Cecily sat at her place in the back, casting glances his way from time to time. As each box came and went, Averil realized he couldn’t have identified Cecily’s box without her telling him which one was hers.
Finally, the auctioneer chose from the table the box that Averil had been waiting to see. “Now, here’s a beauty,” Hank declared as he examined Cecily’s artwork. He tilted the top toward the crowd so they could get a better look. “Would y’all just take a look at these gorgeous spring flowers on top?” He examined the lilies. “One. Two. Three.” He nodded. “Three lovely, giant lilies. Now, I’d bet my bottom dollar that the girl who made this box is as pretty as a fresh spring bouquet herself.”
Someone near the back let out a whoop. Averil cut his stare in the direction of the holler in hopes of seeing the man who dared express his approval of Cecily’s box in such a vulgar way. Unfortunately he was unable to spot the offender among the poker-faced men.
“Just look at this color!” Hank said. “See how the deep green contrasts with the white flowers.”
Averil turned his attention back to the stage. He didn’t want to lose the bid out of jealousy.
“I think this is just about the prettiest color green I’ve ever seen,” Hank observed.
Averil eyed Cecily sitting on the stage. Apparently feeling his gaze upon her, she set her glance on him shyly. Her slight smile told him he hadn’t made a mistake in identifying the boxed lunch. Not until that instant did the full impact of his promise to bid on it register with him. He would have to raise his hand in front of a sea of people. Averil felt his heart racing.
“Now, who’ll give me a dollar for this lovely boxed lunch? Like I said, I’m sure the girl who made it is just as pretty.” The auctioneer’s compliments and speculations mirrored his comments about all the other entries.
Averil shot his hand into the sky, confident he would be announced the winner.
The auctioneer beamed. “I have three bids for a dollar. Who’ll give me one dollar and fifty cents?”
Three bids! Averil looked around.
The auctioneer intoned, “A dollar and a half from the gentleman in beige.”
Averil peered in the direction of the auctioneer’s stare and spotted Professor Tobias. The music teacher?
“Two dollars?” After the briefest of pauses, the auctioneer said, “Two dollars from the gentleman with the Panama hat.”
Averil cut his gaze to find a Panama hat. His errand proved an easy one, since the man wearing the only one in the crowd towered above everyone else. Who in the world could he possibly be? He hoped the man was a friend setting out to make the bidding more interesting or to gain more money for charity.
“Three dollars. Do I hear three dollars? The school sure could use the money,” the auctioneer cajoled.
Averil watched, astonished to observe the tall man and the music teacher try to outbid each other. Soon, Cecily’s lunch was going for ten dollars, almost as much as Averil had brought.
A triumphant grin displayed itself on the tall stranger’s face. The victorious expression made his features look handsome—almost. Averil wondered who the stranger could possibly be. Cecily had never mentioned a suitor, and he couldn’t imagine a mere friend being willing to take bidding on a boxed lunch up so high, even to benefit the school.
He saw from his peripheral vision that Cecily shifted in her seat. She set her brown eyes toward his face, but he averted his gaze. He wouldn’t disappoint her. Not if he could help it.
“Eleven dollars!” the teacher bid.
Averil waited for the tall man to bid. He fumbled in his pockets, but apparently came up empty. His face reddening, he grumbled under his breath. Finally he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
The auctioneer nodded. “Eleven dollars, going once—”
Averil shouted, “Eleven fifty!”
The auctioneer smiled and looked at Averil. “Wonderful! Our first bidder is back! You’re a smart man, my friend in the blue seersucker suit.”
Several people nearby turned to see the first bidder. Some sent him approving nods. Others were slack jawed. Still others furrowed their brows in apparent curiosity.
“Eleven seventy-five,” Professor Tobias persisted.
Averil gulped. He had twelve dollars in his vest. Reaching into his pocket, he could feel a dime and three pennies. “Twelve dollars and thirteen cents!”
“We have a bid for twelve dollars and thirteen cents,” the auctioneer informed the crowd.
