by Tia Siren
Emily stood with her parents at the top of the marble staircase and looked down into the ballroom. She noticed how everyone seemed to be looking at her.
''I hadn't expected there to be so many people,'' she whispered to her mother.
''As you know, your father and I always host the first ball of the season. We like to invite as many people as we possibly can. We find it gets the season off to a rousing start. This is the first ball you have been to here since your coming out. It's going to be a splendid occasion.''
''It all looks very spectacular,'' Emily whispered, just before her father led them down the stairs to their eager guests.
When they had reached the bottom of the stairs, Emily's mother turned to her, ''there are several eligible young men here this evening my dear. Please don't wander off with your cousins before I have had a chance to introduce you to some of them.'' Emily looked around, curious to see who her mother could possibly mean.
She was very familiar with her surroundings. Although this was the first ball she had been allowed to attend at Priory Manor, she had spent many a childhood hour in the ballroom with her sister and cousins, hosting pretend balls. Emily remembered how exasperated her mother had been when she had borrowed her pearls to dress up in. ''They are priceless, and you are swinging them around like you found them in a back alley,'' she'd told her.
The ballroom was the largest in the County of Yorkshire. Priory Hall had been the seat of the Ashingtons since the days of King John. It was one of the finest stately homes in the land. Emily was amazed at how colorful the event was. At her debutante ball the previous summer, all the young ladies had worn white. That was behind her now, and she was able to go to balls where the ladies wore splendid colors. She had chosen to wear a striking gold muslin dress with gilt edges and silk flowers woven into it.
''Cousin Emily,'' Beatrice exclaimed, enthusiastically. ''You look stunning. I adore your gown. Such beautiful silken flowers. And your tiara of pearls is simply exquisite. You are the most amazingly beautiful woman here this evening.'' She looked at her cousin, who she adored, and tried to see what was different about her this evening. Emily was tall and slender, and Beatrice thought her dress showed off her tiny waist to perfection. She noticed Emily's Mediterranean blue eyes sparkling under the light of the giant chandelier, her blonde hair falling beautifully to her shoulders in perfectly manicured locks. Then Beatrice realized. It was her makeup that was different. In particular her lips. Emily had voluptuous lips, as perfect as was humanly possible and this evening she had used lip rouge. She looked stunning.
''Nonsense cousin, if anyone is the Belle of the Ball, it is you.”
''Well then, let these two beautiful women go and find themselves, two handsome princes. There are so many unattached men to choose from, we'd better hasten or we will run out of time.”
''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 mos
t 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 w
hat 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.