The full reality of the situation dawned on Aria. “You tricked me!”
Jack pointed at himself. “Pirate,” he said.
A hand closed on her upper arm. Furiously, she tried to shake it off, but the grip was like steel. “Keep your hands off me!”
Quinn pulled her off-balance and began marching her off the command deck. Her voice was at Aria’s ear. “Have you forgotten my shock rod so quickly? Believe me, it has not forgotten you.”
“Jack!” Aria called back desperately, turning her head to plead with the pirate. The last she saw of him was Jack shaking his head, before the door to the command deck closed.
Quinn kept Aria marching at a swift pace through the corridors.
“It’s not fair!” fumed Aria. “I’m a prisoner here! Surely a prisoner has the right to escape?”
“You gave your word,” replied Quinn brusquely. “Have you ever heard of the termparole? It was used when anoblecaptive gave their word that they would not attempt to escape, and in return were granted certain civilized freedoms. Just like you.”
It was true; she had given her word. But surely it did not count when you gave your word to a pirate with no honor? “What are you planning to do to me?”
“Me? Nothing.” Quinn continued to march her along. “If it was up to me, believe me, I’d have all sorts of ideas to discipline you. I’m a little more…creative than the captain. Perhaps I shall give him some tips.”
“What isheplanning to do to me?”
“He’s rather infatuated with you, so less than you deserve, I’m sure,” Quinn said shortly.
“Wait, he’swhat?”
“Like you didn’t know,” Quinn snapped.
They had reached the door to Aria’s quarters. Quinn slapped at the touchpad, opened the door, and shoved Aria inside.
“You can wait for the captain here,Princess,” said Quinn. “Think about what it means to break your word, and what the captain will do to you.” She stepped back and let the door shut in Aria’s face.
The young noblewoman sat on the edge of the bed. Everything had happened so fast! One minute she was in the cafeteria, enjoying everyone’s company and being entertained by both Jack and the wonderful Felipesegundo, and then she was being marched down the corridor like a naughty child, to her shame and embarrassment.
Quinn’s words burned in her ears. It was true; Aria had given her word that she would behave. But did that count, to a man who had tricked and seduced her before kidnapping her? Apparently, at least one person thought it still did. She thought back to what she had learned at finishing school.
“A person cannot control what others do; offenses against honor are entirely the responsibility of the person committing the offense.” So her etiquette instructor, Lady Pegrine, had said. Well, by that principle, Aria, as the one who had broken her word, had committed an offense. Admittedly, so had Jack, with his lies, but his honor was his affair. At least, so the teachers of her finishing school would have had her believe.
Had she betrayed Jack? Hadn’t he betrayed her first, and did that count? And what about dear Felipesegundo; would the Treb hate her now? Had she ruined their friendship?
It was all too much. Aria dove into the bed and clutched a pillow as her tears flowed freely. Eventually, miserable and with no idea what to do, she fell asleep.
***
Sometime later, the sound of the door opening woke Aria. She sat up in bed to see Jack standing in the doorway.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
“I did warn you, darling, that there would be consequences for your actions.” Jack marched into the room and closed the door.
“You tricked me!”
“I gave you the opportunity to show whether you would keep your word or not,” responded Jack, “and you broke it, at the first opportunity.”
“Fine, yes. I broke my word. I’m a terrible person.”
“No, I do not think you are a terrible person,” said Jack, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “I think you have a choice to make, and you keep on heading toward the wrong one.”
“What do you mean?”
