Noble bit his lip. He was starting to think that he needed to reassure Ford that this was the right idea. The trouble with that was that Noble wasn't convinced, either, and he already knew that it would be hard to fake when he wasn't sure, either. But they really needed Swann to marry Verity, in that they needed someone to marry Verity, and there was nothing palpably wrong with Swann. (Even if Noble thought there might be.)

He couldn't explain all of it to Ford, though, not without telling him about the conversation he'd had with Verity in his workshop. So he was going to have to try to manufacture enthusiasm without that.

"I think," Noble said, after a beat, "That the most miserable thing for Verity might be if she was — stuck, unmarried, forever." He swallowed. "And there are plenty of people who start a marriage with a little bit of affection, and fall in love later. Verity could be one of those." She could. Maybe marriage would soften her ambition, and she'd settle into being a married middle class socialite well, and she'd fall in real love with Swann. Or maybe they wouldn't fall in love, but she would still be happy, and invest her energies in helping them get Grace and Clementine married.

But no matter what happened, Noble knew it wouldn't be Ford's fault.

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