Chapter 108: No Paddle, No Bid

The Auric Auction House was packed, every seat taken. Dozens of tables filled the center, more than a hundred seats in all, and everyone there was a major player in Easton. Onstage, a middle-aged auctioneer waited with a genial smile. The moment Lydia Lidyard walked in, he led the applause. "Look, Ms. Lidyard is here!" "I didn't expect her to make time for this auction. She's even more stunning than on TV!" "You don't know the half of it. Ms. Lidyard is as kind as she is beautiful. She's always...