"Right, of course," Ford agreed. He did not think he was being particularly picky or unreasonable in considering what sort of man he would feel comfortable entrusting his sister's happiness to for the rest of her life, but it had occurred to him that the lack of men he knew and considered fair matches was slightly problematic. Surely good marriageable men existed, though; the problem was only that he wasn't particularly well acquainted with many. But they would turn up, if he was diligent about being out and about in society with Verity.

"It's just — they have to be kind," he said firmly. "The whole point of getting them married in the first place is that it's meant to see them happy."