Richard awoke in a cold sweat with his heart pounding heavily in his chest. Why was he dreaming that he was marrying a scruffy Englishman named Bertram?
Richard arrived in London at eight p.m. the night before the auction. When he checked in at the front desk at his hotel, he requested his luggage be sent up to his room while he went into a bar called The Fumoir for some sustenance. Enjoying a dry martini and the sashimi plate, in an elegant location so far away from home, almost made him feel like he was on a vacation from himself. Almost.
Richard decided to order the raspberry pavlova and a nightcap. He figured the additional alcohol mixed with the melatonin he was planning to take would help him fall asleep and adjust to his new time zone. While he was sipping his drink he looked around and people watched. It was one of his favorite pastimes when he traveled. He tried to make up stories for the strangers and decide if their lives were really as they portrayed them to be.
His eye was immediately drawn to an old woman with rainbow-colored hair. She was eating by herself and appeared to be enjoying her meal immensely. There were several plates in front of her, more than most families of four would have needed. Richard smiled when he realized she could have passed for Dame Edna’s sister. He wondered what possessed a woman of her years to color her hair in such a shocking fashion. Then he decided to find out.
He stood up, collected his drink and dessert, and walked over to her. “Madam,” he said, “I couldn’t help but notice you were sitting alone. I wonder if perhaps you might like some company.”
Honey looked up and declared, “How lovely! Please, do join me. It’s not often I get to enjoy a meal with such a dashing young man.” Then she put out her hand and introduced, “Honoria Radcliffe, Dowager Duchess of Hartfordshire.” She winked and added, “But you can call me Honey.”
Richard kissed her hand, “Richard Bingham. It’s an honor to meet you, ma’am.”
Honey gasped, “Richard Bingham? You mean Richard Bingham from New York who’s agreed to be in my bachelor auction tomorrow night?”
Caught off guard, he replied, “Yes, ma’am, I guess that would be me.”
“How lovely!” she declared. Meanwhile, Honey was not so subtly giving Richard the once over. How lucky Philippa was that her intended beau was so incredibly delicious to behold. It made her long to be fifty years younger and fifty years more limber. Oh, the fun she could have had with a man like that!
Richard asked, “How did you come to add international bachelors to your auction? It was rather last minute, wasn’t it?”
The duchess answered, “It was my friend Bertram’s idea. He’s such a smart chap.”
The name immediately grabbed Richard’s attention. He’d just married a Bertram for the second time in his dreams. As far as he knew, Bertram was a fairly common name in Britain, but still it was a little disconcerting. He replied, “I’m glad you decided to listen to him. I’m looking forward to spending a few days in London.”
Honey mysteriously replied, “You might just be here for more than a few days.”
“Pardon me?” Richard asked.
Trying to cover her accidental slip, Honey added, “What I mean is, you have to go on your date while you’re here. That might take more than a few days to schedule.”
Richard smiled, “Possibly. I guess we’ll just wait and see who wins my bid and then find out what her schedule is.”
The duchess smiled, “Yes, we’ll have to do that, won’t we?”
Richard had the feeling Honey knew something he didn’t and she wasn’t letting him in on the secret. It left him feeling both nervous and intrigued at the same time.
Richard arrived in the ballroom at seven o’clock, a full half-hour before he was expected. He was one of those people that liked to get the lay of the land ahead of time. He found a place to sit inconspicuously in the back of the room and watched as the last details fell into place. Tea lights were lit, flowers arranged, and the chandeliers dimmed. His breath caught from the magnificence of the setting.
Richard saw Honey walk in, but he didn’t try to get her attention. She was wearing another of her Dame Edna-like dresses. This one was hot pink with sequins and really set off her rainbow-hued hairstyle. She accessorized it with a rather full lavender boa. He realized she looked more like an emcee in a drag show than a member of the aristocracy.
Honey bossed people around the room and made quick work of setting up the greeting table where the guests would pick up their name tags and demi masks. She’d explained to Richard the night before that the bachelors would enjoy the cocktail party with the guests before the bidding started. For added intrigue, the women would be wearing masks so the bachelors wouldn’t know who’d won them until the end of the evening. She’d smiled and offered, “Masquerade balls are some of my fondest memories from my courting years.”
Richard could see how wearing a disguise would add mystique to the evening’s events. The duchess continued, “I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence as a young woman and a masquerade let be myself without worrying the young gentleman I was talking to would find me wanting.” She reminisced, “I met the duke at a masked ball and stole his heart away from another. We laughed and talked for hours and by the time our disguises came off, I knew he saw me for who I really was.”
Richard thought it was a great idea and only wished he was also afforded the luxury of a mask. It would be nice to have women get to know him for his own sake before finding out who he was. Alas, that wasn’t the nature of this event. He commented, “That’s a delightful memory, ma’am. It warms my heart to know a beautiful lady like you found true love.”
The duchess patted her vibrantly colored hair and replied, “Thank you, sir. I guess I’m still masquerading a bit with my hair color, but I’ll have you know that when you get old, if you don’t do something to stand out, people have a way of forgetting you’re still alive.”
