by Sarah Thorn
''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?''
Beatrice obliged and at the end of the ball. Emily now knew the names, the Duke of Bedford, Robert Masters, and Charles Carrington.
*****
The Duke of Bedford's carriage pulled up outside Priory Manor. A footman opened the door. As the Duke climbed out, he looked up at the house. It was very large, indeed. He estimated, at least, fifty rooms. The front of the house had a stone staircase leading up the front door. The large windows were arranged symmetrically and the he noticed the clock in the facade. It was three pm.
''The Duke of Bedford is here to see you, Miss Emily,'' the butler announced.
''Thank you, Jennings, please show him in.''
''Miss Emily, I was most surprised to receive your note yesterday. Pleasantly surprised, I might add. I do get a lot of invitations from young ladies but seldom from one as beautiful as your good self.''
''It is kind of you to say so. Please be seated,'' Emily pointed to a French sofa opposite her. A maid poured tea, and they studied each other.
''I do hope you don't think it forward of me to ask you to tea.''
''Not at all. I am, after all, a Duke. I assume it is not often that you have the privilege of entertaining such a titled man.''
Emily disliked the conceit of his answer. ''I will come to the point, my Lord. I much enjoyed our dance the other evening. It is not for a lady to ask, but I would like to know you better. Do you think me too forward?''
''Miss Emily, I am honored that you asked me. I am of course much in demand with young ladies throughout the whole country. It seems I only have to dance with one of them, and I am invited for tea very soon afterward. I have a title, and that is an attractive proposition for any woman. However, I must say; I am in awe of your beauty, and I would be delighted to give you the chance to know me better.''
''Splendid, that's settled. Tell me, my Lord, do you live alone?''
''Yes. I am the youngest Duke in the country. My unfortunate parents died two years ago in a boating accident at Newby Hall. I live alone in Aldborough Hall.''
''Then may I ask you to invite me, how shall I put it, to stay with you. For the sake of modesty perhaps you could invite me to a dinner party where there are other guests. It would be indiscreet to come to your house alone. I would please like to stay the evening in one of your rooms. A journey home so late in the evening would be ill advised for a young woman, on her own.''
''I would be delighted if you stayed,'' Emily noticed the glint in the Duke's eye.
*****
''Mr. Robert Masters to see you, Miss Emily.''
''Mr. Masters, please come in and sit down. How was your journey?'' Emily had seen him at the ball, but she hadn't been close enough to see how handsome he really was. He was tall and thin, with blonde hair and green-brown eyes. He had a Viking roughness to him that women found very attractive. His eyes made her feel he was undressing her and in his mind he already was.
Masters sat on the same sofa the Duke of Bedford has used two days earlier. ''Fine, thank you. I must say I was pleasantly surprised to receive your invitation to tea, Miss Emily.''
''I have heard so much about you, I wanted to ask you here, to see for myself if what they say is true. I do hope you don't find me forward in doing so?''
Masters looked longingly at Emily's décolleté. ''Forward? No, not in the slightest. Pray, what have you heard about me?''
''I have heard that you are a ladies’ man. I like confident men. Someone who knows how to speak to a woman. Is that the case Mr. Masters?''
''Well....it could be said that I enjoy the company of women, yes.''
''And how many conquests have you had in your short life, may I inquire,'' Emily asked.
''Quite a number.''
''I will come to the point if I may. The reason I extended this invitation to you is this: I admire you, and I would very much like to know you better. Would that be agreeable to you?''
Masters looked at her breasts again before looking her straight in the eye. ''That would be very agreeable.''
''I want you, to invite me to your home. It is, of course, a little indelicate for me to come unaccompanied to the house of a single man, especially one as experienced in the ways of the world as you. Perhaps you can invite me to dinner. Make sure there are other guests there. But I would like to stay the night if I may. It is ill advised for a woman to travel alone in the evening.''
''Of course. I will arrange it. I will prepare your bed chamber myself,'' he smirked.
*****
''Mr. Charles Carrington to see you, Miss Emily.''
''Mr. Carrington, what a pleasure it is to meet you,'' Emily said.
''Miss Emily. Thank you so much for the kind invitation to your splendid home. I must say I was surprised to receive it.''
''Please take a seat.'' As the Duke and Masters had done before him, Carrington sat on the French sofa. He looked at Emily and was struck by her blue eyes. ''Mr. Masters, I am so pleased you could come today. You may think it forward of me, but I noticed you at the ball, and I must say, I decided I would like to get to know you better.''
''It is an honor to be here Miss Emily,'' he said, in awe of her beauty.
Emily looked at him. He was quite the most handsome of the three. Not as tall as Carrington, but taller than the Duke. He had long dark hair and emerald green eyes. His eyes told her he was sad in some way.
''It is most kind of you to invite me here today, but first, I have to tell you of my unfortunate circumstances. I am flattered that you wish to know me better. However, I am a man of poor means. My father, the Earl of Rochester, has disinherited me. I would not pretend for one minute that I am suitable for you in any way. You deserve better than to court a pauper. You should marry someone who can keep you in the manner to which you are accustomed. I cannot provide you with what you deserve.''
