It was hard telling what exactly Ned Low's plan was. Anne wasn't sure even Low himself knew what he intended to do with her. True enough she was his captive and was likely to remain so until Charles came for her. But that didn't mean she was about to back down from him. Ned had her tied down to the headboard and looked over her, tugging open her blouse and exposing more of that superb cleavage. He taunted and teased her, but Anne refused to take the bait.

Then came the yell from downstairs.

Ned smirked and made a careful cut along her chest with his knife. He excused himself with a dramatic bow and stepped out of the room. He looked down from the railing to the open room below. Some of his crew were on the main level, their pistols pointed at Charles.

"What's all the yelling about? This is a place of business, after all, Vane!" Ned grinned down at him, holding aloft his blood-covered knife and toying with it in his hands. "What brings you here? I've just brought up the prettiest little brunette bird you ever did see for myself."

Anne struggled to free herself, but it was no use. The ropes were tied too tight. She leaned up to try and chew them, but that was no use either. She heard the men talking outside and she yelled for Charles.

Ned glared over his shoulder to the room, but smirked again when he looked down at Charles.

"Quite the screamer, isn't she?" He grinned.