Snickering and whispering ensued. Averil tightened his jaw. The embarrassment was worth everything, as long as he had outbid the teacher.
“Twelve dollars and thirteen cents going once.” The auctioneer paused and surveyed the crowd. “Twelve dollars and thirteen cents going twice.”
“Fifteen dollars!” Professor Tobias cried.
The crowd, including Averil, let out a collective gasp. Fifteen dollars! Hushed comments rippled through the throng.
“Fifteen dollars going once,” Hank shouted.
As much as he wanted to bid sixteen dollars, Averil couldn’t. For a split second, he even considered borrowing the difference from someone. But who? Certainly not Mr. Eaton. Averil didn’t know anybody else.
“Fifteen dollars going twice.” The auctioneer paused.
No, he couldn’t prolong the bidding. He would just have to let Cecily lunch with the music teacher. Though disappointed, he stood to his full height to mask his displeasure with this turn of events. He had a rival in his affection for Cecily!
“Sold for fifteen dollars!”
Nine
As bidding began on the next box, Cecily and her lunch companion made their way through the throng. Averil studied Cecily’s expression. Her mouth was open as though she felt distressed, but anger didn’t color her face. As the couple snaked their way through the crowd, he noticed they drew closer to where he stood. Averil became conscious of his beating heart but tried to keep a nonchalant expression on his face. Finally Cecily paused in front of him.
“Will you do me a favor? I want you to bid on Augusta’s basket,” she whispered.
Her suggestion startled Averil. The thought hadn’t occurred to him. “Really?”
“Yes. Please do.” She lowered her voice so he could barely hear her.
“But—”
“Then the four of us can sit together,” she hissed.
Aha! So she wanted to sit with him after all. “Which box?”
“The blue one with the gingham ribbon.”
“All right,” he answered. “I’ll do my best to win this time.”
Professor Tobias tugged on Cecily’s sleeve. “We’d best be moving along unless we want all the good spots to be taken.”
“Yes,” she agreed in a voice that sounded more loud and cheerful than necessary. She turned back to Averil. “We’ll try to sit in the pine grove.”
“The pine grove?”
“Yes.” She tilted her head toward a cluster of tall trees near the edge of the grounds.
The music teacher cut his glance to Averil. The hard glint in his eyes was apparent even behind thick spectacles. Just as quickly, he changed his expression to one more pleasant and addressed Cecily. “I know you are doing your best to be polite. After all, Mr. Kingsley is a stranger in the city, and admittedly he made a substantial bid on your box. But perhaps, Miss Eaton, he may wish to bid on another box and enjoy lunch with one of the other lovely young ladies.”
“Yes, indeed,” Cecily responded without a bit of rancor. “In fact, I was just suggesting to Mr. Kingsley that he might bid on Augusta’s box.”
“What a kind gesture. But should he win, I’m sure he and Miss Augusta can find a place to sit on their own.” He took Cecily’s elbow, a gesture that made Averil want to swat his hand off her like a fly. “Come along.”
Cecily obeyed but not before sending Averil a doe-eyed look.
Averil ignored Professor Tobias and looked toward the auctioneer. He had disappointed Cecily once. He
wasn’t about to be stymied again.
Augusta remained on stage with a rather plain woman who couldn’t stop giggling. Averil knew he needed to pay attention. He had to win this bid!
Hank, the auctioneer, chose a blue box wrapped with a gingham bow. Since the last box remaining on the table was pink, the one in Hank’s hands had to be Augusta’s. Averil paid rapt attention.
“Now,” the auctioneer said, “as y’all can plainly see, one of these pretty ladies has put a great deal of effort into preparing this outstanding boxed lunch. I know just by looking at this gorgeous box that whoever wins this bid will be a lucky bachelor indeed! Whose favorite color is blue? Let me see a show of hands.”
Several hands shot up amid scattered applause.
“In that case, the bidding on this box should be an event to witness. We’ve had many excellent bids today.” He swept his hand toward the last box. “We’re getting near the end here, and I know all of you bachelors are hungry. Let’s dig down deep and go out with a bang. Who will give me a dollar?”