''I understand Mr. Carrington, but I really would like to get to know you better, despite your troubles.'' Emily hadn't expected such a reply and now feared her plan was in jeopardy.
''Please, Miss Emily. If I may say so, I find you deeply attractive, and I would like nothing more than to step out with you. But our positions are uncomplimentary. You must consider what harm society would do you if it were known that you were seeing a pauper.''
Emily was a little piqued. ''Mr. Carrington, I do not care about your money. I care about knowing you. Please do not deny me that pleasure.''
''I understand what you have asked me, but please, do not embarrass me further. It is not for someone of my lowly status to interfere in your life. Thank you for the tea. Now I must bid you good day.''
Emily was impressed by Carrington's modesty and consideration for her future wellbeing, but she was angry. Her plan wasn't going to work unless she could persuade the very honorable Carrington to change his mind.
*****
Emily looked out of the carriage window as it took her down the drive, on the Aldborough Hall Estate. They had passed through the magnificent sandstone gate some minutes earlier, and Emily could still not see the house. In the estate grounds, they had passed a church, which was obviously the private place of worship for the Bedford family. They had also driven past several farm houses, which Emily assumed must be Bedford's tenants. They turned in a curve to the right, and she saw it appear from behind a wood. The largest, most magnificent dwelling she could ever have imagined.
''It was designed by Robert Adam,” the Duke told her as he
escorted her from her carriage. It has more rooms that I can count.''
''It's beautiful,'' Emily said as she held onto his arm. You are so lucky to live in this beautiful place.''
''Luck, my dear, doesn't come into it. We are bred for it. We are a higher class of person, who is capable of appreciating this kind of property. Imagine what would happen to it, if the peasants in the village got their hands on it. They would steal the lead off the roof in no time as well as strip all the furnishings out of it.''
Emily was saddened to hear him speak of local people in this way, many of whom were his tenants and paid him good money for the privilege.
''Parsons here will show you to your room,'' the Duke said. ''Parsons, take Miss Emily to the Queen Elizabeth suite and make sure she has a maid assigned to her.''
The butler nodded, and Emily followed him up the grand staircase. The servant opened a large mahogany door and motioned to Emily. It was indeed fit for a queen, as its name suggested. It was enormous. To the right, there was a large four-poster bed adorned with a silk bed cover and eight great feather pillows. There was a writing desk in the middle of the room and a marble fireplace with a gilt mirror hanging above it on the left wall. Emily rushed to the window and looked out over the garden to the fields beyond. ''Paradise,'' she said.
A footman appeared with her cases and put them on the floor in front of the bed. He was followed by a small woman with red hair. ''I'm Rose, Miss Emily. I am to be your maid throughout your stay. Can I hang up your dresses,'' she asked. Emily nodded, and the young woman busied herself with Emily's finest gowns.
At six o'clock in the evening, Rose appeared again. Emily had napped for two hours, tired from her journey. ''Miss Emily I have come to help you dress for dinner.''
''Thank you,'' Emily said gratefully.
Rose stood behind Emily and brushed her hair. Emily looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing an apple green ball gown, fetchingly finished with delicate lace. Her décolleté was purposely lower than usual. ''Your hair is very soft and quite the most beautiful I have brushed,'' Rose told her.
At seven thirty, the Duke knocked on Emily's door. When she appeared, he felt a sudden wave of desire envelop him. She was perfect, he thought. Emily smiled at him. It was a suggestive come and get me kind of smile.
At dinner, there were four other people. The Duke introduced them. There were his first cousin and his wife and his best school friend and his wife. The dining room was large and uninviting, and Emily felt cold. The dining table was too long for six, and the guests seemed to be a long way apart. So far, in fact, it was almost necessary to shout at each other.
''What did you do with those troublesome tenants,'' the school friend asked the Duke, as they tucked into a roast pheasant.
''Do you know, they hadn't paid the rent for two months. They kept complaining that their child was ill, and they had to use their rent money to pay the doctor’s bills. I've never heard such nonsense. Got them evicted.''
''Do you mean the family whose little girl had tuberculosis?'' the first cousin's wife asked.
''I haven't got a clue what ailed the child,'' the Duke said.
''But surely it is cruel to put a family with such woes onto the streets? Wouldn't it have been kinder to allow them some more time or assist them monetarily,'' Emily asked, quite horrified at the Duke's attitude.
''Assist them with money? Good grief, Emily. If I were to do that, all my tenants would start to expect favors of that kind, and I have over five hundred of them. I would be bankrupt in no time.''
''While there is some merit in what you say, I still believe it is important to be humane in exceptional circumstances,'' Emily retorted.
The Duke looked at her. Contrary as well as beautiful, he thought. Another wave of desire rose from his groin. ''My dear, you are young and have yet to experience the harsh realities of the world. I am afraid it is simply not possible to help everyone. The people with a lower status than we should be subservient and pay their rent on time. Now let's change the subject, I can see Emily is a little inexperienced in business. Perhaps we should talk about ladies fashion,'' he said patronizingly.
