# Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva — Beauvallet character guide > Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva in Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dominica, Doña Dominica, Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva, Doña Dominica de Rada **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot A proud Spanish grandee's daughter who scorns the pirate who took her captive — and cannot quite forget the man who dared it. ## Who they are Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva moves through the Spanish court under her aunt's watchful eye, expected to marry her oily cousin Diego and never to speak of the English corsair who once held her ship. Her pride and her honesty war with a growing, inadmissible fascination for a man her world calls a heretic and a thief. Her refusal to lie — even to protect herself from the Inquisition's suspicion — makes her the still point around which Beauvallet's dangerous courtship turns. ## In the story ### [Beauvallet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/beauvallet) The Spanish noblewoman aboard the Santa Maria, whose beauty and spirit intrigue Beauvallet. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/i) Furious and defiant after the capture, she threatens Beauvallet with a dagger but is ultimately intrigued by his fearless manner. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/ii) Wears her finest gown and rubies to the supper, flirts with Dangerfield, and engages in a battle of wits with Beauvallet. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/iii) Scornful of her captivity, challenges Beauvallet on deck, and is kissed by him. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/iv) Flirts with Dangerfield to punish Beauvallet, engages in a tense and playful confrontation with Beauvallet, and later visits her father. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/v) Feigns dislike of Beauvallet to her father, questions Dangerfield, plays cards with Beauvallet, gives him a ring, and is kissed on the beach. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/vi) The Spanish lady Nicholas intends to marry; he toasts her name. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as having survived the pirate attack and now under the guardianship of her aunt, Doña Beatrice de Carvalho. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/x) Dominica is wary of her aunt's influence, resists family plans to marry her to Don Diego, and secretly harbors feelings for Beauvallet. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xi) Attends the ball reluctantly, schemes to use Miguel de Tobar against the Carvalhos, and secretly meets Beauvallet to plan their escape. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xii) Waits anxiously for the house to sleep, then meets secretly with Beauvallet; expresses fear and love, agrees to escape plans. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xiii) Plans to flee to Vasconosa to escape Don Diego and to protect Sir Nicholas from danger. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xiv) Attempts to keep Beauvallet at a distance and deflect attention from him, but is terrified when Perinat recognizes him. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xv) Defiantly resists marriage to Don Diego, mocks his threats, and maintains her composure under pressure. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xvii) Dismayed at the prospect of leaving Madrid, she prays silently for Beauvallet's safety and meets Joshua in church. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xx) Flees Madrid with her aunt, rides for exercise, and is captured by masked riders during a staged attack. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xxi) Abducted by her cousin, she remains defiant and scornful, refusing to submit to Don Diego's marriage proposal. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xxii) The quarry of Sir Nicholas's hunt; believed to be held at the hunting lodge. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xxiii) Locked in an upstairs room, hears Beauvallet's voice and calls out to him. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xxiv) Anxiously awaits Beauvallet's arrival at the inn, playing the part of a noble lady to allay suspicion. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/xxv) Exhausted but determined, she rides hard and shows courage, earning admiration for her spirit. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/chapters/epilogue) Marries Sir Nicholas in her riding-dress, adapts to England, wins over the family and the Queen. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/characters/dominica_de_rada - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beauvallet_se/characters