She asked, “Would you have come over to join me if you hadn’t been curious what an old broad like me was doing with such odd hair?”
Richard replied, “Of course I would have.” Then he lied, “I didn’t even notice your hair. I was captivated by your radiance the moment I saw you.”
Honey playfully smacked his hand and inquired, “How in the world is such a catch like you still single? You’re going to make some young woman very happy, you know that?”
He laughed, “That’s why I’m here, ma’am. I’m in search of the perfect woman.”
“And you’re going to find her, maybe sooner than you think.”
Richard immediately thought of Philippa. He couldn’t remember all the details of her face as he’d only seen her in candle light and then starlight, but her name played across his mind. He tried to forcibly push it out, as he was there to meet London’s most eligible bachelorettes. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by thoughts of Elliot’s odd sister.
By eight o’clock Richard had moved backstage with the other participants of the auction. The ballroom was full of elegantly masked women ranging in age from quite young, to the duchess’s more advanced stage of life. Yet, from what he could discern without seeing their entire faces, the majority of them seemed to be in their mid-twenties to early forties.
A tall woman in a form-fitting black cocktail dress, reminiscent of another era, signed him in. Her hair was dark brown and she wore it in a low chignon. It was very feminine and showcased her elegant neckline. Her mask was not one supplied by the duchess; rather it was slightly larger covering more of her face than the others. It was detailed in gold curlicue stitching with a few strategically placed sequins. He could only clearly see her mouth and startling blue eyes, which utterly captivated him. He decided that as she was working the event, she probably wouldn’t be bidding on anyone, so he’d have to make sure to make her acquaintance before the night ended.
Richard introduced himself to several of the other bachelors and found out they’d been booked for the event nearly two months earlier. It made him question again why he’
d been asked on such short notice.
At eight thirty, the duchess took the stage and announced the mingling was about to begin. She advised the women to have fun and meet as many of the bachelors as possible. She cautioned them not to monopolize anyone and to let the other ladies have a chance. Then she offered, “You can be assured to win a date with the man of your choice as long as you’re willing to open your purse wide and place the highest bid.” With a wink she added, “Okay gentlemen, they’re all yours!”
Those words cued the backstage volunteers to lead the bachelors on stage and out into the ballroom. The elegant beauty in black took Richard by the arm and gently, almost timidly, guided him to the stage.
He realized she was the perfect height for him. At six three he usually had to lean down to kiss his dates, but this woman had to be over six feet in her heels. She nearly looked him in the eye. He liked that and almost succumbed to the temptation to kiss her right then and there. Instead, he asked, “Dare I hope you’ll be joining in the bidding?”
She looked startled and softly replied, “You’d like for me to bid on you?”
“Very much.” Then he was pulled away by another helper who led him into the throngs.
Philippa’s breath caught in her throat when she saw Richard. He looked better than she remembered. Of course he wasn’t yelling at her and accusing her of awful things like he had the night of Elliot’s wedding. He was looking very much like the elegant man about town. She watched as he effortlessly engaged with the guests, making them giggle and flirt outrageously. She observed as he kissed hands and complimented dresses. Yet, everywhere he went, he made sure to catch her eye. She felt very attended to even though they didn’t speak once after he’d left her side.
At nine thirty, Honey took the stage again and called everyone to attention. She asked her volunteers to please guide the bachelors backstage and instructed the guests to be seated and get ready for the fun ahead.
Pip made sure to be right at Richard’s side when it was time to get the bachelors in line. She wanted to enjoy every moment with him while he was oblivious to her identity. She allowed herself to imagine they truly were destined to be, but she knew that would all change once she won the auction and her mask came off. What in the world was Bertram thinking by still trying to set her up with him? He detested her.
Honey called the bachelors onto the stage one at a time. They were greeted with very unladylike wolf-whistles and catcalls. The duchess calmed the audience down long enough to share pertinent information about the men, like, “Number eight is Sir Thomas Hawtrey, eighth Viscount Farnsworthy. Viscount Hawtrey is thirty-nine, he likes to hunt, golf, and work on his family’s vineyard. Let’s start the bidding at five hundred pounds!”
The women went wild. A night with Sir Thomas eventually sold for twenty-two hundred pounds. At this rate, Richard realized, the Childhood Lupus Foundation was in for quite a hefty donation.
Not every bachelor started at five hundred pounds. Most started at two hundred, but the bounty increased along with title and prestige. Richard wondered what he’d be worth in the end. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Honey announced, “And now a very special bachelor all the way from New York City. I’d like you to meet bachelor number fourteen, Richard Bingham!”
Richard wasn’t sure if the volume had increased because the ladies were really that interested in him or because they’d had nearly an hour to consume more cocktails and get worked up by the proceedings. Either way, it was a bit invigorating to be on the receiving end of such adoration.
The dowager duchess continued, “Quiet down, ladies, so I can tell you about this gorgeous specimen.” They hushed immediately, as they clearly wanted to know more. “According to Manhattan Life magazine, Mr. Bingham is one of the top ten eligible bachelors in New York, but according to us, he’s number one!” The applause drew out for several moments. Eventually she added, “Richard owns one of the largest advertising agencies in the city. When he’s not working, he likes to spend time on his boat, visit his mother, and drive upstate to buy pies.” The cheering nearly brought the house down.
