The gentleman slipped through the assembled crowd, careful to avoid the tussling and jostling of the common folk. To his left, a fellow in a green jacket raised a hand and called out a number; a moment later a response came; a conversation followed, but the gentleman moved on and the words were quickly lost in the murmur of the crowd.

Further in, and to his right the bodies parted enough for him to see a man leading a woman by a leash attached to her neck. She seemed pretty enough, a blonde slip of a thing, but the expression on her face told the gentleman that she was not who he was looking for- even resting, her face seemed full of anger and thunder. Besides, given the cheer that arose as he passed by, it seemed she had been sold already.

Almost to the other side, and the gentleman finally reached his destination. There stood a small wooden stage, ramshackle and hastily put together, and upon it stood a portly man, red of face and hair, and a pretty woman next to him, her eyes downturned, her posture demure. The gentleman had heard she would be sold, and he had decided to procure her; his coveting her for some time notwithstanding, he believed it his moral obligation to purchase her, to save her from the life he knew she might otherwise suffer.

As he approached, he heard someone to his right call out a price, saw the portly man's eyes widen in greed, saw him raise his hand to agree. The gentleman paused for a moment, then raised his hand, waved his cane, and called out a price double that of his competitor. The portly gentleman spluttered, but acknowledged his winning bid with a nod and a grin, beckoning the gentleman to approach, which he did so with no small amount of trepidation.

The money exchanged, the crowd dispersed, the gentleman found himself alone with the woman- with his new wife- and found himself at a loss for words. After a few moments had passed, he spoke, finally.

"Well. Let us away home, then, lass".

Hello, all!

So, this is based off the idea of 'wife selling' an ancient english practise whereby a man could sell his wife of in lieu of divorcing her, which many lower class men could not afford to do.

I don't mind if this is a period piece, or set in modern times. I'm not expecting a fuckfest, and would, in fact, prefer something of a slow burn.

I'm happy to discuss limits and the like in private messages. Do not message me in the chat, as I won't get it. PM only.