The other guests, two men of the Trade Council and several other burgher-lords who had encouraged the Pegasus Project, were somewhat less perturbed, but even they could hardly approve.
The final guest was Phineas Janek.
She lifted her glass to him. “Good evening, Ser Janek.”
Everyone stared at her father. He rose ponderously and gazed upon the gathering.
“Magné and Nesté, I welcome you to the House of D’Accorso. You have honored me with your presence at my table. May the gifts of sea and earth nourish you this night.”
The Dharman men murmured the rote response. Casnar let his gaze sweep slowly to Cynara. By not the twitch of an eyebrow did he show dismay at her choice of raiment.
“Tonight I welcome my daughter, Captain Cynara D’Accorso, just returned from space.”
Silence. Cynara rose and bowed to the table at large. “Guests of my father, I share this table with joy.”
It was a man’s response that no Dharman woman would dare venture. If her brother had been here, he would hardly have borne the shame. But he had refused to see her since Tyr’s death.
His absent outrage was taken up by another. Magnus Egon Beneviste rose to his feet and glared at his host.
“Is this a game, Magnus? Do you mock us by presenting this… this creature who flaunts her taint before us all?”
“I do not mock,” Casnar said. “I merely wish to reiterate my support for the Pegasus Project and the ship’s crew and captain, who have most ably delivered their cargo once more with no loss of life.”
Two of the Council members murmured to each other. Cynara would stand before them in official capacity soon enough, but here they would witness her firm resolve even among her family. It was not a time to speak of business, or she suspected they would have many questions about the guest she had brought to Dharma.
I hope you’ve done your work well, Uncle. “Without the patronage of the burgher-lords,” she said, “there would be no Pegasus to stand against shaauri might and help restore the Alliance. Magné, I drink to you.” She lifted her glass and drank. Three of the men followed suit. Her former betrothed did not, and neither did his father.
Unable to contain himself, young Nyle jumped to his feet. “How can you permit this, Magnus D’Accorso?” he cried. “You shame Beneviste honor. You permit this female to wear men’s garments and speak freely in honorable company.” He flushed almost as red as his doublet. “If it is your desire to provoke—”
“Sit down,” his father commanded. “Magnus D’Accorso—”
“I will not be silent.” Nyle stared at Cynara with bitter contempt. “We were to ally ourselves with this House. I was to bed this… this abomination, neither male nor female, tainted with man’s thoughts and man’s desire—”
Magnus Beneviste turned on his son. No words were spoken, but Nyle went pale and fell back into his seat. Cynara heard the echoes of the furious mental exchange and almost winced for Nyle.
When it was over, Beneviste ignored Cynara as if she didn’t exist and faced her father. “I can only presume, Magnus, that you have some purpose of your own by permitting this insult to your guests. You had offered your daughter Elendra—”
“Yes, Magnus, to make amends for the disappointment you have suffered. I think you will find that Elendra is everything Cynara is not. You have lost nothing by ending the betrothal; indeed, you can have no better proof of my elder daughter’s unsuitability as a wife.” He smiled. “Is it not so, Captain? You have no interest in marriage or womanly ways.”
Cynara returned his smile, swallowing the humiliation he so casually bestowed.
“Indeed, Magnus,” she said, straightening her velvet coat. “My sole purpose lies with the Pegasus. If it did not, I would hardly be a worthy captain.”
Janek stood. “Forgive the intrusion of an outworlder, Magné. As one who has traveled with the captain’s crew, I can vouch for Captain D’Accorso’s competence and courage. She serves most honorably in Captain Tyr D’Accorso’s stead.” He sat down again, nodding pleasantly to his neighbor.
Nothing surprised Cynara after the past few exchanges, but Janek’s speech was a mystery. She didn’t trust any praise from him, and his mention of Tyr could not be an accident. With his very compliments he undermined her legitimacy.