Read The Beauty Bride (The Jewels of Kinfairlie) for Free Online Page B

smile, something
that made her pulse quicken and heat rise in her cheeks. “How dare you show me
such dishonor! You will not shame our family like this for no good reason!”
    Alexander
met her gaze and she saw now the steel in his resolve. “I have good reason. You
had the choice to wed of your own volition and you refused to take it. Your own
caprice brings us to this deed.”
    “I
asked only for time!”
    “I
do not have it to grant.”
    “This
is beyond belief! This is an outrage!”
    “You
will learn to do as you must, just as I have learned to do as I must.”
Alexander lowered his voice. “It will not be so arduous a fate, Madeline, you
will see.”
    But
Madeline was not reassured. She would be wed to the highest bidder, like a milk
cow on the Wednesday market. Worse, they all found it to be merry
entertainment.
    Worse again, the highest bidder was Reginald Neville. Madeline could not decide
whether she would prefer to murder her brother or her ardent suitor.
    She
swore with inelegant vigor, thinking it might dissuade Reginald, but the men in
the company only laughed. “You are all barbarians!” she cried.
    “Oh,
I like a woman with spirit,” said Alan Douglas, fingering his coins. He offered
another bid which was swiftly countered by Reginald.
    “No
marriage of merit will be wrought of this travesty!” Madeline declared, but not
a one of them heeded her. The bidding rose higher even as she stood, trembling
with anger. She could hear Vivienne praying softly beside her, for doubtless
Vivienne feared that she would face a similar scene soon.
    Could
matters be worse?
     
    * * *
     
    Reginald
bid again, to Madeline’s dismay. She felt the weight of the stranger’s gaze
upon her and her very flesh seemed to prickle with that awareness.
    No
matter who bid, Reginald countered every offer. He urged the price higher with
giddy abandon and as the company became slower to respond, he began to wink
boldly at Madeline.
    “You
are worth every denier to me, Madeline,” he cried. “Fear not, my beloved, I
shall be stalwart to the end.”
    “So
long as victory can be achieved with his father’s coin,” Vivienne said softly.
    There
were but five men bidding now, the counterbids coming more slowly each time.
Madeline could scarce take a breath.
    “Out
of coin?” Reginald demanded cheerfully as one man reddened and bowed his head,
leaving the fray.
    Four
men. Madeline’s mouth was as dry as salted fish.
    Roger
Douglas thumbed his purse, then outbid Reginald.
    Reginald
pivoted and upped the bid, fairly daring Roger to counter. That man bowed his
head in defeat.
    Three
men. Reginald’s manner became effusive, his gestures more sweeping as he became
persuaded of his certain victory. “Come now,” he cried. “Is there not a one of
you willing to pay such a paltry sum for the Jewel of Kinfairlie?”
    Then
two men were left, only Reginald and the uncommonly pale Alan Douglas. As much
as she loathed Reginald, it was a sign of her desperation that Madeline began
to wish that Reginald would triumph. At least Reginald did not frighten her, as
Alan did.
    Every
bid Alan made, Reginald defeated with gusto. He did so quickly, flamboyantly,
clearly not caring how much he paid.
    But
then, Vivienne had spoken aright. It was his father’s coin and though there
would be no more once it was spent, Reginald showed no restraint in ridding
himself of its burden.
    Alan
frowned, stepped forward and bid again. The company held its collective breath.
    Reginald
laughed, then topped the bid, his tone triumphant.
    There
was a heavy pause. Alan glared at Reginald, then his shoulders dropped. He
stepped away in defeat, his pose saying all that needed to be said.
    “I
win! I win, I win, I win!” Reginald shouted like a young boy who had won at
draughts. He skipped around the floor, hugging himself with delight.
    Madeline
watched him with disgust. This was the man she would be compelled to wed.
    There
had to be some means of escape from