Oh gosh - so many things to think about, Charles, the hurt that could be caused, the crossing over from keeping up appearances, to actually believing that the rented partner had feelings for them, a child finding out the sham about her 'dad'...I'm actually a little fearful about all of this.

There's a huge amount of vulnerability showing up in this practice, and it doesn't take a Rhodes' scholar to work out how it might derail.

In the past I too have shown up for weddings, as a single person. No better way to highlight all that's not happening for a person.

But to pay for a super-attractive companion??? It just doesn't sit well for me.

The thing is, many of our societies think of the lone, singular person as wanting. I think otherwise.They are often the strong.

Think I will be thinking about this for a while, Charles. Great article.