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when he was especially bored or restless.
    â€œWhat is your point, Batt?”
    Hobart cleared his throat. “Surely you understand that some of the image challenges we face could be greatly mitigated if you were employed in the executive branch of your family’s firm.”
    Rafe smiled coldly. “You mean if it looked as though I’d finally seen the light, decided to join Stonebraker Shipping and henceforth start moving in the right social circles, some of your clients might be willing to overlook my strat-talent?”
    â€œFrankly, yes.” Hobart reddened but his expression remained professionally determined. “It would make my job a good deal easier if you gave the impression of being a, shall we say, more conventional Stonebraker.”
    Such an impression was exactly what he could not afford to give at this point, Rafe thought. “Let’s try this from another angle, Batt. Perhaps you should introduce me to some less than ideal candidates. Who knows? I might be able to change my image in their eyes.”
    Hobart’s eyes widened in alarm. “See here, I’m a professional,Mr. Stonebraker. I’m not about to allow you the opportunity to try to intimidate any of my clients.”
    â€œI wasn’t talking about intimidation,” Rafe said smoothly. “I was talking about persuasion.”
    â€œPersuasion?” Hobart looked skeptical.
    â€œGive me the chance to convince some potential spouses that their preconceptions about people with my kind of talent are wrong.”
    A surprisingly steely gleam appeared in Hobart’s eyes. “Before you consider trying to talk a lady out of her preconceptions about strat-talents, there is another course of action you might wish to consider. One that would greatly simplify things.”
    â€œWhat is that?”
    â€œYou could try dropping a few of your extremely narrow personal requirements.”
    Exasperation shot through Rafe. “I do not consider my personal requirements excessively narrow. I’m not choosy about eye or hair color or even bra size. I thought I made that clear.”
    â€œI refer to your insistence that your wife be a full-spectrum prism, among other things.”
    â€œI realize that a lot of matchmaking agencies don’t think that full-spectrums and high-class talents make good matches, but as we just discussed, I’m only a class six. There should be no problem on that score.”
    â€œNo, no, that’s not the issue.” Hobart flapped one beringed hand in a dismissive motion. “As it happens, I have recently confirmed two very successful matches involving full-spectrum prisms and very high-class talents. I no longer place much credence in the old theory that the two types never make good marital alliances.”
    Rafe raised one brow. “I’m acquainted with Lucas Trent and Nick Chastain. I attended both of their weddings.”
    â€œI see. Then you do understand.”
    â€œI understand that they each found their own bride but that you later verified the matches, Batt. You signedoff on them even though many professional matchmakers would have hesitated because of the old thinking on the matching of unusual talents and prisms. That’s one of the reasons I requested your services. You’re supposed to be the best and you’re willing to accept new data.”
    Hobart looked gratified. “I like to think that I’m good at what I do. Indeed, I consider my work a calling. And my experiences with Mr. Trent and Mr. Chastain did teach me to keep an open mind when it comes to some of the more traditional thinking on the subject of scientific matchmaking.”
    â€œSo my request for a full-spectrum prism shouldn’t bother you too much, Batt.”
    Hobart grimaced. “I might be able to find you a full-spectrum prism, although I confess I have no idea why it is so important to you.”
    It was important, Rafe thought, but he could not