# IV explained — Beauvallet

> Chapter companion for Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer.

## What happens

Doña Dominica attempts to punish Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's impudence by flirting with Master Dangerfield, but her strategy fails to provoke the desired reaction. A tense and playful confrontation ensues between Dominica and Beauvallet, culminating in a kiss. Dominica later visits her ailing father, Don Manuel, where Beauvallet intervenes to remove Joshua Dimmock and his superstitious remedies.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Romance

Dominica's flirtation with Dangerfield and her charged interactions with Beauvallet highlight romantic tension and attraction.

### Adventure and Risk

Dominica's internal conflict and Beauvallet's bold actions, including the kiss, underscore the element of risk in their relationship.

## Character check-ins

### Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva

Flirts with Dangerfield to punish Beauvallet, engages in a tense and playful confrontation with Beauvallet, and later visits her father.

### Sir Nicholas Beauvallet

Observes Dominica's flirtation with amusement, confronts her directly, kisses her, and later removes Joshua from Don Manuel's cabin.

### Mr. Dangerfield

Becomes the object of Dominica's flirtation, defends Beauvallet's character, and retreats when Beauvallet approaches.

### Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva

Lies ill in his cabin, wearily dismisses Joshua Dimmock's remedies, and receives Beauvallet's assistance.

### Joshua Dimmock

Attempts to treat Don Manuel with gallows' chips, is thrown out of the cabin by Beauvallet.

## Key lines

> She used a distant courtesy towards Beauvallet, listened when he spoke to her, folded meek hands in her lap, and turned back to Master Dangerfield at the first chance.

Dominica treated Beauvallet with cold politeness, but quickly returned her attention to Dangerfield.

_Illustrates Dominica's deliberate strategy to provoke Beauvallet._

> He was on his knee before her; she looked down through her tears at his bent head, more shaken still, and heard footsteps coming up the companion leading from the waist of the ship.

Beauvallet knelt before Dominica, and she was moved by his gesture, but was interrupted by approaching footsteps.

_Highlights the emotional intensity and interruption in their encounter._

> He kissed me, she said. I will tear the eyes from his head! vowed Maria, and made for the door. Silly wench! Fond fool! Stay still! Dominica commanded.

Dominica confessed to Maria that Beauvallet had kissed her, and Maria threatened revenge, but Dominica ordered her to stay.

_Reveals Dominica's conflicted feelings about the kiss._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beauvallet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters