Women are slowly taken across the stage one by one to be presented to the men in attendance. Some of the women don't attract men returning to their master's side. The lady in front of me slowly walks across the stage, where she is told to stand in the middle. A man takes her to become a worker in his household. Her dress is on the nicer side while she is a pretty lady. My number is called, so I walk to the middle of the stage. The men start hollering who wants me, and it climbs quickly. My heart is beating out of my chest because I know I will be taken to someone's house today.

Nathan shouts out over the crowd, "Ten dollars!"

Nicholas comes back with his own bid, "Fifteen dollars!"

"Twenty dollars!" Nathan comes back again

"Thirty dollars!" Nicholas bellows out from his seat.

Nicholas and Nathan are in an argument war over me. Nathan finally has to back out since he knows he can't beat the richest guy here. He is just about as rich as the Royal family, is what I was told in the line. I see Nathan's eyes saying, I'm sorry. I smile at him, letting him know that I know he tried his best. The person behind the podium says SOLD making my heart sink. I will no longer be a member of that wonderful household. I wonder what he has in store for me? I walk back over to Andrew to give him a huge hug. Tears slowly fall on my face as I know this will be the last time to have this freedom. He hugs me while Nathan comes over with sad eyes.

"I'm so sorry. We don't have that type of money. I don't know how high it would have gone. I had to stop when I did. We can not compete with his family's entire fortune on this."

I place my hand on his cheek, making him lean into it. I then drop my hand, knowing that I can touch him like this is the last time. "I know, you did what you could. Thank you for everything; I could never repay you for all you have done for me all these years. You took a simple servant girl turning her into someone who can live among the high society. I will always be in debt to you."

Nicholas' voice comes from behind me. "Ah! There you are. I was wondering where you got off to. I didn't want to lose my pride and joy that I was just given the prettiest woman that was presented today."

Andrew turns to him slowly. "May I ask what you intend to do with her?"

Nicholas takes my hand in his "She will be my wife to where in time will also give me heirs for my estate. I hope she will provide me for what I paid for."

Andrew looks at him with a shocked look. "You are going to settle down? I didn't take you for that type of person."

"I have had my wilder days, yes, but who hasn't? I'm now Duke of my manor because of my father's passing; he told me that I needed to settle down then start planning my future. I promised him that within a year, I would be married starting a family. This is the first step in that direction" he scowls a little.

"You have a woman that will help you run your manor correctly. Nathan taught her everything she would need to know about being in high society life," giving me a small smile.

"I know you were bidding against me. Why?" looking over at Nathan.

"We grew up together. I showed her how to read, write and also be in our society properly. A lot of people never knew who or what she was. They thought she was a duchess that I was courting, so she knows most of the dances along with how to handle herself" as the sadness in his eyes grows a little.

"Good, that's a relief that I don't have to spend time going over that stuff. You were going to buy her for yourself, weren't you?" as he side glances at him.

Nathan nods slowly. "Yes, I wanted to make her my wife where I could legally do that here. I knew I couldn't go up against you, though. Our finances don't measure up to what you have."

"As long as she acts correctly, she will be treated very well. I can make her or break her depending on how she falls in line with my demands," he says in a harsh tone.

I gasp as my hand flies to my mouth because it sounds like he will be very demanding on things. Things fly through my mind about what he will require, what must I do to satisfy him?

"Don't worry, if you have been trained, as they say; you will fit right in with my social circles. I will let you know on our way home what is to be expected of you."

Nathan steps up to look at him. "If she doesn't satisfy you, please let me know. I will buy her off you. Will we see you at any events?"

"You will see us together at the same events that I always attend. Now, if you will excuse us, I have a wedding to arrange." He wraps his arm around my waist while guiding me out of the auction house, then helps me into a very nice carriage.

Andrew catches him before the door is closed. "I will have her things packed and ready for when you send your people to retrieve them."

"Thank you. I will also have my seamstress make her more appropriate clothes for a duchess. She will need a whole wardrobe of clothes as she has on now plus ball gowns, among other things."

"Please take care of her" he looks at me with sad eyes. "We will see you another time."

Nicholas clears his throat while shutting the door" Our wedding will be in a week. You will be invited along with other nobles so we will see you at that. She will also have an engagement ball in four days, so I will also have an invite to that too for you." He closes the door then taps the wall of the carriage, making it lurch forward. I stare out the window as we make out way down the streets. He clears his throat to where I look at him with a smile. "Now, let's go over what you need to know."

"Yes, I need to know what is expected of me from you. I need to know what I can do and can't," hoping that it will not be too restrictive.

He smirks at me. "Well, I know with you're having a background with being a servant, you are NOT allowed to do any of that anymore. I have a house full of servants that will provide anything you need."

Trying not to tear up, "I will do my best on that. It may take some time to remember what I can't do."

He puts his elbows on his knees, leaning forward-looking in my eyes. "My wife is not allowed to lift a finger unless it's to point at something or to summon a servant. Is that clear? I'm not having anyone know where you came from. The people at the auction didn't ask who you were; I watched you for a very long time. They thought you were a family friend that couldn't make it, so they asked Andrew to bring you. Everyone knows that you're not of a noble household, but they WILL NOT ever know your background. Understand?"

Nodding my head slowly at him, "Yes, Nicholas. What do I tell them if they ask?"

"You were taken to the auction because your family asked Andrew as a favor to do it for them because they had to be out of town and couldn't get back in time" as his eyes roam my body slowly.

It pops out before I can stop it. "Yes, sir, I understand."

He grabs my face and scowls at me. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. YOU CAN'T say that in front of anyone to me or anyone else."

Shaking a little at his forcefulness, "I'm sorry, I've done it for eighteen years. It's going to take time to break that."

"You're gonna have to break it NOW!" his voice gets a little sharp. "I can't have you embarrass me like that."

"How is it embarrassing? Other nobles buy worse looking women than me in those auctions."

"I'm expected to keep a high profile with anyone I associate with. So that is what I expect from you, to keep my image up the way it is now."