"They're lucky to be alive." I know. They used me too. Broke a couple of ribs doing it"I held her hand. She took a deep breath. "My old friend sent yo... here to, well, to be the man in the house for a bit. Not a brother or an uncle either."I nodded. "How old are they?"She smiled. "Harriet is sixteen, almost seventeen now; her sister is fourteen. She was twelve when she was attacked, but she seems to have recovered, and I fear she is now completely boy crazy." And no boys except the foe."She. She has done everything alone. She has been both mother and father. I know nothing of what she has had to do to keep the family together. If she was keeping it together with LTJG Fuckhead helping her out, I really can’t complain.Her developing a relationship with someone else, is that really her fault? If I had been with her here she would not have even given LTJG Victor MacDonald the time of day. I believe I know her well enough to know that her reaching out to him was not 100% sex. I’ll bet. An Oceanus naval officer and a slave girl."The merchant snorted. "You jokin' or sumthing?"Mandas frowned. "Are you saying you can't do it?" Naw," Riddon drawled. "Jus' don't see the likes of you shellin' out that kinda platinum." Are you implying a member of the Royal Court would renege on a debt?"The merchant snorted. "Naw. I'm jus' sayin' yer all cheap." I assure you I will pay whatever you demand." An' jus' what do ya want us ta do with 'em?" His lips twisted into a lascivious smile. "Heh,. Would make a good wife, the auctioneer said, excellent pedigree, trained inlooking after the household, a cattle and pig farm, a produce farm; earlypuberty, good breeding investment. Good resale potential. His words went over my head. I justlistened out for the commands shutting out everything else, as I had beentrained to do all my life I was taken off to the side, behind somescreens, and some men came to inspect me more personally. One forced his handinside my mouth, and I gagged repeatedly.