Page 3 of 5 The Dinner The Dinner lasted near three hours. The Introduction and welcoming was brief, The Entertainment wonderful and the food first rate. The conversation between the Estalian ambassador and the Marquis was very professional. The Marquis gave the ambassador his full attention, which was made all the more harder by the ambassador’s consort leaning this way and that, or stretching ladylike and laughing politely at every little jest the Marquis made. His wife separated the Marquis from the Bonaparte female and they were engaged in conversation as well. He could not help overhear bits and snippets of his wife talking about Life at the Sentinel. At just over an hour Lady Bonaparte excused herself graciously to talk with an old friend and the Estalian Ambassador and his companion left to dance a bit., leaving the d’Ascoyne’s to talk to each other. A moment of silence passed and then the chatting began. She informed him that the young Bonaparte girl was absolutely nothing like her grandmother or her mother for that matter and that they were getting along quite well and wasn’t it wonderful to meet Don Salvatore again and his lovely companion and how lovely that necklace was and such a bauble must have cost a small fortune and did you see how she was dressed in that lovely gown which, alas I would never wear as I am too modest to wear such a costume but that is the way of Estalia and Estalians, don’t you think so my dear? “Yes” he answered. “Oh darling husband, did you see who is here? That lout DuQuesne and his cohorts. How that man became a knight is beyond my ken, I’ll tell you and that hired thug , Burgot, is with him. All the manners of a swine. Speaking of swine tonight they will have roast pig and mint jelly, you like the mint jelly don’t you dear and-” She paused to wave to Three ladies of the court “Oooh tghere is Baroness Fouchet and her sister in law Lady Bouchet. I must chart them up a bit. “ Excusing herself she walked over to speak to the small group. Watching her enjoying herself delighted him to no end, but what he required was an old companion . He asked a servant for a jeroboam of his Personal Applejack and it was brought postehaste. He turned the spigot and out flowed the amber fluid. First he sipped it and closed his eyes in delight, savoring the rich aroma and taste. A hand grasped his shoulder and he looked up into the eyes of his wife. She kissed him on the cheek and then on the mouth and announced that she and the ladies were off to - He interrupted her, looking her straight in the eyes. “Wife of many years I care not what you and the coven-“ and he noticed that six of the Ladies were standing behind his wife looking at him. He coughed “I mean the covey of quail may do for I trust thee. I am a fallible man who readily acquiesces to the charms of a loving wife.” That softened the eyes of the Ladies and they began chatting in earnest as they left the table. He returned to the business at hand. “Once more dear friends into the breach!” and he poured a second flagon of Applejack, closing his eyes as the magic of the drink loosened the very strings of his demeanor. And the evening wore on with him sipping and observing his friends. Le Courageax stopped by and was offered some Applejack. He liked it. Next came Georgal of Entraglia followed by Sir Hiiler, then de Giselles, de Rochefort and Charles the Mighty. Soon a second Jeroboam was ordered as 30 knights surrounded the Marquis’ table and the Apple Jack flowed freely. By the start of the third hour he was again alone, but he didn’t care. There was but a single bottle uncorked of Applejack on the table, the two Jeroboams having died. The room was emptying now, but he didn’t care. He sliced a pear and ate it with some cheese and bread. He tried to stand up and did so slowly. “Egad! I have forgotten how to walk!” and he sat down and closed his eyes. A hand grasped his shoulder and he looked up into the deepest blue radiance he had ever seen. He smiled. “How Lovely” and his gaze took in the field of ivory skin, near falling out of brocaded bodice. “Reminds me of home” he whispered, thinking of the two hillocks that flanked the Leopard Gate. The Estalian Ambassador’s companion sat down in the Ambassador’s chair and asked to taste the applejack and he poured her a small glass. After the third small glass, she began to smack her lips. “I like the taste of it”, she said, “ and I like the scent of it as well.” She smiled and looked of into space. “I believe I could create a series of delicacies flavored with this apple jack infused into fresh fruits such as pears, apples and certain berries, each covered in very rich chocolate.” Within the next few moments