"It is done," Harry said to
Cristina, who stood waiting in the centre of his cabin. He had told her that
there was a chance that some crew members would be sufficiently roused to
oppose his proposal. Although in most things his will ruled, the sharing of
booty was strictly done according to the articles that each had signed when
joining the crew. Disagreements over the spoils could be more deadly than enemy
cannon balls.
"I must admit to some
relief," she said with a mischievous smile. "All women enjoy having
many suitors, but I did not look forward to servicing so many of them at the
same time."
Harry approached her, stopping when
the hem of her skirt touched his boots. "Are all Spanish ladies so bold in
their speech?" He smiled to show that he intended no criticism in what he
said.
"I have discovered that being an
outcast can be quite liberating. Before my wedding night I was as meek and
gentle a lady as any." She looked into his eyes. "It appears that I
am now your property, no more in the eyes of the law than yonder chair or
candle stick. The contract was most definite on that point." Her tone held
more challenge than submission. "What shall you do with your new chattel,
I wonder?"
Harry commenced to slowly pace around
her in a tight circle, his hands behind his back. "I have just purchased a
most expensive trinket almost sight unseen."
Her laughter was rich and sensual.
"Then it behoves you to examine closely what is now yours, does it
not?"
"Why so it does. Do you require
my aid to disrobe?"
It was evident that she had given this
moment some close consideration. "There's no need to bother yourself. Be
at ease, have some brandy, and I shall take it upon myself to reveal all to
you." She did not take her new condition lightly, and fully intended to
make the best of her new life by indulging her new master's desires to the very
best of her ability to do so. She made no pretence of modesty or shame and
quickly unlaced her tight bodice with its puffed sleeves, which she slipped
from her arms, pulled from around her waist, and placed upon the table. Next
came her skirts, both layers, and the separate pockets, all of which she let
fall to the deck, seemingly unconcerned that her stockinged legs were now bared
to his sight, with her loins shaded only by the hem of her lace-trimmed shift.
"I mean no criticism, but you
seem much at ease in exposing your nakedness. Such composure is rare in a girl
of so little experience."
She bent over to retrieve her skirts,
providing a mouth-watering display of her creamy buttocks. When she had tossed
them upon the table as well, she said, "After my husband's unexpected
death, I was dragged from our marriage bed by coarse menservants and spent many
hours being questioned and subjected to much verbal abuse, all the while naked
as the day I was born. They even beat me in that state, although I was spared
the knives and hot irons because they desired that I would not appear to be the
victim when brought before the governor." She shook herself as if
dispelling the ghosts of that time and smiled. "Once a woman has passed
through such an experience, mere nakedness holds no further fears for her, I
assure you. In fact it is a relief to see but simple lust in a man's eyes
rather than the fear and hatred inspired by an accusation of witchcraft,
especially a witch who is supposed to have used her powers to un-man her
husband." She seemed to dispel the sombre mood that had come upon her with
an effort, and with renewed gaiety she lifted her shift over her head, leaving
her naked save for her stockings and the ribbons that held them up.
"There, your purchase is unwrapped. Are you disappointed?"
It was a fact that one could find some
flaw in any woman's body, no matter how beautiful, but he had to admit that
nothing at all come to his mind as he studied her smooth youthful form.
"Having seen you thus, I can truthfully say that I do not begrudge a
single silver piece of the price."
"You are too kind, Captain."
She bowed her head gracefully and then stepped closer to him, her hands at her
sides, hiding nothing from him. "I wish you to know that I'm grateful. I'm
well aware that you paid your crew much more than I'm worth in ransom, saving
me from a living hell. I am determined to fully repay you in the only way that
is left to a woman in such circumstances. Whatever I have to give is yours, and
I shall begrudge you nothing."