She struggled against her bonds and blindfold to equal futility. They were secure. She was secure. And, from the sounds of it, the ship was secure.

Help remained with her father's men.

Ashore.

To their aft.

She hadn't had time to react when her abductors had burst in and blindfolded her, but smelled as though they hadn't bathed in weeks. She had no idea who or why someone would want to kidnap her, her father had no dangerous enemies that she knew of. Then again, she knew precious little of his life before he married her mother.

Silence met her pleas for information about who they were. As were those regarding what ship they were on, where they were going, who their master was, what they planned to do with her, if they had any idea who her father was. When she heard the cabin door close, she slumped in the chair they had bound her to, as much as she could in binding stays.

For now, she had no choice but to relegate herself to her present situation, eventually nodding off into a stiff sleep.

*

How the woman managed to sleep so soundly while sitting bound in a chair was beyond him.

For a moment, he had been spellbound by his captive, despite the fact she looked a bit worse for wear after her struggles against her captors. Long hair mussed as though a blind woman had tended it, flawless skin echoing the warmth of the sun it had seen, a plush bosom rising and falling softly with her rhythmic breathing. A bosom beckoning to be caressed. Her eyes were surely closed beneath the blindfold and something within him longed to discover their color.

A deep sigh escaped him and seemed to alert the woman as he'd entered his own cabin. Ironic, since the door opening and closing had been louder.

Her brown-tressed head righted itself and said softly in a crisp English accent, "Who are you?" The fear and uncertainty in her voice was barely masked by her attempt to sound undaunted and unafraid. She cocked her head as if trying to listen to where he was located in relation to her.

Obliging her, he ignored her question. "You will come to no harm, Miss Andrews."

*

He took a few steps toward her, telling her he was on the tall side, but not heavy, at least not with fat. Cecilia had heard most seafarers were usually well muscled from the hard work. His voice was firm, but not hard or menacing, and flowed seductive and husky through the air. He smelled of sweat and the salt sea air despite the cool October weather.

"Then why am I bound to a chair?" She turned her head, following the sound of his footsteps; she would not reveal her weakness to this stranger. Then she felt him kneel in front of her.

"Shall we remove the blindfold? I am sure we are far enough out to sea that you will not have a clue to our position." His hands went to the back of her head to untie the coarse fabric binding her eyes. "Keep your eyes closed, so the light will not stun you." His warm breath danced across her neck and raised the fine hairs at the nape.

The blindfold off, she tried to look at him so he wouldn't notice. The light did not affect her as she pointed her gaze over his right shoulder, revealing to him that her sable brown eyes did not see him.

Could not see him.

She was blind.

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