Suki nodded

'For my part, I would not discount an arranged match' she realised it was potentially not a popular opinion, arrnaged matches were rather going out of style in some quarters, 'At least there is no pretense, the arrangement is transactional - like buying a new dress. Both you and the modiste understand the nature of the exchange.'

She found her own pronouncement to have rather bummed her out and she would need to make some contingency plans of her own. She forced a smile, 'Take my advice for what it's worth, a pinch of salt.' she laughed lightly. She could easily understand a traditional and impatient parent. There were times when she was sure there one of the greatest blessings of her life was the fact that her father had died when she was still too young to know him well - as everything she had heard about him he would have put her in exactly the same boat as Miss Chang.

'I'm always available for a talk Miss Chang - and tea' she raised her teacup in something like a little salute, a toast to another general on the eve of battle.

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