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The Rottingdean Experience was an even bigger success than Lizzie had envisaged Money poured in And though these were only small amounts compared to the debt owed, the buckets full of coins and small-value notes represented the pride of the estate to her The hall where the auction was to be held was full to capacity, and it see smoothly, until the auctioneer called to say he was indisposed, and there was no one else available to take the sale

Lizzie faltered—but only for a few seconds There was someone who could take the sale, she determined

She dressed up and put on her high-heeled shoes An auctioneer had to show a bold face to the world, and not seem defeated, and she was nowhere near finished yet

‘Who knows these iteroup of representatives from the various institutions with an interest in the outcome of the sale ‘And devils can’t be choosers,’ she pointed out

And so it was agreed Lizzie would take the auction

‘My lords, ladies, and gentle on the rostru a very unusual and special sale where many of these items have been in the Fane family for centuries, so I hope you all have your funds in place, because I know you’re all going to want to spend lots of money’

A ripple of good-hus, and fro at a rate of knots

He reround as Lizzie took the sale He had his people planted in the crowd Several more were online, and there were a couple on the telephone He had this sale wrapped up The bright light that had first attracted hi strongly today Far fro out of her hand As he looked around he noticed that the faces of the staff at Rottingdean had the same zeal as Lizzie’s written all over the her part hat had to be a lifetirit Nothing was going to get them down With their life in ruins they had co her will as well as her gavel, a tiny woetting things done

A thunderbolt struck him, or maybe it had struck on the day Lizzie walked back into his life She was the only wo it took to persuade her to codean? Would she even trust hih to let him try to win her back?

Trust had been an issue for both of them, he reflected as he watched Lizzie run the sale with precision and calm assurance, but he had to hope that lack of trust was behind her now, as it was behind hi for, and he could be as deteroal

Lizzie drew a deep breath ‘And now the final lot’ She paused for effect and, more than that, to calm herself She couldn’t afford to let her voice shake now ‘Rottingdean House, ladies and gentle in now—’

There was an uncomfortable silence, and then one of the representatives from the bank ca

Lizzie felt cheated She felt as if the auction would have given her time to mourn the loss of her childhood home, and now there was no time

‘My apologies, ladies and gentlereed prior to this auction, so, for today, this auction is over’

That was it? Lizzie thought, feeling unsteady as she clione A lifetime sold off in aof the ancestors who had lived at Rottingdean before her How she got down those few rickety wooden steps, she would never know She was reminded of the first tis to hang onto, only to find there were none As in life, she reflected wryly She was on her o, and had to plan accordingly

‘Excuse me, Miss Lizzie’

‘Yes?’ She srudges What was the point when he was only doing his job?

‘Should I call you Lady Elizabeth?’ he said, blushing bright red

‘Definitely not,’ she reassured hi her Lady Elizabeth Fane when she hadn’t earned the title It was just an accident of birth And there was soht as her mouth quirked with amusement Maybe she was delirious with sadness, and weary with disappoint in bed with Chico—so she orically that she was no lady

‘Can I help you with anything?’ she said pleasantly, seeing the

‘The neould like to see you,’ he explained

‘The nener?’ She looked around It couldn’t be Chico, Lizzie reasoned, because Chico would have made himself known She hadn’t heard from him for three days now When she spoke to his PA she presuraduation in a few days, and he would never miss that