Mercenaries question

[Darryl]

I'm playing a game now where I've been failing to get some mercenaries and I have 2 questions:

1) If I bid and don't win do I just lose the gold?

2) If I bid more than some mercenaries are asking for and they don't accept, shouldn't it be because another nation hired them?

I ask because I've bidded more for some mercenaries who have not accepted, kept the money, and offered their services AGAIN the next turn at a cut rate! If I lose the gold, shouldn't I get the mercenaries?

Darryl