It wasn't an open auction like the one in which Lord John had bought me. No, this was a closed auction and the money would be like a dowry from the barony of Shannon, from my lord and me, his lady, in effect. Of course, Amanda would be bid on by others but at fifty thousand or so, all the bidders would drop out and Amanda would belong to Steven Burningtonb.
"Of course, you will stay as my maid," I told her as her excitement grew and she giggled very girlishly and danced and hopped in her rustly petticoats and high heels. "It is time I had a married maid," I told her. "I like to have women with experience about me. I love talking about husbands and their funny ways with someone who knows exactly what I am talking about."