Glasson,” Lucinda said coldly. “He proved somewhat less than satisfactory.”
“I understand.” Patricia was undaunted. “But I believe that the problem was that you left one thing off your list.”
“What was that?”
“Psychical compatibility,” Patricia declared with an air of modest triumph. “It was the missing ingredient.”
“And just how was I supposed to assess that requirement?” Lucinda demanded.
“That’s the thing, you see,” Patricia said. “You couldn’t. You were, in effect, working blind in that department. But Mama told me that there is now a matchmaker in the Society who can assess that very quality.”
Caleb nodded. “Lady Milden.”
Lucinda and Patricia both turned to him.
“You know her?” Patricia asked excitedly.
“Certainly. She’s the great-aunt of my cousin Thaddeus Ware.” Caleb frowned. “Which makes her a relation of mine, I think, although I’m not quite sure how.”
“Would you be so kind as to arrange an introduction?” Patricia asked.
Caleb ate some of the kippered salmon. “I’ll send her a note today informing her that you wish to employ her services.”
Patricia glowed with excitement. “That is very kind of you, sir.”
Lucinda stirred uneasily. “Patricia, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Sounds perfectly sound to me,” Caleb said. He looked at Patricia. “What are the requirements on this list of yours?”
“Actually, I merely adopted Lucinda’s list,” Patricia explained. “And then added the psychical compatibility factor.”
“What was on Miss Bromley’s original list?” Caleb asked.
“Well, among other things, the candidates must first and foremost hold modern views concerning the equality of women,” Patricia said.
Caleb nodded, evidently in full accord with that requirement.
“Go on,” he said.
“Suitable candidates will also demonstrate intellectual interests that are compatible with my own,” Patricia continued. “After all, we will be spending a great deal of time in each other’s company. I expect my husband to be able to discuss not only archaeology but the paranormal aspects of the subject.”
“Makes sense,” Caleb agreed.
“He will need to be in good health, of course, both physically and psychically.”
“A legitimate requirement when one is talking about producing offspring,” Lucinda put in quickly when she noticed that Caleb was frowning a little.
“He must also be broad-minded about my talent,” Patricia said. “Not every man is prepared to tolerate a wife who possesses strong psychical abilities, I’m sorry to say.”
“Probably best to seek a mate within the Society, in that case,” Caleb said.
“That is my thought, as well,” Patricia agreed. “And last but not least, the candidate must possess a positive and cheerful disposition.”
“Well, of course,” Lucinda said. “That goes without saying.”
Caleb stopped looking intrigued. His expression hardened. “I understand the concern with the other requirements, but why the devil is a positive, cheerful disposition important?”
“Really, sir,” Lucinda said briskly, “I would have thought it obvious. An agreeable temperament is an essential quality in a husband. The mere thought of putting up with a man who is inclined to melancholia and dark moods is enough to make any intelligent woman elect to remain a spinster for life.”
Caleb’s jaw tensed. “A man has a right to the occasional dark mood.”
“Indeed,” Lucinda said. “But the operative word is occasional. No woman should be forced to tolerate such behavior on a regular basis.”
“Best to avoid the problem at the start by selecting the right husband,” Patricia said. “A cheerful, positive temperament is definitely a critical requirement.”
“Huh.” Caleb went back to his eggs with a disgruntled air.
It struck Lucinda that he appeared to have plunged into a decidedly dark mood. She looked at Patricia. “The added requirement of
“I understand.” Patricia was undaunted. “But I believe that the problem was that you left one thing off your list.”
“What was that?”
“Psychical compatibility,” Patricia declared with an air of modest triumph. “It was the missing ingredient.”
“And just how was I supposed to assess that requirement?” Lucinda demanded.
“That’s the thing, you see,” Patricia said. “You couldn’t. You were, in effect, working blind in that department. But Mama told me that there is now a matchmaker in the Society who can assess that very quality.”
Caleb nodded. “Lady Milden.”
Lucinda and Patricia both turned to him.
“You know her?” Patricia asked excitedly.
“Certainly. She’s the great-aunt of my cousin Thaddeus Ware.” Caleb frowned. “Which makes her a relation of mine, I think, although I’m not quite sure how.”
“Would you be so kind as to arrange an introduction?” Patricia asked.
Caleb ate some of the kippered salmon. “I’ll send her a note today informing her that you wish to employ her services.”
Patricia glowed with excitement. “That is very kind of you, sir.”
Lucinda stirred uneasily. “Patricia, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Sounds perfectly sound to me,” Caleb said. He looked at Patricia. “What are the requirements on this list of yours?”
“Actually, I merely adopted Lucinda’s list,” Patricia explained. “And then added the psychical compatibility factor.”
“What was on Miss Bromley’s original list?” Caleb asked.
“Well, among other things, the candidates must first and foremost hold modern views concerning the equality of women,” Patricia said.
Caleb nodded, evidently in full accord with that requirement.
“Go on,” he said.
“Suitable candidates will also demonstrate intellectual interests that are compatible with my own,” Patricia continued. “After all, we will be spending a great deal of time in each other’s company. I expect my husband to be able to discuss not only archaeology but the paranormal aspects of the subject.”
“Makes sense,” Caleb agreed.
“He will need to be in good health, of course, both physically and psychically.”
“A legitimate requirement when one is talking about producing offspring,” Lucinda put in quickly when she noticed that Caleb was frowning a little.
“He must also be broad-minded about my talent,” Patricia said. “Not every man is prepared to tolerate a wife who possesses strong psychical abilities, I’m sorry to say.”
“Probably best to seek a mate within the Society, in that case,” Caleb said.
“That is my thought, as well,” Patricia agreed. “And last but not least, the candidate must possess a positive and cheerful disposition.”
“Well, of course,” Lucinda said. “That goes without saying.”
Caleb stopped looking intrigued. His expression hardened. “I understand the concern with the other requirements, but why the devil is a positive, cheerful disposition important?”
“Really, sir,” Lucinda said briskly, “I would have thought it obvious. An agreeable temperament is an essential quality in a husband. The mere thought of putting up with a man who is inclined to melancholia and dark moods is enough to make any intelligent woman elect to remain a spinster for life.”
Caleb’s jaw tensed. “A man has a right to the occasional dark mood.”
“Indeed,” Lucinda said. “But the operative word is occasional. No woman should be forced to tolerate such behavior on a regular basis.”
“Best to avoid the problem at the start by selecting the right husband,” Patricia said. “A cheerful, positive temperament is definitely a critical requirement.”
“Huh.” Caleb went back to his eggs with a disgruntled air.
It struck Lucinda that he appeared to have plunged into a decidedly dark mood. She looked at Patricia. “The added requirement of
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