself by any means necessary right here, and I was unarmed, though I feared him not in the slightest If I called him out, it would be bis choice of weapons, and obviously he was an expert with the knife. Maran, too, knew what must occur, and her anger had turned to fear.

I don't know where I found control-perhaps Tanis or my monkey G.o.d Vachan granted me a boon.

But I did, and said, in a fairly calm tone, "Landgrave, I know what you wish me to do. But I cannot. A Numantian officer must not duel with his inferiors."

"How dare you! The Malebranche family can extend its heritage for a thousand years!"

"If that is so, which I doubt, then your ancestors would be hanging their heads, seeing their descendant no more man a false n.o.bleman's pimp."

That did it.

Malebranche, his voice ice, said, "Very well. My response shall be on the Field of Honor. Is that agreeable with you?"

I bowed agreement, and he stalked away.

The red anger subsided, and I looked about. Fortunately no one seemed to have heard our exchange, and we were merely getting puzzled looks as to why we were standing still in the middle of the dance floor.

I took MarSn in my arms and moved away, pretending to dance.

"Now what happens ' she whispered. "Now I kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

A few minutes later, Maran's temper roared back, and she wanted to go to Chardin Sher and tell him what a contemptible swine he was.

"If you wish," I said, choosing my words carefully. "I'll cheerfully accompany you."

"No you won't. I can take care of myself. Besides, you'd probably take that wretched man's dagger away from him and stab the s.h.i.t, and then what would happen?"

"I'd be executed, of course. But I would die happy, and rise on the Wheel for having served such a beautiful woman."

"Stop trying to calm me down, dammit!"

"My apologies." I started to say something more, that I had*not been the one to insult her, but fortunately held my tongue. We were alone in one of the gardens. We'd gone out of the ballroom to calm ourselves down, and clearly it was not happening. Maran stared out into the night. After a time, she turned back.

"No, Damastes. It is for me to apologize. I'm foolish to think of going to Chardin Sher. He'll deny he said anything of the sort, and then I'll be the fool.

"Why in the h.e.l.ls is it always the man who's believed?" "I don't know," I said. "Maybe it's because man makes the laws."

"Well, it's stupid and it's f.u.c.ked!" Her rage was returning. Her dress seemed to respond to her anger, because the coils seemed up and down her body.

"It is," I agreed. I didn't know what to do-the evening was ruined. I supposed that we should just leave quietly. But instead of suggesting that, I took her gently in my arms, and held her close.

We stood in silence for a very long time, and her breathing came hard, then relaxed, then hard again, then gentled as she fought for, then found, control.

"I am not going to cry, either," she said against my chest. "I won't give that son of a b.i.t.c.h the price of one d.a.m.ned tear!" She lifted her head to me, and her lips parted. I kissed her, and she kissed me back, fiercely. Then she pulled away.

"I suppose he would have said how taken he was with me, and perhaps I might be willing to meet him in his quarters later. He doesn't impress me as a man who spends much time wooing those he wants.

"But I've heard nastier suggestions," she said. "The sons of the rich think they can talk like stable hands when they're not granted their every desire, and have very strange ideas of what an unaccompanied young woman might wish." A bit of a smile came. "Although I've never had them from somebody as high-ranking as Chardin Sher. I suppose I should be honored."

She laughed then, and the laugh was genuine. "I wonder how Malebranche qualified as Chardin Sher's procurer."

"Probably sold him bis mother and sister," I said. I did not tell her I knew Malebranche to be far more than just a pimp- I now realized he was the prime minister's specialist for any and all dirty work.

' shall tell you what we are going to do," Maran said. "We are going back in there, and we are going to enjoy ourselves, and forget about Kallians. I was having far too good a time to allow them to ruin anything."

That was exactly what we did. Chardin Sher and bis lackeys were gone, so it was not impossible. As the evening went on, it became easier and easier.

The ball would last all night, but it was only a bit past midnight when Maran suggested we leave.

"We have made our appearance, I've shown off my outfit, and we've discovered Kallians are pigs. What else is there to do? I'm afraid to eat anything or I'll burst out of this dress."

"Hmm," I said. "What an interesting thought Have you examined that tray of eclairs over there? They look delicious."

"Come on, you lunatic Cimabuan!" She laughed, pulled the serpent's hood from her head, and her hair fellfreeabout her shoulders. I unmasked as well and followed her.

On the ride to her house, Maria was quiet I a.s.sumed she was brooding about Chardin Sher's insult, and so tried to keep a jolly conversation going.

I stepped out of the brougham when it pulled to a halt and handed her down. I was about to bid her good night, and go to the stables for Lucan, when she said, "Captain, are you a gentleman?"

"I would hope so, Countess."

"Then I can invite you in, although I have little idea on what to serve a nonimbiber."

"In honor of the occasion, Madam, I will make an exception and allow you to pour me a small bit of your finest brandy."

"Youare a gracious man, sir, ever ready to help a distressed and puzzled damsel."

The house was deserted, and there were no servants about even though the gaslights blazed.

"I suppose everyone thought we'd be out till dawn, and went out to look for parties of their own." She frowned. "Very, very old, brandy. That would most likely be in... insomeone's study."

She led me upstairs, and bade me wait. I stood in the luxurious halls, feeling foolish in my orange robes.