Emily looked down to her hands as they played nervously in her lap. She felt the Duke had belittled her. At the end of the evening, Emily was cold and more than ready for bed. She stood up, thanked the Duke for his hospitality and wished the other guests good night.
Rose had made a fire in Emily's room, and she gratefully pulled the armchair to it and warmed herself. Rose knocked on the door. ''I'll help you get ready for bed, Miss Emily,'' she said eager to help.
''Thank you, Rose. You really are superb at your job. You have made me feel most at home here.'' I hope I don't speak out of turn, but are you happy here, in this position?''
Rose didn't know what to say. ''Well......Miss Emily I........'' She brushed Emily's hair with increased vigor and suddenly found the courage to speak. ''Honestly, no I am not happy here, but I am just a maid and where could I find other work? I don't want to go to a factory, and if I left, I am sure the Duke wouldn't give me a reference. He can be...........let's say awkward sometimes.''
Rose saw Emily to bed and closed the door behind her. The room was filled with the red glow of the fire's last burning embers as Emily began to think about the Duke. No sooner had her thoughts turned to him, there was a soft tap on the door. Emily sat up and listened. She heard it again. She got out of bed and opened the door slightly. It was the Duke.
''Miss Emily would you allow me to come in?''
She could smell port on his breath. “Please do,'' she said opening the door further.
He stepped inside, closed the door and grabbed her. ''Duke really, calm yourself. I am a defenseless lady. Please let us........''
''I want you. I have wanted you since the minute I saw you this evening. Emily, take me to your bed. Let me show you my desire.''
''Slowly, my Lord. Slowly. I am taken with you, and I do feel your desire for me. I am flattered, but I hope you appreciate, a lady needs time before she is fully able to give herself. Come and sit with me.''
The Duke was delighted to see Emily sit on the edge of the bed, not the armchair. Perhaps he still had a chance. Emily noticed his manhood straining against the material of his trousers. She smiled to herself.
''Now, my Lord, we will do this gently and at a pace, I am comfortable with. Do you agree?''
The Duke nodded.
''You may kiss me.''
He took her in his arms and kissed her. Emily felt his tongue trying to open her lips, but she managed to keep them tightly shut.
''Now, that was nice, wasn't it?'' she asked him.
Again he nodded. He was racked with desire and couldn't speak. His member was harder than it had ever been and he wanted to plunge it into her, without delay.
Emily took his hand and placed it to her breast. He felt her nipples stiffen under the thin nightgown. ''My Lord, please forgive me. I am inexperienced in the ways of the bedroom. I have never had a man before.'' The Duke's breath quickened at the thought of taking this virginal beauty. ''I ask you to have patience with me. I will give myself entirely to you, in time. For the moment, I am comfortable letting you kiss me and touch certain parts of my body.''
The Duke listened in dismay. All he was going to get was a kiss and a feel of her breasts. It wasn't enough, but other than raping her, he concluded he had little choice but to wait.
Emily pushed him down so that he was lying on the bed. She lay next to him and propped herself up on one elbow. She kissed him. ''My Lord. Please be assured of my firm interest in you, but one thing is troubling me. One thing that may come between us and ruin any chance we have of happiness together.''
The Duke looked up at her. He had accepted that his sexual desire wasn't going to be quenched this evening. ''What on earth could possibly come between us?''
''A process of bidding,'' Emily said boldly. She looked at the Duke. She knew that look. It was the same guilty look she'd used when her
mother had caught her using her pearls.
''How do you.....?
''My cousin heard you and the other two gentlemen talking about holding an auction for my hand.''
''Emily please, that was just......''
''I am flattered. Don't think me angry in any way. It is just that I am worried in the extreme that you will be outbid and that any chance of happiness I may have with you will be destroyed. I have a proposal to make.''
''Please go on,'' the Duke said.
''I understand the agreement is for five rounds of bidding. You must tell me after the fourth round of bids what your final bid shall be. I will use my womanly charms to persuade the others that your bid is much lower than it is and you will win me, and we can follow our hearts at last.''
She kissed him again. This time longer and with her mouth slightly open. ''Any other outcome would break my heart,'' she said as her forefinger traced a path over his stomach and down to his belt.
''Oh, Miss Emily. You are so beautiful, and I desire you like I have no other woman on this earth. I will tell you, of course, I will.''
*****
''How many of the men have you met with?'' asked Beatrice, as she walked with her cousin over the freshly cut lawn at Priory Manor.
''So far, only the Duke,'' Emily replied.
''And what are you feelings for him?''
''He is the most objectionable man I have ever met. Do you know he evicted a tenant family when their daughter was ill with tuberculosis? He is conceited and arrogant. He has untold wealth, and I could become a Duchess, but he is quite intolerable.''
''Then there are just two,'' Beatrice added.
''I don't know. Mr. Carrington was adamant that his position made it impossible for us to meet. He has been disinherited and has no money. He rather charmingly told me that he wants the best for me, and as he can't offer it, he won't consider meeting with me. Of that, he left me in no doubt whatsoever.''