“One dollar!” Averil raised his hand.
“I have one dollar.” The auctioneer looked pleased. “Who’ll give me a dollar and a half for this beautiful boxed lunch?”
“A dollar fifty!” a male voice on the opposite end of the group responded.
Averil groaned inaudibly and surveyed the crowd. Who was bidding against him this time? He found the hand lifted in the air. Attached to it was a man still young enough to be called “cute.” Averil was certain he recognized him from church.
“One fifty! Do I hear two dollars?”
Averil raised his hand. “Two dollars!”
“Two dollars from the persistent bachelor in the blue seersucker suit,” the auctioneer noted.
Much to Averil’s chagrin, chuckles rippled through the crowd.
“Two twenty-five!” the young man called out.
Guilt filled Averil’s soul. He had no interest in Augusta beyond the fact that she was Cecily’s sister, and the young man bidding against him looked much more suited in age to the sweet young woman. But he had promised Cecily he would try to win Augusta’s box.
Lord, I pray I’m doing the right thing.
“Three dollars!”
“I have three dollars.” The auctioneer held up three fingers, then four.
“Do I hear four?”
Silence.
“Three dollars,” the auctioneer called out. “Three dollars going once, going twice. Sold to the bachelor in the seersucker suit.”
Lukewarm clapping greeted Averil and Augusta as he escorted her from the stand. Averil waved his straw hat to the crowd’s applause. Augusta had a broad smile fixed on her face, but Averil could tell from the way her arm tensed that her happiness was all for show. So as not to embarrass her, he made sure his smile was just as wide.
Bidding on the last box diverted the audience’s attention away from them not an instant too soon.
Averil tilted his head toward the young woman now sitting alone on the stage. “I suppose everyone knows whose box he’s bidding on now, with one lady remaining, eh?” Averil observed to Augusta.
Augusta looked back at the young woman as though she hadn’t just been sitting beside her. “That’s Lily James. She’s been engaged to her beau for years.” Augusta shrugged. “Everyone knows he’ll bid against her father and brother until the price goes to ten dollars or so. Then they’ll let her fiancé win, and the game will be over.”
“I see. What do you do on the years when there’s no engaged girl to take last place on the stage?” he wondered aloud.
“There’s always an engaged couple available. Next year, it will probably be you and Cecily.”
Averil didn’t know how to respond. Was his enchantment with Cecily so obvious to everyone? Another thought occurred to him. “Indeed? Now, what do you think your sister would say to you if she knew you were making such speculations about her?”
“Tease if you will, but I know my sister’s heart.” Augusta looked straight ahead and lifted her nose, then tilted her face back toward Averil. “Don’t let Cecily fool you. Her height gives her a powerful physical presence, but she’s afraid that some men are too proud to look up to a woman—literally. Because she’s so tall, she doesn’t think she can appear helpless like some of us women pretend to be, so sometimes she’s reluctant to be too bold in her speech. A strong woman can be scary to some men, you know.”
“I didn’t know that.” Averil suppressed a chuckle.
Augusta’s nose went skyward once again. “I didn’t think you would. You seem rather sure of yourself, especially to be so short.”
Averil tried not to flinch.
“By that I mean that you don’t let anyone intimidate you. And that’s a wonderful quality in a man.” Augusta nodded, and the look on her face seemed earnest.
Averil grinned. “In that case, thank you.” He studied the grove of tall Virginia pines to which they were headed.
“Whatever your future plans with my sister, I know the real reason why you bid on my box. You certainly weren’t motivated by any desire to be near me.”
Averil tightened his lips and picked up his pace. “If I am that repulsive to you, then perhaps you should decline to lunch with me.”
“But your money—”
“Never mind about that. I don’t mind making a donation to the school.” He stopped walking to give her the opportunity to answer.
Augusta responded with a twirl of her parasol. “My, but if you give up that easily, you’ll never win her. Of course I’ll lunch with you. It’s the least I can do for you. And for her.” Her lips formed a slight pout. She took his arm and started walking with a brisk step, keeping her eyes focused on the grove of trees they were rapidly approaching.
