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carefully, "As I said, I should think you would have no problem finding a suitable candidate. Surely there are a number of women of good name who would be quite happy to marry a man who has both Bankes and Lilles blood flowing through his veins, as well, no doubt, as that of several other prominent families."
    "Of course there are," Lady Odelia said impatiently. "I've brought at least five girls to Radbourne Hall and made introductions. The problem is, in more than half those instances, they or their families cry off once they've met him. And the rest of them, Gideon has rejected. Imagine ... girls I personally vetted, and he disapproves of them."
    "Oh. I'm sorry," Francesca offered lamely.
    "The Bennington girl does have a squint," Rochford pointed out. "Miss Farnley is a goose, and Lady Helen is dull as ditchwater."
    "Well, what does that matter?" Lady Odelia queried. "He doesn't have to talk to them."
    Rochford's mouth quirked up on one side, but he said only, "Yes. Well, I suspect he would have to at some point."
    "I suppose I should have expected it of him," his great-aunt opined, ignoring his remark. "The Lord only knows what sort of woman he would prefer. That is another reason why it is so imperative that we find a proper wife for him, and soon. When I think of who he might bring home if left to his own devices ..." She shook her head. "Of course, we cannot force him to marry anyone," she continued, looking quite annoyed at the thought. "So we decided to turn to you."
    She looked at Francesca.
    "Everyone says you have had such success in this area. Well, look at the way you matched up that Woodley girl with your brother—though I cannot think but that you could have found someone with a bit more funds to her name. Still, she seems a very pleasant girl."
    "You want me to help find a wife for Lord Radbourne?" Francesca exclaimed, flooded with relief that Lady Odelia was not trying to persuade Francesca herself to marry the man.
    "Of course, girl. What have we been talking about this past half hour?" Odelia retorted. "Really, Francesca, you must pay more attention."
    "Yes, I'm sorry," Francesca replied quickly.
    "Though I scarcely see how you can manage to marry him off, when all our best efforts have failed," Lady Odelia went on. "But Rochford assured me that you were best person for the task," the older woman added.
    "Really?" Francesca glanced with some surprise at Lord Rochford.
    "Yes," he answered, and he leaned forward, his face serious. "I hope that you will be able to find the right person for Gideon. The man has suffered quite enough already in his life. He deserves some happiness."
    His black eyes were intent upon her face. Francesca had wondered how Lady Odelia had trapped Rochford into accompanying her on this errand, but she saw now that the duke was here out of a real concern for Lord Radbourne. Unlike his great-aunt, he seemed to hope that Francesca would come up with a wife for Gideon not to please the family, but to help the man.
    "If you could come to Radbourne Hall and meet Gideon, see what he is really like, I think that you could find the right woman for him," the duke went on.
    "I see." Francesca felt strangely touched. Before this, she would have said that he thought her matchmaking efforts were at best harmless foolishness.
    "That is precisely the thing," Lady Odelia agreed. "You must come to the Hall and meet him. Then you'll understand. And perhaps you might be able to polish him up a bit before he actually meets any of the girls you choose. Whatever else anyone might say about you, your manners are always impeccable."
    "Why, thank you," Francesca responded drily. "But I am not sure whether I should do this. Whether I can ..."
    She looked at Lady Odelia, imposing in her outdated purple satin dress and towering hair. Francesca did not relish the idea of dealing with Lady Odelia on a daily basis. She had little doubt but that the woman would poke her nose into everything that Francesca did,