Page 1

Prologue

Three weeks earlier

Mei

Matchmakers made matches for others, not themselves, and yet, for some reason, Mei’s grandmother had recently taken it into her head that Mei needed a husband.

“Are you listening to me, Mei? You need to pay attention. This is important for women such as us.” Mei’s grandmother’s voice was gentle but firm as the carriage rolled along. Outside the window, the streets of London rolled by, fragrant with a variety of smells and bustling with life and people. They’d just finished a successful first visit with an earl’s second daughter, the young Miss Yates, who was on her second Season within the ton and desperate to make a match this year.

“Shi de, Zǔmǔ,” Mei replied, though truthfully, she had not been paying all that much attention. She’d been thinking about whom to match Miss Yates with, while her grandmother wanted to talk about the business itself.

“In English, please, Mei.” The reproachful look that accompanied the rebuke made Mei sigh inwardly. It was not enough that she could speak English fluently; it must be perfect English. Accented, but perfect. They had to fit into high Society, yet remain outside of it, which meant constantly watching every word she spoke. As if her grandmother knew what she was thinking, she gave Mei a significant look. “Practice will make it easier, and we must ensure we keep our place within the ton.”

“Yes, Grandmother.” Mei sighed.

Leaning forward, Grandmother put one hand over Mei’s, where they were folded in her lap.

“I will not be around forever, Mei. You must be ready to take over the business when I am not. There are not many professions open to young, beautiful girls. Especially girls who are not English.” Though her grandmother’s expression was usually placid, sadness shone through her eyes. The wrinkles on her face seemed deeper than ever.

And Mei would not be returning to China, either. After her mother died, when she was far too young to remember her, she, Father, and Grandmother had moved to England. He’d wanted to escape the memories that had plagued him after her mother’s illness and death. For a while, they’d lived in Bath, where he’d sold spices and advised the buyers on their uses.

Unfortunately, there had been something wrong with his heart—perhaps it had been broken when he’d lost Mei’s mother—and he’d passed when she was still a young girl. By then, her grandmother had already begun to make a reputation for herself as a matchmaker within Bath Society. When Mei’s father passed, Grandmother decided they should move to London. With the help of some of the noblewomen they’d befriended, they found a location and clients. Now they were firmly established as the best matchmakers in the ton.

Being from outside of Society had helped them as much as it had hindered them, often allowing them to see things that had gone unnoticed by others.

Mei loved their work. The balls, the food, the people… she found all of it fascinating. But mostly she loved being able to do it with her grandmother. The idea of having to continue on without her was nearly inconceivable. Mei’s stomach clenched at the very thought.

“You are in no danger of needing to step down as a matchmaker,” Mei said firmly. “You are still in good health and as… ah, what is the word? Clear? Sharp? Clever? As ever.”

“But I will not always be here, and I want to ensure that you are settled.” Her grandmother studied her. “I also would not object to you finding a match of your own. So far, we have made our own way, but it must be confessed that certain parts of life would be easier with a husband. Especially since you are young and beautiful.”

Making a face, Mei looked out the window, her gaze flitting over the crowd of people walking in front of the shops. She recognized many of them, her mind flipping through their identities and what she knew about them like a book with a tiny biography on every page.

“Who would I marry, Grandmother?” She snorted delicately. “None of the ton would marry me, and we meet so few others.”

The carriage slowed, just as her gaze alighted on the outside of a tailor’s shop, and a tall man in dark grey and green stepped outside.

The Duke of Bolton. Elder brother of the Duchess of Clarence, who had married the Duke of Clarence after a scandal earlier this year. Supposedly engaged prior to the scandal.

He cut a fine figure in his grey superfine with a waistcoat of forest green. The top hat perched upon his black hair was also dark grey, with a small green feather tucked into the cream satin band around its base. Several ladies tittered, coming to a halt, fans fluttering as they noticed the young and handsome duke in front of them.

Bolton nodded his head at them in greeting, a slight bow of his upper shoulders, as they dropped into curtsies. He was the highest-ranking man on the street, quite possibly the most handsome as well, and he knew it.

As he straightened, looking around, his gaze was drawn to the carriage, and Mei felt her heart jump into her chest. Despite the distance between them, despite the fact that the interior of the carriage was rather dim and he could not possibly see her to recognize her, it felt as though their eyes connected with a spark. She immediately sat back against the seat, doing her best to ignore how her pulse was suddenly racing, her heart beating rapidly in her chest.

“Is something wrong?” Grandmother asked, only the slightest hint of a frown turning the ends of her lips down.

“The Duke of Bolton,” Mei replied, knowing her grandmother would understand. Bolton was always particularly infuriating.

Of course, there were those among the ton who thought matchmakers were unnecessary—and if they formed a group, Bolton would be at the head of the pack. Unfortunately for Mei, she had become friends with his sister and encountered him frequently, which meant bearing his condescension on a regular basis.

“Ah.” The frown turned into a smile. “He will be a hard nut to crack.”

“Well, we are not going to crack him.” Mei sniffed derisively, parroting his intonation as she copied his words and affect. “Dukes do not need matchmakers. They have their pick of whichever lady they want.”

Grandmother chuckled.

“Then he will be a hard nut for his wife to crack once he chooses one.” Grandmother smoothed her hands over her lap. “Just like you will be a hard nut to crack.”