He Opened a Matchmaking Agency in 18th Century London - Ch. 4
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- Ch. 4 - A Marriage Agency in London?
◈ One Month Later
London, at the Intelligence Club.
“Mr. Theo Sanderson!”
As Theo opened the door to the club, a member called his name and ran over.
It was a baron with whom he had shared a few gatherings.
“Mr. Sanderson? Why didn’t you come last week?”
The club met once a week on Mondays.
“Ah, that’s because I’ve just moved in, and there’s been a lot to handle.”
“Haha. I see. Moving is always tough. I was worried when you didn’t show up. With a cold going around in London, I thought maybe you’d fallen ill.”
But the baron kept inching closer, more than was necessary.
Everyone had a <personal space>. The significance of invading this space depended on the level of intimacy.
The distance between people varied depending on their relationship. Generally, if the relationship wasn’t close, people instinctively maintained a distance of about <1 meter>.
When someone invaded that space, most people stepped back, feeling a vague discomfort.
However, when a sense of closeness was felt, they might instead lean in.
Now, the baron was maintaining a distance that signaled a much greater sense of familiarity than during their previous meeting.
‘He’s taken a liking to me.’
Noticing this, Theo didn’t retreat but continued the conversation up close.
“Thank you for your concern. But do you have something to tell me?”
“Ah, yes. A few days ago, I happened to run into Admiral Matthew Bentham on the street.”
Theo asked, his face lighting up.
“Oh—really? Then, will the admiral be joining us at the club today?”
“No, he won’t be able to make it. He was on his way to the harbor for an urgent departure that day.”
“Oh, I was hoping to meet him… so, is there something going on with the admiral?”
The baron’s face grew serious.
“Well… they say trouble has erupted in North America.”
“?”
“The admiral mentioned that a skirmish broke out in Lexington, between the Massachusetts militia and the British forces.”
“A skirmish in Lexington?”
‘The Lexington skirmish… could it be the Battles of Lexington and Concord?’
The Battles of Lexington and Concord—this was recorded as the first clash between Britain and America, marking the opening of the American Revolutionary War.
‘Though I didn’t know the exact date of the first battle, if it’s the Battle of Lexington, it’s definitely the prelude to the American Revolution.’
The baron began to praise Theo.
“It’s too early to say for sure, but it seems that a skirmish has indeed broken out between the British forces and North America, just as you predicted, Mr. Sanderson.”
“… ah, yes.”
“When I heard about the battle from Admiral Bentham, I was so surprised that I shared what you had said with him, and the admiral said he fully trusts your judgment of the situation, Mr. Theo Sanderson. He was full of praise for you, saying you have a remarkable insight and proudly mentioning that he was the one who recommended you to the club.”
“I’m grateful and humbled that the admiral thinks so highly of me.”
Upon hearing news of the Lexington skirmish, club members began to gather around Theo.
“Hey—doesn’t this mean that Mr. Sanderson is going to win all the bets we made last time?”
“I thought you had a keen sense with your clear and confident analysis back then, but I didn’t expect it to be this accurate. Do you really think Britain could lose?”
Theo nodded.
“I believe that’s inevitable. While North America may be at a disadvantage early in the war, over time, the British forces will find themselves in a tougher position.”
“Over time? So, if a war really breaks out, how many years do you think it will last?”
“Yes. I think it will stretch out for quite some time.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“Our British government spent so much to drive France out of the American colonies, didn’t it? To make up for the depleted finances, they decided to increase taxes on the North American colonies. But this will only anger the colonists, driving them into alliances with the French and others, creating an ironic situation. Ultimately, with our finances strained, we will likely be facing a prolonged conflict.”
The war between Britain and the North American colonies became the hottest topic in the club for a while.
Debates raged daily on the issue, with many speculating about what the future would hold.
But in the end, it was always Theo who wrapped up the discussions.
