I went into a frenzy of tugging and pulling and kicking, “I don’t care, I don’t care about anything except you cutting these ropes and taking me away. Hugo, can’t you see that I’m frightened? You wouldn’t want this to happen to you! Stop being so beastly and smug.”
Hugo’s knife was sharp, I was suddenly free, While he went to obtain rope, I rubbed my chaffed skin and then, on his return, turned my back and crossed my wrists as commanded, With the prospect of getting off Plessious I wasn’t arguing, Even when he used the quite thick rope to bind my elbows as well as my wrists, I made no complaint. He grasped my bound arms and was suddenly deadly serious. “Come on, we had better make a run for it.” His grasp was commandingly male.
“But you haven’t freed Elizabeth!” I was suddenly afraid.
“And I’m not going to, dear girl. Your precious little friend can stay right where she is, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not setting myself up against that rich husband of hers or Uncle Andrew. Diane, don’t start giving me trouble.”
I, was helpless. Hugo transferred his grasp from my arm to my hair and shook my head vigorously to remind me what I had become. As we started to run, I could manage only a quick glance back at the still-bound beauty under the big tree. Hugo savagely tugged my hair again and I had to concentrate upon running.
It was the strangest flight! I was leaving the woman I adored and running as hard as I could towards a fate unknown. It is difficult and strange to run with your elbows roped hard behind your back and I was conscious of out-thrust breasts bouncing in unison with my pounding feet. Reaching the jetty. I saw the boat Hugo had used before. Saw, also, the pathetic little piles of clothing Elizabeth and I had shed. Hugo picked up the one to which I pointed with a bare foot and a moment later I was in the little boat and we were speeding out of the only harbor on Plessious.
I sat where I was told and Hugo surveyed his prize in evident satisfaction. “You know, Diane, a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing this. But there is something about that island, and that Rockley place, that gets to a man. I’m not a bit sure that the way girls get handled on that island isn’t a damned sight more sensible than the rest of the world.” He gave me a grin. “Look at you now, I’ve got you and there’s no way you’re getting loose. That damned Estate is giving me a dividend without even knowing.”
“Congratulations.” My voice was cold.
Hugo shook a finger at me. “And I don’t want sarcasm. As of this minute, you’ll stop being the bitch you’ve always been, and instead you’ll treat me with respect and a touch of humility. Understand?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!”
Once more the warning finger. “And I don’t want any of that stuff, either.”
“All right, Hugo, I’ll try and be what I promised,” I said as sincerely as I could. “None of this is easy for me and I’m sure you know that. Please untie my elbows.”
“Why would I do that!”
“Because they’re hurting and because it’s not serving any useful purpose in this boat. I’m certainly not going to jump overboard.”
“They’ll stay tied, Diane, it has a damned nice effect to your frontal view. I’ll untie you and let you dress after a while so we can arrive in civilization more or less respectable. Are you going to run away immediately we land?”
“No. I won’t run away. I’m dependent on you, Hugo, regardless whether you’ve got me tied or free. I made a promise. I’ll keep it.”
Hugo’s every word and motion told me what I had become. Bound or free. I was his prisoner and would remain so until I was once more established in my office and apartment in New York - if that ever happened! In the meantime, my best bet was to be nice to him and do as I was told. I knew myself a very different girl from the woman who had come to Plessious for the first time long ago. My roped elbows were hurting horribly but I made up my mind not to nag at this man. In any case, I did not wish to humiliate myself with pleading. Trying to give my captor his money’s worth. I carelessly allowed my knees to fall apart to provide a view I was certain he would enjoy. Hugo found a pleasure in everything girls had.
I could not avoid elation when I was untied and told to dress. It was the first time I’d been free since Elizabeth had put her handcuffs on my wrists. And every motion I now made had the delicious warmth of normalcy. The handcuffs had thoughtful been clasp upon my arm above one elbow, more or less in storage to be available when needed. I had expected Hugo to use them in place of the ropes. But when I was dressed and he discovered the metal circlets were covered by my sleeve, he said they could stay where they were unless I preferred to wear them as a bracelet on my left wrist. I chose the wrist and was thankful to discover he had a key. Soon the metal bracelets were upon my wrist and, from most angles, actually had the appearance of a bracelet. I doubted they would cause either of us embarrassment. Thus I stepped from the boat onto the soil of Greece.
Hugo was not a brute. He blandly pointed out the hazard of leaving me alone where I would have too much opportunity to think and maybe panic. He gave me the option of being handcuffed in the hotel room or going around with him on his errands. I chose the errands. I was beginning to enjoy myself. Hugo knew his way around. We purchased the plane tickets and he then took me to lunch at one of those cute little places a girl loves. I got the tiniest of thrills in knowing he did it to please me. Back in the hotel room I started to pay my dues but I had expected to part my legs for piercing and played the whore with much skill and abandon. I enjoyed it all myself. I would not have returned to Plessious for anything. I continued to pay my dues through most of the night. Hugo was young and very vigorous. Had I been a bride, I would have been pleased at my bargain. But as it was. I counted the pleasure I received as an unexpected dividend. I slept with one wrist handcuffed to the bed.
The plane was so beautifully normal I could have cried with joy.
The stewardess admired my bracelet and asked where she could get one. The effect of clothes and freedom was wonderful! I was soon animatedly talking with Hugo about his claim on the Estate. For the first time I found myself truly interested in getting him at least a small portion of all those millions and billions of dollars. Normally I would have suggested I visit Uncle Andrew and discuss the whole thing with him anew. But I was pretty sure Uncle Andrew would love to get a hold of me, and it wasn’t to discuss a law suit. I’d end up in a dungeon and would probably stay there in chains for a long, long time. I told Hugo I would explore every legal possibility. Perhaps the courts would respond far more favorably than Uncle Andrew. It was in this bit of friendship and a great thankfulness for the familiar sights and sounds of my home town that Hugo and I signaled a taxi. But it was Hugo’s address, not mine, to which the driver took us. I never said a word.
I have to admit to quivering with excitement as we stood in the little hallway of Hugo’s modest house. Our journey was done and whatever Hugo intended for me I would now find out. If he had told me to undress or hold out my hands to be handcuffed. I would obey without demure. Instead of that he took me to bed and, what with jet lag and my payment of some more dues, we slept late into the following morning. Hugo even forgot to handcuff my wrist to the bed rail, an omission for which he apologized as though it really mattered. At breakfast he was businesslike.
“Look, Diane, I have your word and I suppose you’ll keep it. I have work to do and so have you, so I want you to spend the day opening your office and doing whatever else you have to do. We will have an early dinner at Donatelli’s and then come back here. Fair enough?”