“Dios mío,”he muttered, and glanced down at his glass.
“Surely you’ve thought about what you would like in a wife. Isn’t it natural to do so?”
“Miss Woodchurch,” he said, without looking up from his glass. “What is your opinion?”
Hattie was so stunned by his question that she couldn’t move her lips to form words. “Umm...” He lifted his gaze. He thought she would deny it. He was looking for an ally. But she couldn’t agree with him. “It, umm...it seems natural to think of it.”
“Oh?” He looked at her with more interest. “And what is it you would like to see in a husband?”
“Oh, well, that...that is personal,” she said, thinking of Rupert. In hindsight, she would have wanted someone with a spine. “But generally speaking, someone whom you may trust to be the person they present themselves to be.”
“How astute of you, Miss Woodchurch,” Lady Aleksander said. “Then again, perhaps by necessity, women give more thought to it than men. We are, after all, entirely dependent on our husbands. And if it weren’t for my careful consideration, my lord, it would be easy to match you with just about any woman because of that fact.”
Hattie didn’t know if Lady Aleksander meant to look at her, or if it was inadvertent, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Lady Aleksander viewed her as “just about anyone.” She dropped her gaze and drew a stick figure on the paper kicking another stick figure.
“I am here to ensure you are not taken advantage of.”
“I understand your role,” he said. “I am being unnecessarily difficult. Please continue.”
Lady Aleksander picked up a pastry and bit into it. “Goodness. This isdelicious.” She put aside the uneaten portion. “Let’s begin with something simple. What pastimes do you particularly enjoy?”
“Military history. Astronomy.”
Hattie made a mental note.
“Is there a more active diversion you enjoy? Perhaps you like to ride. Are you particularly adept at gardening? Or do you have a passion for entertaining friends?”
Lord Abbott cocked his head to one side, as if he found this line of question slightly confusing. Or annoying. It was so hard to tell with him.
Lady Aleksander waited a long moment for him to answer. “What about strong dislikes?”
“Charla.”He looked at Hattie.
“Oh,” she said, realizing he was seeking the word in English. “Nattering on. He doesn’t care for it.”
“Doesn’t he,” Lady Aleksander drawled. “Perhaps something more concrete? For example, you might despise fishing.”
“I like to fish.”
“I mean it only as an example. Do you dislike having tea, or—”
“I’m here now, having tea with you. Therefore, it stands to reason that I like it at least a little.”
Hattie blinked. What was that she saw in his eyes? Amusement? Was hetoyingwith Lady Aleksander?
“Again, it was only an example,” Lady Aleksander said, her tone betraying her impatience. “Surely there issomethingyou can think of that you strongly dislike, or like, that you’d like to see, or not, in a potential spouse.”
The viscount studied the lady for a moment. And then he suddenly leaned forward. “May I speak frankly, Lady Aleksander?”
“Please!”
“I understand the necessity for seeking introductions. But I do not believe that based on some vague likes and dislikes a near perfect match can be made. What I like and dislike changes with the company and the location and, sometimes, even something as simple as the weather. Perhaps it would be best for us both if you contained your services to introductions and allow me to carry on from there.”
Hattie had to hand it to Lady Aleksander—she remained perfectly composed. If she was ruffled, she gave no hint of it. “That’s certainly one way to go about it. But in my vast experience, these things can be done expeditiously with just a bit of information. Sometimes a person doesn’t know himself as well as he might think. Sometimes a person may not know how to glean useful information from a potential match.Sometimesit isquitehelpful to have assistance in such an important decision.”
“I don’t accept your premise,” the viscount said. “How can a man of eight and twenty not know himself?”
“You’d be surprised,” Lady Aleksander said pertly. “But if this is your desire, so be it.” She opened her book. “Shall we continue? I’ve arranged for three introductions to occur at the Forsythe dinner party on Saturday. Please do tell me if you hear anything that would not suit you.Ifyou are able to determine it would not suit you, knowing yourself as well as you do.”
