Amaryllis by Jayne Castle Read Free Book Online

not in a rush to spend the evening sipping green wine punch and eating soggy hors d’oeuvres.”
    Amaryllis went to the phone and lifted the receiver. “Hello?”
    â€œOh, hello, dear.” Hannah Lark’s voice sounded warm and cheerful, as it always did. She was a doctor, and her bedside manner stemmed from a genuinely caring nature. “I’m glad I caught you.”
    â€œWell, actually, Aunt Hannah, I’m just on my way out the door.” Amaryllis slid a quick glance at Lucas who was now studying her collection of music discs. “Can it wait?”
    â€œThis will only take a moment,” Hannah assured her. “I’m filling out the marriage agency forms for you, as we agreed, and there are one or two questions I thought I’d bounce off you.”
    â€œNot now, Aunt Hannah, please.”
    â€œDo you have any strong preferences when it comes to physical appearance?”
    â€œUh, not really.”
    â€œHeight? Weight? Eye color?”
    â€œNo, Aunt Hannah. It doesn’t matter.”
    â€œYou’re sure, dear?”
    â€œI’m positive.”
    â€œGood, that makes things much simpler. Now, then, intelligence and education are critical, of course. I’ve already made a note of that. What about mutual interests? How picky do you intend to be in that area?”
    â€œVery picky. Compatibility is a must. Listen, Aunt Hannah, someone’s waiting for me. We’ll have to do this some other time.”
    â€œWho’s waiting?” Hannah’s voice sharpened with interest. “A man?”
    â€œWell, yes, as a matter of fact.”
    â€œSomeone from work?”
    â€œSort of. I’ll tell you all about it later.”
    â€œYou’re avoiding me, Amaryllis.” Hannah sighed. “This happens every time I try to get your attention long enough to complete this form. You can’t make excuses forever. The Synergistic Connections agency is the best matchmaking service in the city-state. They only handle a certain number of select clients. Their list was already filled for the next six months. It wasn’t easy convincing them to make room for you. I had to pull a few strings.”
    â€œI know I’m lucky that you were able to get me registered with Synergistic Connections. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow so that we can fill out the form together, but I can’t do it now. I really have to run.”
    â€œAll right, we’ll do it first thing in the morning. There’s no excuse for waiting any longer. By the way, where are you going tonight?”
    â€œThe reception at the museum.”
    Hannah gave a delighted gasp. “Are you serious?”
    â€œVery. Talk to you later, Aunt Hannah. Good night.” Amaryllis dropped the phone back into the cradle before her aunt could recover from her shock. She looked at Lucas. “Let’s go before she calls back.”
    Lucas’s gaze was unreadable as he followed her to the door. “You’re registered with Synergistic Connections?”
    â€œMy aunt insisted.” Amaryllis grimaced. “She says it’s the agency that matched her and my Uncle Oscar.”
    A glimpse of genuine understanding appeared in Lucas’s eyes. For one brief, shining moment, Amaryllis felt an unexpected sense of mutual empathy flash between them. She and the Iceman might be polar opposites in some ways, but when it came to the business of marriage, they comprehended each other very well.
    Marriage was a serious matter. It had been since the founders, faced with the task of creating a colony that could survive the rigors of being stranded on an alien world, had deliberately set out to promote a strong family structure. Their historical and psychological research had convinced them that only a society founded on the firm support of rock-solid families could meet the challenges that lay ahead.
    The institution of marriage was regarded as a permanent commitment. It