"Only if they're in a leadership position within the department." Verity amended. Stable, a suitable income, preferably upper class. Those were the traits they were meant to search for. Not this handsome and kind nonsense. Better women than they had fallen from grace because of handsome men. Melody Finch — now Crouch — threw away a perfectly eligible bachelor for a rake. Verity wondered just how kind Mr Crouch portrayed himself as.

She stood from the vanity and went to sit on the edge of her bed instead. "We have to marry well. You understand that, right? No whirlwind romances with men too young and foolish. Unless they're a prince. Then, you may marry them at whatever age they'd permit."