“Of course, Mr. Albert’s perspective has a lot of merit. But looking at the current situation of Spain and the Netherlands…”
With his uncanny accuracy in international affairs, Theo soon became the most popular figure in the club.
Eventually, every Monday, when Theo appeared at the club, a remarkable scene would unfold as London’s intellectuals, aristocrats, and emerging capitalists gathered around him to discuss various matters.
Notably, esteemed intellectuals of London, including Adam Smith, often took the seats next to Theo, engaging in serious discussions, while other club members watched the high-level conversations with fascination and took time to ask questions.
Although Theo had no special academic background or noble title, the club’s atmosphere prioritized knowledge and insight, making this young intellectual, who appeared like a comet, the center of attention.
As the members, who had been discussing the serious issue of the North American colonial war and the British Parliament’s response, shifted to lighter topics like travel.
“Mr. Sanderson? If you’ve been to Antarctica, you must have seen glaciers, right? Someone mentioned that the ice there is over 3,300 feet thick—isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”
“It’s not 3,300 feet; it’s actually around 6,600 feet (about 2,000 m).”
“What? 6… 6,600 feet?”
“Yes. That’s just the average thickness, so there are probably much thicker areas as well.”
The members listened intently, holding their breath, to Theo’s vivid account of his real trip to King George Island in Antarctica.
Traveling or exploring unknown worlds was a great dream that every intellectual aspired to at the time.
However, due to poor transportation systems and enormous costs, only a very few could afford to travel around the world.
“Mr. Sanderson, your experiences never cease to amaze me. It’s incredible that you’ve traveled not only around nearby Europe, Africa, and the Orient but even to Antarctica.”
Among the club members were upper-class aristocrats who had undertaken grand tours costing more than 3,000 pounds (about 400-500 million won), traveling around the world.
Yet even they couldn’t help but believe Theo’s vivid and precise descriptions of things one could only know through firsthand experience.
It made sense because Theo had traveled to many countries since his university days, always studying the history of each place thoroughly before visiting, so he had countless stories to share.
After the travel stories, they chatted while drinking tea.
The discussions mostly revolved around various social problems and their potential solutions.
At that moment, a young nobleman cautiously addressed Theo.
“Excuse me… Mr. Sanderson. My name is Viscount Anthony Burns. I have something I’d like to ask you.”
<A/N: In England, when inheriting a noble title, one is usually addressed by the title rather than their name. However, in this novel, the title is attached directly to the name for the reader’s convenience.>
“Ah, yes. Go ahead, Viscount.”
“What are your thoughts on the current institution of marriage, Mr. Sanderson?”
Theo was caught off guard by the sudden question.
“The institution of marriage, you say?”
“Over the past two months, I’ve been deeply impressed by your broad and profound insights and wisdom, Mr. Sanderson. Honestly, while I’m interested in discussions on global affairs and broader knowledge, I’ve been particularly curious about when this dreadful institution of marriage might come to an end. I thought perhaps you might be able to predict the future of this flawed system.”
In the 18th century, European aristocrats often viewed love and marriage separately.
They saw marriage as a means of preserving their noble bloodlines, believing that if a king or parents chose a spouse, it was natural to marry that person, even without knowing them.
Once they had produced heirs to maintain their lineage, their duty in marriage was considered fulfilled, and they often pursued romantic relationships freely afterward.
This was a mindset that, from a modern perspective, would seem highly immoral. Viscount Anthony Burns was critical of this marriage system.
After thinking for a moment about how to respond, Theo spoke up.
“I believe that Britain is currently undergoing a great transitional period, and as a result, our values around marriage will change significantly as well.”
“Are you saying that perceptions of marriage itself will change?”
“Yes. For one, the war with North America will bring a storm, followed by revolutionary waves in knowledge and industry that will introduce new values throughout society, leading us to a completely different world. In other words, as perspectives on human beings change rapidly, the way we view marriage will also be transformed.”
