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paralysis, Lucien had been at his bedside night and day, and when he wasn’t there, he was in Simon’s office. He had actually taken over the duties of his father’s estate, and to his great surprise he found that he actually enjoyed it. For the last few years Simon had been trying to get Lucien more involved in managing the marquisate, but Lucien’s heart and mind had been involved elsewhere. Now it was different. Now he focused on the issues that needed his attention and he had begun making changes. As soon as he felt he could leave his father, he would travel to all the Sinclair estate holdings and see for himself how matters could be improved.
    Lucien had learned more during the last few weeks than he had in all his years at the university. Through working assiduously and dealing with the day-to-day financial issues of the massive estate that he was marked to inherit, Lucien finally found a sense of purpose within himself that no amount of gambling and pleasure-seeking had ever been able to assuage, no matter how diligently pursued. For the first time in years, he felt useful and hopeful of a meaningful life, even with his father’s inevitable demise looming over him.
    “I guess you would have to marry eventually anyway.” Jeffrey pointed out the obvious. “I can’t imagine you would see the whole estate go to that idiot cousin of yours.”
    Lucien nodded in agreement. “I can promise you that Edmund will never inherit my father’s estate.”
    “Have you any prospects on the lucky woman who will be your bride?”
    “None yet,” Lucien answered with a heavy sigh. “I just know I want a sweet, biddable chit. One who is virtuous, kind, and good-tempered. One who will do as I ask and not cause difficulties. One who would be happy to stay quietly at home at my country estate, not here in town caught up in the social season. One who will be content enough with raising children.”
    “You didn’t say she had to be beautiful.”
    “No, I did not.” Beauty was definitely not a requirement in a wife for Lucien. In fact, he would prefer anything but beautiful. Beautiful women caused only trouble and misery. He knew that from firsthand experience.
    Jeffrey laughed at the hard look on Lucien’s face. “Any wife of mine would have to be a beauty. I couldn’t bear anything less. If I’m going to be leg-shackled, I’d prefer a very attractive shackle. But what you’re seeking won’t be a challenging task. Simply look over there.” He gestured across the immense ballroom.
    There along the opposite wall amid the potted plants and elderly matrons sat the plain, ignored young ladies who had not been asked to dance all evening, except perhaps for the obligatory dances required by their male family members. These were the ladies who had been passed over Season after Season but were still paraded about each year by their parents in hopes of finally snaring a husband. Never having given such females a second glance before, Lucien now stared at them with a critical eye.
    One of those sad ladies would certainly make a suitable wife for him. Yes, he admitted to himself, some were rather decidedly on the plump side and a few were quite unfortunate looking, but all in all they were not repulsive. Perhaps they were not the most fashionable or the most sociable of women, but he was sure they had other admirable qualities. They just needed a closer look to find their less obvious nonphysical attributes.
    No, these ladies certainly would not turn heads, but Lucien didn’t want a wife who could turn heads. He wanted a woman who would behave, such as the small one with the blond hair in the plain dress, for example. She had a sweet expression on her face in spite of her dull attire. She would certainly be grateful to have a man like Lucien for a husband. Grateful enough to conduct herself as a faithful and obedient wife.
    “You’re not seriously considering one of those when you have your choice of the most beautiful and