There was more than enough socializing to be had at Double Moon. Many were drawn there, whether it was Maxwell's own brand of mysterious charisma, the charm of the Ladies, the enthusiasm and variety of the Stock, or just the magic of the Castle itself. Some chose never to leave again. However, there were also occasions to venture out. Lady Arianda was fond of auctions or might succumb to social invitations, out of curiosity or friendship.

One such outing was a gathering of well-heeled businessmen, traders, and some just in possession of old family money. Arianda floated through the grand room with her usual grace. She liked polite banter and general mingling, when in the mood for it, as she was on this night.

The present circle of conversation slowed to a lull and dispersed, as is the flow of such an evening. Lady Arianda found herself standing near the hearth with a gentleman who had said very little. She had noticed him for he was quite dashing, darkly handsome and dressed in a naval uniform of some sort.

Neither of them spoke at the moment, both taking the opportunity to sip wine. As if cued, they each turned ever slightly to share a glance over their respective goblets. Arianda had to swallow quickly to keep from spitting her sip at the fellow. Their synchronized gazing struck her funny. The man's momentarily awkward demeanor indicated that he'd had the same reaction.

When the goblets were lowered, the Lady turned to face him and offered her right hand. "Lady Arianda, Mistress of Double Moon. And you would be...?"

With all pomp and circumstance, the gentleman slipped his fingers beneath the Lady's and bowed as he drew her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. He took the opportunity to scan up her bodice to her face and smiled. How sparkling she was, from the shimmering indigo fabric of her brocade gown to the large amethyst pendant which lay upon her pale skin, to that friendly but devilish twinkle in her sapphire eyes. Something in the crook at the corner of her mouth told him that she knew of his assessment. He thought it wise to disengage then, and straighten up.

"Captain Philip... and other titles I am loathe to recount. We're in shipping, among other things, mostly cargo to and from the East."

His eyes were a brilliant pale blue, in almost alarming contrast to his warmly tanned skin and raven black hair. He had a very neatly trimmed moustache and goatee. It looked silky and begged for a stroke with her fingertips, but she just enjoyed the look of it, for now.

"Ah, well, fair winds to you, always." She drew her hand back to fan across her throat. "Speaking of which, I think it's entirely too warm here by the hearth. I've a wish to find a terrace or balcony with a cool breeze. Care to accompany me?" Without really waiting for an answer, Lady Arianda turned toward the array of doors along one wall. She'd been to this residence before. She knew precisely where to find what she sought. She also knew that Captain Philip would not let her get away from him. In fact, he managed to step around her to open a door, as they walked out into the night.

A few others had sought the cool fresh air as well, so Arianda proceeded across the terrace to stairs which led down into the hedgerows and walkways of the gardens. Captain Philip was now pacing her in their leisurely walk, vaguely headed for a circular fountain visible ahead.

Philip looked up at the night. "Velvet blanket of stars. Neither of your moons are showing their faces this eve."

Arianda sipped. "Aye, the Dark of the Moons. It doesn't often happen together this way." She found a suitable bench on the far side of the fountain, wanting to catch the lights from the manor reflected in the water. The Lady took a seat but Philip continued to stroll close by, almost pacing but more relaxed. He kept looking up into the night.

"What is it you seek there, Captain?" She had a notion because his thoughts and feelings were unguarded to her, but she'd rather draw it out from his own lips.

Philip took the last sip of his wine and set the goblet on the fountain's stone edging. "Nothing. Were I on a ship, I'd be looking there to gauge my course. I suppose it's habit."

With a grin, Arianda finished her wine as well and rose to the Captain. She handed the goblet to him, rather than just setting it down herself. "Do you not know that the skies indeed foretell our future? Well, at least our possibilities and our tendencies."

She was standing very close to him now. He'd set her goblet down and found himself face to face with her. Half of each of them was visible in the light reflected from the fountain's pool. The other half of each was in shadow. Arianda's hand reached up into the shadow of Philip's face. Her thumb brushed his cheek. She whispered, "Which part of your course makes you uncertain? Which part excites you and yet evokes anger or fear?"

Her fingers traced down through the loose knot of the scarf at his neck, undoing it. At the collar of his dark tunic, she deftly began to undo his buttons. Meanwhile, her other hand slowly smoothed along his coat sleeve in the light until her fingers curled around his hand. His palm was cool. She heard the man swallow against a dry throat. She grinned.