Averil felt his heart drop into his shoes. “I’m sorry if this day hasn’t gone as you expected. You wanted the young man to win, didn’t you?”
“Byron? Never. I’ve known him too long. He seems more like a brother than a romantic prospect.”
“He seemed quite disappointed to lose out on the bid.”
“I can’t worry about how Byron feels. I have no desire to eat lunch with him today or any other day.” Augusta’s lips twisted into a remorseful line. “I suppose I sound quite snobbish. I don’t mean to. Byron is nice enough, but he’s not anyone I’d like as a suitor.”
Averil wanted to ask Augusta what special young man had caught her eye, but the question would be much too bold. He opted to try to salvage the situation. “Then at least I saved you from sharing lunch with someone you have no feelings for.”
Augusta stared straight ahead and swirled her parasol. “I suppose one could view the outcome in that manner.”
Since Augusta continued to act coldly, Averil was pleased when they spotted Cecily and her lunch companion sitting on a blanket beneath the trees. Professor Tobias was sitting close to Cecily. She paid no attention to him. In fact, she seemed to be striving to put as much space between them as she could without appearing rude. Even so, the man sat closer than Averil would have liked.
The contents of the green box were set about. Fried chicken, potato salad, rolls, raw greens, and a jar of iced tea, all looked appealing. The meal he was supposed to be enjoying with Cecily. He wished more than ever he had won the bid.
The smile Cecily aimed in his direction proved to Averil that he had won the prize—at least the only prize that mattered. Or had he? He cringed when he remembered the tall stranger.
Averil tipped his hat to the music teacher, who returned the motion with a scowl. Ignoring the man’s obvious though unspoken message, Averil said, “Mind if we join you?”
“Yes,” Professor Tobias said. He opened his mouth to say more.
“He means yes, of course we want you to join us.” Cecily patted a vacant place on the blanket beside her. “Here. We have plenty of room.”
No one disputed Cecily, at least not aloud. As Averil and Augusta sat on the blanket, Professor Tobias’s scowl grew
deeper. He brought a chicken leg to his lips and bit into it with zest. Augusta remained silent as she sat and opened her boxed lunch. To Averil’s delight, its contents proved identical to Cecily’s.
“Looks like we both won, eh, Professor Tobias?” Averil observed. No need to let the man’s sour mood spoil the whole lunch.
“The food is excellent,” the music teacher muttered in response. “But I thought the idea of the bids was to allow the bachelors to eat alone with their companions.”
“You know full well that this was my idea, Professor Tobias,” Cecily pointed out. “I really didn’t think you’d mind. After all, my sister is among us.” Cecily nodded once in Augusta’s direction. Augusta’s response was to busy herself with distributing the food and keeping the teacups filled.
Averil sensed that Cecily was conveying some sort of unspoken message to her sister. But what? He searched his mind and then remembered. Cecily had mentioned some time ago that Augusta had eyes for their music teacher. He watched the younger Miss Eaton with renewed sympathy. How heartbroken she must have felt! How could she bear to witness such an event? The one who made her swoon bid on her own sister’s basket—and won!
Jealousy pricked Averil. He had been so immersed in smoothing Augusta’s ruffled feathers that he hadn’t thought about his own questions. He wished he’d thought to ask Augusta to identify the tall man who bid on Cecily’s box. The way Cecily seemed to be playacting, he had a feeling she wouldn’t be forthcoming with the truth about the stranger. Averil resolved to ask Augusta later.
Augusta remained silent throughout most of the meal. She studied her potato salad as though it might contain some secret ingredient and she had been assigned the task of discovering its identity. Occasionally she picked at the small portion of salad and popped a cube of potato in her mouth. Her chicken and rolls remained untouched. When she wasn’t concentrating on her food, Augusta peered at her former teacher. Sometimes he would look back at her, but she always averted her eyes too quickly for their gazes to meet.
Loveswept Page 10
