“It feels like you are being told how much you are worth and its horrible if no one really bids on you.”
Liane laughed. Her sister was so uptight. When she was betrothed to the crown prince, she had to act accordingly. Now that she was not, she wanted to let down her hair a little, especially since Jean Pierre was a bad influence on her. However, Francesca had no reason to be so uptight.
“You know your worth, so why should you feel otherwise? And it’s a charity event. Someone will always bid.”
“Why are you not bidding?” Prince Louis asked Lord Jacques who was just sitting there sipping his champagne.
“I have not seen anything I like yet,” he responded as Prince Louis and Jean Pierre laughed.
Macee carried on with the auction and it was going well. She thought of adding one more bachelorette and she knew that she was going to be in trouble with her afterwards. “Now the last young lady up for auction will be my beautiful and intelligent sister, Francesca,” Macee said.
Francesca's eyes flew open. When Macee had told her about the auction, she told her that she would never do anything like that. Even Liane was unaware of her plans, but she definitely liked the idea. Francesca shook her head but everyone at the table kept cheering for her to get on stage.
Chapter 7
Francesca reluctantly stood up and walked to the stage to stand next to Macee. “I am going to kill you,” she whispered as Macee hugged her from the side.
“Shall we start the bidding at 200 Euros?” Macee asked. Francesca closed her eyes wishing all this was simply a bad dream. She was worth much more than that and the highest bid of the night was 30,000 Euros. The guests started bidding. Francesca could not wait for it to be over but if she was auctioned off for a low amount, she was not going to be happy.
Lord Jacques sat there watching Francesca on the stage. He could tell from where he sat that she did not like the idea and he could not help smiling. The dress she was wearing complimented her shape. She was beautiful, from head to toe. “20,000,” Lord Jacques called out. Macee and Francesca whipped their heads in his direction. Even Prince Louis and Jean Pierre were surprised.
“Things just got interesting,” Liane whispered to Katherine.
“22,000,” another man bid.
“24,000,” Lord Jacques countered. Macee lowered her microphone and watched. Mrs LeBlanc raised her eyebrows. This was something she did not mind; well-established wealthy men were interested in her daughter.
“30,000,” the other man said. Francesca smiled to herself. She was worried that she would go at a low bid. She hoped that Jacques would stop bidding, as she did not fancy the idea of being on a date with him.
“40,000,” Lord Jacques bid. The guests gasped.
“50,000.”
“70,000.” Lord Jacques bid as he stood up.
Macee looked at the other man to see if he was going to bid but he did not. “The winning bid is for 70,000 Euros by Lord Jacques,” Macee shouted as the guests clapped their hands. Francesca looked at Jacques, but she could not read his expression. She was still reeling from what just happened. Why would he pay that much just for a date with her? Granted it was for charity, but 70,000 Euros. That was unheard of; what could he possibly be thinking?
Francesca returned to her seat. “I am going to kill her,” she said to Liane.
“That was amazing,” Liane replied. She was shocked at Jacques's bid, shocked and impressed.
“Oh that was great,” Katherine said to Francesca.
“It was uncomfortable,” Francesca replied.
“Why? There were men willing to pay that much just for one dinner date with you.”
“The wrong ones.”
“That is humour, right?” Katherine looked at Liane and then back at Francesca. “The man is handsome and oozing with sex appeal,” she added. “Why wouldn’t you want to go out with him?”
“I agree one hundred per cent,” Macee said as she re-joined them. Francesca whipped her head in Macee's direction.
“Macee, how could you?” Francesca complained.
“Frannie, I would think that you would feel at least a little good about it.”
“I would! You got the highest bid of the night. The second one is not even half yours,” Liane said. Francesca sighed and picked up her glass of champagne.
“At least he knows I am worth a lot,” she said.
“That's my girl,” Mrs LeBlanc said. The queen said nothing as she sat there listening to their conversation. She had hoped to see her daughter with Lord Jacques. He was the next man on her list of suitors for her daughter. It did not sit well with her that he was interested in a LeBlanc.
“You found someone that you liked?” Prince Louis asked Lord Jacques. Although he was surprised that it was Francesca.