“When might such a wonderful change come about?”
“Well, it will inevitably take some time. But I estimate that we might start seeing tangible changes in about 20 years.”
But once the topic of marriage arose, a flood of criticisms emerged from all sides, surprising even Theo.
Most complaints centered around the marriages of their sisters or daughters, with particular criticism aimed at marriage brokers.
“My sister couldn’t find a suitor after several social seasons, so she had no choice but to marry through a marriage broker.”
“Oh, those brokers only care about lining their own pockets! You should never trust them.”
“Absolutely! We were completely deceived. They married my sister off to a drunken scoundrel, passing him off as a decent man. He wasn’t even a real noble. It was practically a scam, and thanks to that wretched broker, my sister’s life is now a mess.”
“My younger sister fell victim too. I don’t understand why these people who scam others for a fee aren’t thrown in jail.”
At the time, marriage brokers often pushed through marriages recklessly to collect their fees, causing significant social harm.
This led to widespread distrust of these brokers, and they were generally regarded unfavorably.
“Still, without these brokers, how would women in desperate situations find suitors and avoid growing old as spinsters?”
Many of the members nodded in agreement at this comment.
“Well… you’re right. A woman who remains unmarried is treated like an outcast in society. Even if a brokered marriage is essentially a sham, at least it grants her some status within the family. Without a broker, an unmarried woman of marriageable age would practically have no chance of finding a husband, which is why those wretched brokers can get away with their schemes.”
“It truly is difficult to find the right person to marry. It’s an enormous source of stress.”
Adam Smith, who had been quietly listening, added his thoughts.
“Given the reality that women in our society have almost no social status, marriage is bound to be the most crucial event in a woman’s life. However, we don’t live in a society where young men and women can freely meet and get to know each other, leading to numerous issues with arranged marriages. As a father with a married daughter, it’s deeply regrettable to see these fraudulent brokers causing endless problems for families around us.”
**
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
In the carriage on the way home, Theo was lost in thought.
‘The conversation I overheard between a mother and daughter on the streets of Bristol, and the fierce complaints from the club members today… it seems that the issue of marriage is both extremely important and without a clear solution in this society. People are so desperate they must rely on these deceitful brokers.’
Theo suddenly recalled a modern drama set in 19th-century England that he had watched in his previous life.
He had found it fascinating to observe how society, especially women, seemed to put everything on the line for marriage.
‘The drama depicted a society where everyone, especially women, was obsessed with marriage, and it wasn’t an exaggeration.’
Then, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
‘Wait… the ultimate goal of women in this era is to achieve a successful marriage, right? If they don’t get married by their mid-twenties, they’re considered spinsters. And with so many women struggling to find husbands, the market is flooded with unscrupulous brokers. But matching people for marriage was my specialty, wasn’t it?’
There was a reason why Hyun Tae-oh, after earning a hard-won PhD in psychology, unexpectedly entered the matchmaking industry.
Rather than analyzing psychological theories in a lab or conducting therapy sessions, he found great joy in analyzing the behaviors and psychologies of men and women to discover strong connections between them.
His uncle, recognizing this talent, brought Ta-eoh into the matchmaking company he had founded, and the results were a huge success.
The thought of possibly experiencing that joy here, too, made Theo’s heart race.
‘Whoa, this is something I never expected. Using the matching techniques I learned in the 21st century here in 18th-century England?’
It was an era where makeshift marriage brokers were rampant, yet society put far more emphasis on marriage than in modern times.
The demand was overwhelming, but the supply of proper matchmaking services was virtually non-existent.
‘Yes, this is it. I’ll find suitable husbands for women who have been unable to marry. And of course, I’ll introduce men to the perfect partners for them as well.’
Theo found himself nodding along with the thought.
‘Now I know what I need to do in London. I’ll invest all my remaining funds into starting a matchmaking agency. I’ll use my expertise from my past life to build the best matchmaking company in England.’