he learned she was a confectioners daughter and knew how to candy fruits and berries. At the end of fortyfive minutes the conversation was progressing well. Lord DuQuesne looked at the Marquis and sneered “The old weasel has trapped another chicken” he said and his toadies laughed. “By the stars he hath enchanted her.” Said Giles Garnier, Scribe to the DuQuesne court. Pierre Burgot tore off meat from a bone and spoke while chewing “Love’s pillows never looked so bountiful” as the grease ran down his chin. There were seven of these churlish louts gawking at the Marquis and the Estalian female.. Garnier became excited. “Here comes the Don Salvatore di Raggio, let us see how the old weasel handles this!” and they watched. Dear Reader, understand that men have little if any understanding of the female spirit. Women’s minds are a labyrinth of twists and curves, of loops and variances. What a woman deplores in a consort she may relish in a white haired old man who looks remarkably like Grandfather Winter. The Estallian Ambassador arrived and his companion explained that the good Marquis [who couldn’t move if they had greased his boots] and she were embarking on a business of chocolate covered candied fruits and berries, which she would called cordials. Burgot laughed lustily as he heard this, which caused the Ambassador to snap his head up with sheer malevolence in his eyes. Burgot choked on his meal. Estallans are masters of the duel. With a rapier they are magnificent. Estalians have secret brotherhoods called Familias which , for a small fee, remove obstacles, arrange compromises, negotiate dealings between groups. It was rumored that the Estalian Ambassador was the head of such a familia. The companion sealed Burgot’s fate by making a sniffling, ladylike complaint that the group of men , here she indicated Lord DuQuesne and his companions had been eavesdropping. The Ambassador gestured to three rather large stewards in his employ who walked towards DuQuesne and Duquesne and his party mingled through the diminishing crowd. The Ambassador and his companion bade farewell to the good Marquis, allowing him not to rise and they were gone in an instant. “Casualties; one churlish follower of that twit DuQuesne, two Jeroboams of Applejack and my legs”. He gathered his remaining wits and stood up. It amazed him he kept his balance. He turned to see Lady Caroline Bonaparte apparently sleeping. He smiled. He thought to call a servant to make her departure as quiet as possible, but this was not to be. A tugging at his sleeve caused him to turn as she pulled herself upright. She was drunk. Extremely drunk and he knew this from experience. Like this evening. She eyed him coldly almost challenging him to a duel. She slowly looked him over from head to toe and back to head. Her grip on his arm had not loosened. He smiled a courteous smile and leaned forwards to receive the blow from this drunken little goose, but none came. She leaned forward, stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the nose. “Goodnight Grandfather Winter” and the last syllable merged with a girlish giggle and she turned abruptly and started to leave. She had not released the Marquis’ arm and was anchored by the old warrior. She turned slowly around and gingerly released the captive arm “I shall see you in my dreams”, she said and kissed him a second time on the nose and left swiftly. Those remaining saw the spectacle and dismissing the young Bonaparte’s behavior to coquettish intoxication, stared at the Marquis with critical eyes. He withdrew a silk kerchief from his sleeve and daubed his nose. He put the kerchief back and began to walk away from the hallway. His carriage was positively regal . Sir Le Courageax whispered to Sir Hillier “The old fox is going to pull this off! He walks as a proud Bretonnian Noble. Notice how he addresses all he meets with courtesy” Lord Cadfael shook his head and said under his breath “Let the trumpets sound for d’Ascoyne is in the house.” He faltered trying to remember what was said when the Marquis first saw the Round table. Sir Hillier chuckled seeing the Marquis approach them. “Let us play up to this pantomime” and when the Marquis passed buy, grasping each by the hand and with a firm handshake, bade them good night. All three responded by clicking their heels together in the Empirical style and bowed. As they then stood up at attention, their sword arms crossed their respective chests and they gave him a warrior’s salute ending with rolling eyes and mischief on their faces. The Marquis, having been found out, chuckled which rolled into laughter as he left the banquet hall.
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