"Perhaps you know something of Double Moon Castle and perhaps you've heard the stories and rumors of the Ladies and Maxwell."

A hoarse "Yes." was his reply. He had been watching her face as she watched her own fingers undo his coat, but when she looked up at him, he could not meet her eyes. He lifted his own gaze again to the blanket of night.

"And what think you of what you've heard, Captain? Perhaps you'd fancy a choice of Stock from our Cellar?" She knew differently. She still wanted to hear it. She could hear it in his mind, but he was trying so very hard to push it back within his shadow self.

"No, M'Lady." He didn't so much speak it but his mouth formed the words. Lady Arianda's smile became considerably more devilish, if only he'd looked down to see it.

"Something else to suit your needs, then?" She had finished with his buttons. His white shirt was a bright panel in the very dark fabric of the open coat. Arianda took his other hand now as well. She began to pull downward. His body became less tense. Her hands slid up his arms to his shoulders. She pressed there, gently suggesting. He still looked up at the sky as his knees relaxed and he slowly descended, kneeling beneath her guidance.

When Captain Philip knelt before her, he was still looking up but now he saw half the Lady's face shining in the night, smiling upon him. She barely seemed to move but he found her sitting upon his bent knee. He started to wrap his arms around her and she gently pushed them away. "Be still," she whispered.

The Lady brushed her hand across his cheek. Her fingertips traced from the edge of his moustache down the smooth line of hair to his beard, until she cupped his chin. She grinned, meeting his clear blue eyes with her own smiling ones. She clasped his jaws with her hand, firmly but without pain and drew his face downward so she could curl to kiss the top of his head. Sitting forward as such, the Captain found his face caressed by the softness above her bodice. He was consumed with a heavenly sent of vanilla, perhaps cinnamon.

Her voice slipped down into his body. "The Dark of the Moons is a time for uncovering mysteries, often within ourselves. What mystery is pressing you this night, Captain?" She felt him tense up. Even his thigh flexed beneath her. His jaw flexed against her fingers.

"My lady..." He could not be still. He wrapped his fingers in the fabric of her skirts. "Whatever witchery this is, I pray you, cease."

Arianda laughed and pulled away from him. He looked stunned as she whirled to sit casually upon the edge of the fountain. Philip made quite a picture there, kneeling in his unkempt state. The reflective pool still illuminated half of him, and his anguish was visible. She assured him from her shadowed image, "I do nothing to you. Whatever struggle you are battling is coming from within, dear one. I am merely... opportunity."

"Opportunity?" He turned away from her then and sat on the stone-covered ground, boots crossed at the ankles, a knee drawn up so he could prop his arm on it. His fingers raked through his hair, completely releasing it from its tie. Arianda enjoyed this. The smooth silk fell across his shoulders and shimmered blue-black from the light off the pool.

She decided to assist him. "I think you've been trying to still that voice for some time. It has affected your endeavors. You find your needs, your wants, are changing. You know what it is that you seek, but will not admit it. The question is, should I let you unravel your own mystery... or extract it from you?"

That pegged him. Philip knotted up, deep inside. The firmness at his groin, which she'd enticed from just the look and presence of her, was now fortified into an almost painful aching between his thighs. He was certainly glad that his back was to her. He shook his head, more at his thoughts, than in any sort of response to Arianda.

"Of course, I could leave you with this mystery and let you come to Double Moon at some juncture when you are ready to accept what you truly want."

He turned suddenly at this, looking at her over his shoulder. She was silhouetted against the manor lights. "No. Please, m'lady." He was on the edge of his own dilemma. This was his point of decision.

Lady Arianda stood. Her skirts brushed his thigh as she positioned herself to once again be in half light. Slowly, Captain Philip rose to his knees before her. In the weakest whisper, he spoke his dark wish, the one he'd been fighting. He was a wealthy man, with considerable power and possessions. He could have his choice of women, for he was handsome, congenial and courtly in manner. But, he wanted something else. He wanted to be released of all of his power and responsibility. He wanted to be set free, beneath the hand of another. So, with head lowered, he quietly said, "My Lady Arianda... I believe... I wish to submit."

The Lady softly brushed her fingers though his hair and whispered in return. "And so you shall."

( Continued in Part 2 of 3)