Honey added, “Because Mr. Bingham is a rather exotic addition to our event, we’re going to start the bidding at eight hundred pounds!”
Hands flew into the air at an alarming rate and before too many minutes had passed, the bidding had reached three thousand pounds. Pip watched excitedly as more and more women jumped into the fray. By the time his price hit six thousand pounds, only a couple of women were left. Philippa had yet to raise her hand.
When the bidding hit seven thousands pounds Richard turned and caught her eye. Her knees nearly gave out from under her as the air between them crackled with electricity. Pip slowly walked toward him. The whole room grew quiet when she reached his side and announced, “I’ll take him for ten thousand, Honey.” Then looking at the crowd she added, “Unless there’s another bid?” There wasn’t.
Honey banged her gavel announcing that bachelor fourteen was off the market. She moved on to the last three while Philippa led Richard off the stage. When they were out of everyone’s sight he pulled her close and whispered, “Thank you. I’ll happily give you the money if you don’t have it.”
Philippa forced a smile, “You’re welcome and there’s no need for you to offer money. I was planning on donating that amount tonight even if I didn’t win a date.”
Richard reached up to remove her mask, but she stopped him, “Not yet.” Pip couldn’t bear to have him look at her with anger again, which is why she said, “I don’t want a date for my bid, Mr. Bingham.”
Confused, he asked, “If you don’t want a date, what do you want?”
“Just one kiss.”
Richard couldn’t control himself after hearing her plea. He was most certainly going to date this woman, but her simple request was nearly his undoing. He pulled her to him and almost devoured her whole. His embrace wasn’t fueled by rage; it was propelled solely by desire.
The kiss nearly brought Philippa to her knees. She let him push her into a dark corner and consume her until she felt completely swept away. She felt the heat of his body press into hers and if he hadn’t been holding her up, she would have certainly collapsed into a heap. Minutes or hours could have passed, she couldn’t tell.
When he finally pulled back to reach for her mask, she stopped him, “Not yet.”
Philippa couldn’t stand to hear Richard rail at her and say ugly things like he had at her brother’s wedding. She was more than half in love with him already and knew his disdain was not something she could tolerate. So she said, “Let me go freshen up and I’ll be right back.”
Richard hesitated. He didn’t want her to leave his sight for even a minute. He wanted to keep her right next to him. Yet she promised to come back, so he reluctantly let her go.
New Beau
Chapter 31
Philippa searched for Honey and Cressida after her lip-lock with Richard. He thought she’d gone to the ladies’ room, but she hadn’t; she had gone to see her friends. When she finally found them, with their heads together deep in conversation, she announced, “You can’t tell Richard I was the one who won his bid.”
Honey demanded, “Why would we tell him? Isn’t that something you’re meant to do?”
Pip replied, “Yes, but I’m not going to.”
“What?” Cressida demanded. “Why ever not? I thought that was whole point of bidding on him.”
Their friend responded, “It was, but if you’ll remember, that was never my idea. It was Bertram’s.”
At the mention of his name, Pip’s contact appeared, elegantly dressed in a tuxedo of his own. Pip saw him and swore, “Bertram, I promise you, I’m going to work harder than ever to find my soulmate, but it’s not Richard Bingham. It can’t be him.”
Bertram merely replied, “But what if it is?”
“What if it isn’t?,” she countered with panic in her eyes. “The man I’m meant to spend my life with could never lo
ok at me with the contempt Richard did. The man I’m destined to be with could never hate me like that.”
Honey interjected, “He’s not looking at you with hatred tonight, pet. If I were to venture a guess, I’d say he’s looking at you with decided interest, like a hungry lion eyeballing a raw steak.”
“That’s only because he doesn’t know it’s me! Once he finds out I’m the one who won him, he’ll accuse me of scheming to get him here for that very outcome.”
Cressida asked, “What about Bertram? Are you going to let him down? What if not telling Richard means he has to leave this world before his daughter’s grown?”
“It’s Pip’s choice,” Bertram replied. “She’s doesn’t have to listen to my suggestions.” Then he reminded them, “Her grandmother’s already visited her and told her that very thing.”
Philippa gasped, “My God, this is what she was talking about?”
Bertram nodded, “It is. And she’s right. It’s your life, Pip, and you have the right to make up your own mind.” He turned to the other ladies, “You’re not to tell Richard that Philippa is the one who won his auction.”
Pip’s eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you for understanding, Bertram. You have to know that I’m going to redouble my efforts to find my soulmate. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you get to come back to Peri. In fact,” she added, “I have a date this coming week with a lovely man named Declan.”
Cressida started, “Liam’s friend? I thought you decided he wouldn’t be right for you. You know, based on the fact he waited three weeks to show any interest?”
Pip replied, “I could have been wrong. You never know, he might just be Mr. Right and I’m going to work fast and furious to find out if he is.”
Kindred Spirits: A Romantic Comedy About Love, Life, and the Afterlife . . . Page 15
