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D

emetrius dozed. He had tried to sleep but the awkward angle he was tied in the chair meant that every time he fell asleep, his head fell forward and woke him. He didn’t move, though, when he heard the door open.

Helena came in. She didn’t have any food so she wasn’t here to feed him. Instead, without even giving him a greeting, she went to pick up a bed pan.

Panic shot through Demetrius as he cleared his throat and asked hopefully, “Where is the other guy?”

He didn’t suggest that he didn’t need to relieve himself as he had been holding on for a while now.

Helena raised a curious eyebrow before she asked, “Never had a woman handle your junk before?”

Demetrius blushed and hated that his skin betrayed him. She stood with her free hand on her hip and looked him over appreciatively. “You aren’t bad looking and you are a nobleman so it is a bit of a surprise that you haven’t lured some servant girl into a darkened closet.”

Demetrius snapped. “That isn’t fair.”

“No? Other men have done as such.” Helena seemed astonished by his admission.

“Well, they lack honour. To take advantage of a girl whose livelihood depends on your family is dishonourable,” Demetrius stated firmly.

“So no servant girls. You have money. Why haven’t you paid for your pleasure then.”

“That is just as deplorable. I have studied economics. I understand the laws of demand and supply. If men did not demand the women to service them, then those women would be somewhere else doing as they wished.” Demetrius deplored noblemen who used their power against others even if they paid for the pleasure.

“Ah, well, I hadn’t thought of it in a matter of economics.” Helena wriggled the bedpan in her hand. “If you can hold it for longer, then you can probably wait for a crewman to free up.”

“What happened to the other guy? The one that helped me before,” he asked with only a little hope in his voice. If the man was going to be there, he would have arrived already. Helena was his only choice.

“We had to leave port quickly and we left some of our men on the ground. They will catch up with us later but that means we are a little shorthanded.”

Demetrius thought about this for a while and knew he couldn’t get Helena to help him with his business as it would start a whole host of other problems.

He asked, “Surely you can untie me. I swear I won’t escape.”

“You can’t swear that. You have just said you are a man of honour and a man of honour will always try to escape from his captors even if that means lying. As to remain in our hands is to be used for nefarious purposes, which is dishonourable.” When he gave her a surprised look, she snapped. “I read as well.”

She waved the bedpan to indicate that he was to decide. He really couldn’t wait much longer and he didn’t relish the thought of sitting in his own mess.

He countered, “One hand.”

Helena looked him over again with that appraising look, then nodded her head. She put the bed pan aside and then fidgeted with his ropes. His left hand became free. Eventually, she stepped back and placed the bedpan where it would be useful.

He moved his free hand and realised she had tied him up so his hand was free, but his shoulder and upper arm were still pinned to his side and the chair.

He said facetiously, “You are very good with ropes.”

Helena flashed him a bright grin. “Many men have told me that.”

“You have had the occasion to tie up a lot of men, I take it. I didn’t realise that the Duke required so many prisoners.”

Her eyes grew hot as she purred. “It was all for pleasure.”

Demetrius blushed again when he realised she wasn’t talking about tying up prisoners.

He asked instead to hide his embarrassment, “Aren’t you going to give me some privacy?”

“No. You are young but you are also clever. I would be a fool to allow you to escape.” She leaned against a wall so she could watch him carefully.

He sighed and she had probably seen everything he was about to show, anyway. He relieved himself self-consciously. He tucked himself away and Helena tied him up securely again. He had hoped she would forget and he would have a chance to escape. She was right. No matter what he promised, he would try to escape.