It was, in sum, not a scenario that had ever been contemplated by the authors of the etiquette-books that Daniel had perused when he'd gone into the Courtier line of work. He'd have known just how to address the King during a masque at the Banqueting House or a hunt in a royal game-park. But when it came to breaking up a royal bar-fight in a waterfront dive at the mouth of the Medway, he was at a loss, and could only order himself that pint, and consider his next move.