After a moment, she came out with a crystal decanter that shot reflections of the light around the room.

"Let's see. Oh, I know. You haven't seen the solarium yet Come on." She took my hand and led me up the stairs to the roof. It was a large room, with a gla.s.s roof curved like the top of a breadloaf. It wasall done in white, wrought-iron chairs and tables, even the framesthat held the gla.s.s window panes. There were doors that opened onto a deck.

I sat gingerly in an ornatechair, and Maran poured me brandy, then sat downin athinly upholstered lounge that looked as if it would collapse if I had tried to use it.

"I wish to thank you," I said, "for inviting me to the ball. Otherwise I would have been one of those poor cavalrymen we saw in the streets, sitting my horse, trying to look n.o.ble and freezing my, my-"

"b.a.l.l.s is the word you are looking for." "No it's not. But it'll do. By the way, I meant to compliment you on your language. I didn't know countesses could swear like you."

"You can if you grow up in the country and ride a lot. All my horses respond better to that sort of language than cooing and such."

"How odd," I said. "Army horses prefer soothing and gentleness. Perhaps it's the unfamiliar that makes them listen."

I smiled, and she hesitantly smiled back. For a second, her expression once more became that of the innocent expecting punishment. She rose and went to one of the doors. I picked up my gla.s.s and joined her.

Below was the river, and even at this late hour I saw the lights of barges and vessels. I thought I heard something, and opened the door. I was right Soft music drifted up from the water. After a moment I saw where it came from: Far upriver a luxury ferry moved slowly toward us, and there must have been a band aboard.

I was standing very close behind Mar&i, and could smell, over her perfume that was making me far drunker than the bit of brandy I'd tasted, the clean scent of her hair.

She turned, and took the brandy gla.s.s from my hand, and sat it down. "Now, you arrant bluffer, we are far from prying eyes and we have a magically provided orchestra. I wish to see mis Rotten Row dance, sir."

I hesitated, and the way her eyes boldly took me made the decision.

"The h.e.l.ls with being a gentleman," I muttered, and her arms slid around me, and she melted into my embrace. I slid my arms down around her back and, as I'd longed, cupped her b.u.t.tocks. She caught her breath, slipped one leg between mine, and we moved as one. I began kneading my hands, and her breath came faster and I felt her nipples rise, even through my costume.

I felt my c.o.c.k hard against her thigh, and she forced herself closer. We danced like that for an eternity, and then I suddenly realized the ship was long gone, and the only music we had was in our minds.

She pulled me down into a kiss. Our tongues flared together, and she moaned, moving her head from side to side, crushing her lips against mine.

Then she pulled away.

"Yes, Damastes. Now. Quickly. Come with me."

Almost running, she led me toward the stairs.

I did not notice what her bedroom looked like, except that the bed was wide, invitingly laid, and the sheets were silken, but as warm as her dress. The room was lit by a single candle-like flame from a lamp on a bedside table.

*We embraced once more, then Maran pulled away. Her fingers fumbled at her neck. She muttered in frustration, and I hooked ringers inside her costume, and tore. The st.i.tching ripped with a tiny shriek, and she was naked. "You," she said. "Now you. Hurry. Please hurry." I lifted my robes away and kicked off my sandals. I picked her up in my arms, and we fell across the bed. Her arms were moving up and down my back, and she was moaning, murmuring my name. Her leg lifted across the back of mine, caressing.

My fingers slipped down her body, the softest, fairest skin I'd ever touched, shaven clean, and then I found waiting wetness.

Her thighs parted, and she pushed up, against my searching hand. There was no hesitation, no time or need for long fore-play as I moved between her legs.

I touched her c.l.i.toris with the head of my c.o.c.k, and her body jerked. "Oh, G.o.ds," she said. "Oh, Damastes. Please. Please. Take me. f.u.c.k me, f.u.c.k me hard, f.u.c.k me now!"

I found the wetness, pushed, met hard obstruction, felt a flash of amazement, then pushed once more, and Maran cried out, guttural, a moment of pain, and then the tissue gave way and I buried myself in her.

I lay motionless for a moment, then her legs lifted, and she wrapped them around my lower thighs, and thrust up against me, slowly at first, then stronger and stronger. My thrusts met hers, and her fingernails dug into my back. Our bodies crashed together, and then I broke and I could feel s.e.m.e.n gush, and a moment later she cried out sharply and her body jerked against mine.

Slowly her throbs faded, and she was still, her breathing canning. But I was still hard, still inside her, and rolled her onto her side and began moving, and she moaned my name and once more we were swept away.

"I've never done this before," she said, "so you'll have to give me advice."

"Well, this isn't a good time to be biting. At least not very hard. Use your tongue. Yes. Mmm. Like that. Now, take me in your mouth. Try to swallow me." It was my turn to moan. "Now, move your head back and forth."

The world was her lips around me, and I moved, and she moved taster, and I lifted my b.u.t.tocks off the bed, feeling her hair sweep across my stomach my hands stroking the back of her head, and Jaen took me in her embrace again.

She let my c.o.c.k slip out of her mouth, and swallowed. "Thank you, my Damastes."

"For what?'

"We didn't have time for dinner. You taste good."