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By now Quin knew exactly what hisabout: his next wife He approved of both Her Grace’s planning and her expectation of success His anized every aspect of her life--and, often, his as well The one tied in spontaneity--a word and an iarded with the deepest suspicion--the result had been disastrous

Thus the need for a next wife A second wife

"You shall be married by autumn," his mother stated

"I have the utmost confidence that this endeavor, like all those you undertake, will be a success," he replied, which was no more than the truth

His mother didn’t flicker an eyelash Neither of them had time for flattery or frivolous compliments As his mother had written in her book, The Mirror of Co voluant compliment"

It hardly need be said that Her Grace would have been extreentle or otherwise

"Once I have found you a ho is worthy of her position, I shall be happy," she said now, then added, "What are you working on?"

Quin looked back at his desk "I ae’s solution to Bachet’s conjecture regarding the suendre had already ie’s theorem?"

"His proof was incomplete"

"Ah" There was a er said, "I shall issue an i ladies to join us here After due observation, I shallto light fancy, Tarquin I think we both agree that your first e made patently clear the inadvisability of such behavior"

Quin inclined his head--but he didn’t entirely agree His hts (the fact that Evangeline had taken a lover within a few months spoke for itself) Still

"Not in every respect," he said now, unable to stop hi yourself," his e was not a ether quite comfortably, but he ell aware that the household’s serenity was dependent on the fact that he generally took the path of least resistance When necessary, however, he could be as fir hie of e," Quin stated

"The question is irrelevant," she replied, waving her fan as if to brush away an insect "I shall do my best to steer you in such a way that you shall not fall into the samire I feel quite exhausted at theOne would think that young woeline--"

"A most i to The Mirror of Compliments, interruption was a cardinal sin Quin waited a h that the silence in the rooeline was deeply emotional She suffered fro problems with her nerves"

His mother shot him a beady look "I trust you are not about to instruct me to speak no ill of the dead, Tarquin"

"Not a bad precept," he said, taking his life in his own hands

"Humph"

Still, he hadhis anize the matter of a second wife He fully realized that he needed an heir But his first e

He chose not to entertain other people’s opinions on the subject "To return to the matter at hand, while I am certain that the parameters you have forards the young wo, pay attention"