Chapter 2

Staring at the bright red door, Augusta let out a breath and reminded herself that she was doing this for her family. She had stayed up all night, tossing and turning as she went over the pros and cons of sacrificing herself to avoid a scandal.

Why could she not have met a nice young man in her youth and fallen in love? She would have been far better off if she hadn't placed so much stock in enjoying her life until her elder sisters were married.

"Let's not loiter, dear," her mother hissed under her breath and almost dragged her up the stone steps that led to the door.

"Mama, please slow down, I am more than capable of walking on my own," Augusta complained as her mother's fingers dug into the sensitive flesh of her arm.

The door swung open, causing a small bell to tinkle, announcing their arrival.

Augusta wasn't sure what, or whom, she had been expecting, but the elegant beauty that glided toward them definitely wasn't what she had been picturing.

Marie Webster's curly blonde hair bounced despite the intricate bun it had been forced into. A few tendrils hung down her neck, highlighting the softness of her pale skin. Augusta stood in awe of the flawless beauty. The woman's pixie-like features were stunning, to say the least.

"Welcome, ladies. I can see that you are both as punctual as you are lovely," Marie spoke with a soft warmth that drew Augusta in despite all of her previous reservations. She found herself wondering how it was that a woman as elegant and graceful as Marie had garnered such a notoriety amongst the ton.

"I want to thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Miss Webster," the Baroness said in a stiff voice.

It was clear to Augusta that her mother had reservations about meeting the matchmaker despite her insistence on the matter.

"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Hobbs. Please, come in and have a seat. I must say that I was surprised to receive your note. Were you not betrothed to the Earl of Rueford, Miss Augusta?" Marie Webster asked as she held out an arm and guided them both to her desk.

Augusta looked around the neat room with its marble flooring and large glass window. A large mahogany desk with three chairs sat in the far corner with a giant potted fern nestled in the corner. The only other furnishings were a white wicker table with small chairs to the left of the desk.

"There were unforeseen circumstances that got in the way," the Baroness explained without going into detail.

Marie made her way around the desk and took her seat, gracefully tucking her white dress beneath her legs. "Well, no matter. Finding a match for Miss Augusta here won't be a problem at all. I can see that beauty and elegance are not in short supply. You were one of the diamonds of the Season, after all." Her sea-green eyes shone as she complimented Augusta.

Feeling slightly shy beneath the woman's gaze, Augusta averted her eyes, spotting the miniature porcelain bulldog beside the desk. The shiny white dog smiled up at her with a hideous toothy grin. Its neck was adorned with a green scarf. The piece of clothing seemed as if it had been knitted by a small child who had almost mastered the concept but hadn't quite gotten the hang of counting the stitches.

"That's Ham," Marie said cheerfully as if she were harboring a secret joke.

Augusta searched for the right word to describe the replica of what she assumed was a somewhat obese, old bulldog. "He's… lovely."

Biting her lips in an attempt to hide her amusement, Marie opened the top drawer of her desk and retrieved a small gold bell. "Shall I ring for tea before we get down to the nitty-gritty of the arrangement?"

She rang the bell before either of the women could answer.

The only other door in the neat, little room opened to reveal a mousy-looking young maid in a white apron and cap. Her plain brown hair matched her eyes and freckles, giving her the distinct appearance of someone who would be easily overlooked in a crowd. She carried a silver tray with a small pot of tea and three porcelain cups.

Marie waited for the tray to be put on the desk before thanking the girl and pouring them each a cup. "I often find that discussions of any kind are easier when one has a good cup of tea."

She handed each of them a cup before holding hers in her slender fingers and taking a sip.

Augusta couldn't help but feel drawn to the gentle aura that seemed to radiate from the woman's face.

"Now, have you thought much about what it is you would like in a husband?" Marie asked Augusta directly, keeping her green-blue eyes trained on her face.

Feeling as if she were unprepared for the question, Augusta shifted slightly in her seat. "Well, I suppose it would help if he were kind. I don't care too much about looks, but it would be nice if he weren't too disfigured, I guess. Someone around my age would be ideal," she answered half-jokingly for lack of a better answer.

Marie's eyes sparkled mischievously as she considered Augusta's words. "Those are quite noble and reasonable expectations." Her voice held a hint of laughter that didn't go unnoticed.

"We will be wanting a young man of good breeding and moral character. His rank does not have to be the highest in London, but taking into consideration that Augusta is the daughter of a baron, someone with a reasonable title is preferable," the Baroness interrupted their playful moment with a haughty tone as if she were ordering a thoroughbred horse from a breeder.

Rolling her eyes, Augusta wished she had come alone or at least just brought her maid as chaperone. Her mother could be snooty at the best of times, and Marie seemed like someone who placed more value on a person's character rather than wealth.

"I can assure both of you that all due diligence is given to every match that comes across my path. If you'd like a reference, I am given to understand that some of my most successful matches have even formed a little group," Marie said proudly as she retrieved a piece of parchment from her drawer and began to scribble on the page with a thin-tipped quill.

Lord, that sounds depressing.

Augusta watched the feather dance in the air as Marie wrote. Was there really a small group of individuals that got together based on having used the services of the same matchmaker? And if there was, what did they discuss? How none of them had managed to marry without assistance?

She quickly chided herself for her thoughts when she realized that she too would soon be amongst the hopeless of the ton.

"Very well, I do believe that you will find a great match for my daughter. I would not have considered your services otherwise. Is it true that you have successfully matched two dukes and a viscount?" Lady Hobbs's voice held a note of uncertainty as if she wanted to confirm the gossip from the horse's mouth.

Placing her quill back in the inkpot, Marie placed her hands on the desk, interlacing her fingers. "From what I have heard, both Dukes and the Viscount are very happily married." She gave the Baroness a pleasant smile, confirming that the gossip was indeed true.

"That's wonderful to hear." The Broness's voice lost the hint of uncertainty as she perked up considerably.

"While I may not be able to promise you a duke, I can assure you that the man I suggest as your match will suit you in ways you never even dreamed were possible." Marie's eyes once again sparkled as if she were harboring a secret.

"I'm sure that any man from the ton will do," Augusta answered politely as the reality of her situation began to set in. She really was about to offer herself up to a complete stranger for the sake of her family's reputation. The thought made her heart palpitate anxiously in a nauseating rhythm.

"I know this may seem very daunting to you, Miss Augusta, but I implore you to keep an open mind in the days to come. Many of the successful matches took time to bloom, but once the small idiosyncrasy had been overcome, love was allowed to blossom in full," Marie spoke in a serious tone that did little to calm Augusta's nerves.

What did she mean that the matches needed time to bloom? Would the man she chose for Augusta be of questionable character that she'd need to grow accustomed to? Augusta's mind filled with images of gangly, old men with crooked teeth and sour breath.

Her mother cleared her throat, drawing her attention back to the reason she was seated in the small room in the first place.

"I can assure you that any match you send my way will be met with as much enthusiasm as I can muster." Augusta folded her hands in her lap as she thought of her father and sisters and what would happen to their reputations if the scandal with the Earl wasn't squashed as soon as possible.