Six meddling butlers and a confounding lady.

Jemima Fornay, daughter of the Duke of Eddleston, has been entirely harassed in the months running up to her first season in Town. A certain Mr. Gamon and his two assistants have done their best to transform her into a gentle and refined lady. Mr. Gamon's motto is “look modest, and if you can manage it, look abashed.

Sadly, Mr. Gamon left the duke's house with his head hung rather low.

Jasper Pennington, Duke of Barstow, fulfills his duties with joyless determination. He becomes convinced it is the right time to wed and produce an heir, and so he sets out to do just that. Fortunately, he is not unprepared. He has composed a list of attributes for his as yet unknown duchess. She will be, according to him, the most refined lady in London.

Mr. Martin J. Harkinson is butler to the Duke of Eddleston and proud member of The League, a secret club of six elite butlers. These gentlemen have had the pleasure of developing a friendship due to their proximity on Grosvenor Square and have set themselves the task of providing the most elevated service to their lords and ladies. Including, very recently, a bit of matchmaking.

Mr. Harkinson should not have a care in the world. After all, Lady Jemima is comely enough, is a duke's daughter, and brings a good dowry. Unfortunately, though, he's spent years describing her as the gentlest and most refined young woman to step her toe in England. The League has taken that into consideration and named the Duke of Barstow as the perfect match for the lady. How is Mr. Harkinson to explain himself when his fellow members discover the real Lady Jemima?

Head injuries that never were, painful entertainments nobody wishes to attend, a dress on fire, an unplanned swim in a fountain, and a house party that would have no guests at all if the queen did not attend throw two people together who could not be less suited.

Or, perhaps less suited yet.

Six Meddling Butlers and a Baffling Lady.

Matthew Jordan, Viscount Bramley, only son of the Earl of Wisterley, has spent the past few seasons in Town sowing some oats. Very little has troubled him, but trouble has currently relocated into his house. His father, the earl, has arrived and he is determined his son wed in all haste. The old soldier is fixated on his son procuring a whopping dowry to prop up the estate.

Lady Constance Condower, daughter of the Earl of DeWitton, seems to come into her season with a respectable, albeit not eye-watering, dowry of three thousand pounds. Lady Constance has a secret though—through a distant relation she is an heiress of twenty-three thousand pounds. All in her sphere are determined to keep the secret, thereby throwing fortune hunters off the scent.

Mr. Harold P. Wilburn, butler to the Earl of Wisterley, considers himself the unnamed director of The League, an elite and secret club of six refined butlers. He has carefully composed his words to his esteemed colleagues, gently hinting that his earl desires Lord Bramley to secure a sizable dowry without having to come right out and say it is required to buoy up a sinking ship.

As the season progresses, the earl and his butler take every opportunity to throw two particular ladies in front of Lord Bramley—Lady Juniper and Miss Semper are the heiresses of the season. Lord Bramley, confoundingly, keeps going in another direction. Lady Constance's direction. An unsuitable direction.

As for Lady Constance, she is certain somebody knows about her inheritance, though she is not certain if that person is Lord Bramley. Fortunately, Lady Constance, Lady Juniper, and Miss Semper join forces, determined to get to the truth.

After a mysterious letter arrives, it seems all is lost for Bramley. Love hangs in the balance, and it will be up to Lady Constance to unravel a Gordian knot of opposing facts.

The League of Meddling Butlers, six elite butlers located in the environs of Grosvenor Square, have staggered their way through two seasons of matchmaking. They began the venture in supreme confidence, but that confidence was severely shaken.

All of the trials of their first two matchmaking adventures are to be forgotten though. Mr. Penny is poised to take the lead. Never was there such an even-tempered and cheerful butler. If there is a gentleman who can maintain his equanimity in all circumstances, it is Mr. John H. Penny.

Lady Madeline Cole, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Winthrop, is a lady of hidden depths. Prior to coming to Town, she has spent much time assisting the headmistress at her local village school. Now she has even bigger plans—she will found a charity for impoverished pupils. A very noble effort, to be sure. If only she would stop lecturing everybody about their duty to recognize and realize all human potential.

Owen Palmerston, Marquess of Souderton, eldest son of the Duke and Duchess of Redmond, has been telling the same sad story to his duke for the past three years. As far as the duke and duchess know it, he's been keen to wed, and yet each season brings its own disappointing near miss, close call, or lost opportunity. The duke and duchess have relocated to his house in Town this season to help him along and prop him up, as they cannot imagine where he's going wrong.

A clash at Almack's, a bumbling second suitor, a devilish dowager, a war fought through the newspapers, and a mysterious drizzling box work against the couple at every turn.

It is to be assumed that Mr. Penny is still fanning himself.