Atticus relaxed as Master Ryan grinned a little. Yes, he was right. Remind the man of money and all was well again. Atti had thought he’d been money-lusting, but Master Ryan was far beyond even that. He wondered how much the man had parted with to buy his incomplete contract from the Briars, but let it slide back down into him mind. He didn’t care to know, really.<br/><br/>He blinked when Master Ryan said his name, and realised he meant the meal. Surprised, he was quiet a moment, then murmured a thank-you. He usually went to the kitchens for his meals, when he had a moment spare. He didn’t often send for things, as the whores did, but for his baths.<br/><br/>He crossed to the desk and sat with much more delicacy than had been his per usual in the recent months, and picked up the knife and fork, starting into the mutton cutlets with restrained eagerness. He had missed breakfast, due to the unexpected arrival of clients, and after the fucking Master Ryan had given him...<br/><br/>Atticus swallowed before commenting. “Have you thought about capping it at some point?” There was a danger with auctions that when two parties started to struggle against one another, they lost sight of what it was they were fighting for. The price would rise steeply until one folded, leaving the winning party to foot a large bill and doing all they could to find some fault with the object so they could weasel out of paying. And marring a virgin was very, very easy.<br/>