Billionaire Flawed 1(182)

Oh cousin, I would like nothing more than to go with you but mummy has asked me to say here. Apparently she wants to introduce me to some eligible young men of her choosing. I am terrified. She has such poor taste. Every man she points out to me is so dreadfully dull. I am young, and I want someone handsome and dashing, not someone twice my age.

Well then, I will go and search for us while you are meeting these dull creatures. Come and find me when you have finished. You never know, I might have some success.

Emily watched her walk down the side of the dance floor and strike up a conversation with a tall looking gentleman of similar age.

Emily, please come over here, her mother said. I would like to present the Duke of Bedford.

The Duke took Emily's hand and pressed it to his lips. Enchanted, he said.

My Lord, it is a pleasure to meet you, Emily replied as she curtsied. She looked at the man her mother presumably found to be of sufficient breeding to contend for her hand. She was pleasantly surprised. The Duke was not old and stuffy. He was young and handsome. Miss Emily, would you do me the honor dancing with me?

Emily was keen to dance with the handsome Duke. She was relieved it was a country dance and not one of the more intricate dances. A country dance was simple and would allow her maximum time with him. A lot of other dances called for many more partner changes. She'd never seen the point of being asked to dance by a man, only to spend the rest of the dance in the arms of several other men.

As they undertook the required steps, Emily studied him. He was, at least, six feet tall, and he had a very elegant Roman nose. His eyes were green, and his hair was dark. How on earth did such a young man become a Duke, she wondered? She'd always imagined Dukes to be old. Emily recognized his uniform and was impressed to note he was an officer in the Dragoons, one of the bravest regiment in the British Army.

Thank you, Miss Emily, you are indeed a very fine dancer. You have learned the art well. Now I promised to return you to your mother. I believe she has some more guests she would like you to meet.







She really is the most impressive young lady. Her beauty knows no bounds, Robert Masters said.

The Duke nodded in agreement. She is indeed an amazing creature. Any man would give all he is worth to take her hand in marriage. What do you say Charles?

I say, if she were in an auction only the richest men in the land need attend. She is a very fine woman I agree.

Robert Masters, The Duke of Bedford and Charles Carrington were standing in the corner of the ballroom looking on as Emily endured a dance with one of her mother's less inspired choices.

You mentioned an auction, Charles. That really is an interesting thought. Robert said.

Yes, that's it, the Duke exclaimed. We all three admire her. Any one of us would take her as a wife at the drop of a hat. Instead of competing with each other and risking our friendship, why don't we three place bids for her. The highest bidder earns the right to court and marry her ahead of the lower bidders. We'll bid in five rounds. The last bid to be the final word. What do you say?

A bid a week for five weeks, Robert said.

Agreed, said Charles.







Emily, Emily, the most terrible thing has happened.

Beatrice, what on earth can be so terrible on this magnificent occasion?

I hardly want to tell you. It is so shameful.

Really, Cousin. Tell me.

Alright, Beatrice took a deep breath. I believe the three men over there, she nodded her head clandestinely, have decided to buy you?

What? What do you mean, buy me? I'm not for sale.

No, sorry, I don't mean buy, I mean bid for you.

Really, Beatrice, you are making no sense whatsoever.

Beatrice was so enthusiastic to tell her cousin what she'd overheard, she had lost all clarity of thought. She took another deep breath and tried again. I heard the three men over there talking about you. They all like you, in fact, they would all marry you at the drop of a hat. The man in the uniform said it would be a pity if their friendship were to be spoiled by them falling out over you. To avoid this, they have decided to place bids. The highest bidder will win the sole chance to approach you, and they assume marry you. There are going to be five rounds of bidding, one each week. Beatrice let out her breath, relieved she had managed to convey the story accurately this time.

How very presumptuous of them. I wonder what makes them think I am interested in marrying any of them?

I really don't know cousin. But you must admit, they are all very handsome.

They are as you say, quite handsome. But they have rendered themselves much less so by entering into to this ridiculous activity. I have an idea.

Please tell me, Beatrice said anxiously.

They are going to place bids for my hand in marriage. It is I, however, who will decide which of them I will marry, if any of them. I will pretend to be interested in them all. I will court each one of them and find out what they are like. Then I will persuade the one I like the most to bid the highest amount so we may continue our courtship and see if we are suited enough to be married.” Emily paused. “There is just one difficulty. I am acquainted with the Duke of Bedford, but I don't know the other the gentlemen. Could you please find out for me?