Matter Factly

Lady Sophia comes in to the room noting the chains on the bedding and her daughter clad in only a bed sheet.

“So, you took my daughter.” Lady Sophia states, looking faintly guilty.

You look at her a little surprised, “Did you not expect me too?”

“I had hoped…” She began, but then her voice trails off.

Adriana rises from the bed clutching the sheet to her lithe body as she gives her mother a hug, “Mother don’t blame the captain. I wanted to lay with him.”

“I know, I heard” Lady Sophia says without thinking.

“You heard?” You ask in surprise. Adriana had been loud, but the walls and door of the suite were very thick, unless she had been crouching in the hallway you can;t imagine how she could have heard what happened in the master chamber.

“My suite is nearby." Sophia explains when she sees your confusion. "Long ago I decided that I needed to know what my husband was up to. So when he was out of the city one time I had my personal slaves make a disguised hole in the wall so I could keep tabs on him. From the angle I could not see what you and my daughter did but I heard her calls for you to plant a babe in her belly.” She finishes looking at the wall avoiding eye contact with both you and her blushing daughter.

“So you listen in on what your husband says and does?” You probe.

“What woman of Athenapolis doesn't?” Lady Sophia snorts. “The men of this city tend to care little about what women think and do, or at least the ones they’re married to. My husband only talks to me when he wants me to set up feasts for when he entertains, or when he wants me to spread my thighs which he hasn't done since he beget a son and heir on me.” She adds bitterly ignoring the gasp from Adriana.

Sophia looks at you for a long moment perhaps pondering how you will react to her words before speaking again. “Am I not still a handsome woman? I had been hoping you choose me to service you instead of Adriana, but you like my husband clearly prefer younger flesh." You might well have chosen Sophia if Adriana had not come to you - as exciting it had been to press into Sophia's untouched daughter you would not be surprised if Sophia's pent up passion proves to be even more satisfying. Once again your eyes take in the round curves of her hourglass figure as she continues her explanation.

"When Adriana goes up on the block no longer a virgin probably with a swollen belly to boot it means my husband is unlikely to buy her freedom. His daughter's value lies in the connections her marriage could bring him, sadly he has no love for her.” She took a deep breath before adding bitterly. "I doubt he sees the need to redeem me either."

“So my Lady, you kept tabs on your husband's business.” You ponder out loud trying to evaluate just how perceptive the noblewoman's understanding of her position was. Would Sophia be surprised to learn just how little use her husband had for either her or her beautiful daughter?

“Yes Captain I did” Lady Sophia answers again, if she is annoyed by the repetition of your question you see no indication of it.

“What would you do if I told you there was a possibility that you and your daughter wouldn’t have to go to the **** block?”

Antonius, silent till now, looks up and you hold up your hand to stay him.

“What about Nicia and Antonia, my house guests?” She asks suddenly hopeful.

“Your friends will have to take their chances on the auction block.” You answer firmly, "but I think you may be able to save yourselves, if you can give me the information I need and cooperate with our plan."

Lady Sophia looks at you for a long time before she…..