A Spinster's Guide to Matchmaking

A Spinster's Guide to MatchmakingBook 1 in the Spinster Sisterhood seriesBeatrix St. John Copyright © 2023 Courtney McPhailAll rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Cover design by: BookCoversbyMelody.comLibrary of Congress Control Number: 2018675309Printed in the United States of America Contents Title PageCopyrightChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16EpilogueBooks In This SeriesEnjoy an Excerpt from A Spinster's Guide to Seduction, Book 2 in the Spinster Sisterhood series.About The Author Chapter 1London, 1825Lady Eleanor Pembroke had always known it was her duty to marry well. As the eldest daughter of the Duke of Norwich, she had been taught all the manners and graces a well-bred lady should possess to make an excellent marriage match. She had been trained from birth to be a witty conversationalist and a graceful dancer. She had learned to play the pianoforte beautifully and to produce delicate needlepoint and gorgeous watercolours.Yet, with all her education, Eleanor was still unmarried at the age of eight and twenty. She had been put firmly on the shelf, a spinster in everyone’s eyes.And that was because her duty had changed ten years ago. Instead of finding a husband, her duty had become taking care of her family. It had only been a few months after Eleanor had made her debut into society that tragedy struck. Her parents had been travelling to visit acquaintances in Sussex when they were killed in a horrific carriage accident. Not only had the loss of her parents shattered her world, it had changed the entire course of her life.Her older brother Thomas had become the new Duke of Norwich and the head of the family, yet he had only been prepared to carry out the duties of the title but not the care of their five younger siblings. And so, Eleanor had been the one to take up the mantle and do her duty as she had always done. She had put aside any thoughts of marriage and took on the role of mother to her siblings. It was now her duty to ensure they were all taken care of, and she had gone to work.She hired tutors for her younger brother Archibald and ensured he was prepared for when he went off to Eton. She had overseen the education of her four younger sisters, preparing them for their debut into society just as she had been.It had only been two years after the death of their parents that Eleanor had played the part of the shrewd Mama upon Emily’s presentation into society. Eleanor had evaluated her sister’s suitors one by one, which was when she discovered the spark.At least, that was what Eleanor called it. It was the only way to describe what she saw when she looked upon a lady and gentleman meant to be together. She would watch them dance or promenade or sometimes simply lock eyes across a ballroom, and Eleanor would simply know they were perfect for one another.By the end of her first season, Lady Emily Pembroke had married Lord Robert Sherbourne, the Marquess of Gratwich.In Louisa’s second season, Eleanor had seen the spark between her sister and the Duke of Manthorpe. When they had wed, Eleanor was cemented as a respected matchmaker in the eyes of the ton. The mamas came to her to recommend introductions for their daughters while the bachelors requested her thoughts on the eligible misses.She had spent the next six years guiding together the couples who sparked, relishing her role as matchmaker. She introduced Archibald to Lady Wilhelmina Southill, and they married within the month of their introduction.Not long after that, she introduced her sister Sarah to the Earl of Lifton, and they welcomed their third child this past Christmas Eve.Then only this past season, it had been her youngest sister’s turn, and Caroline had married the Earl of Dutton. And so, a decade after the death of her parents, Eleanor found herself in Norwich House with only Thomas in residence, he a bachelor and herself now with the title of Spinster Matchmaker of the ton.Other ladies might scorn the title, but Eleanor carried it with pride. Her duty has always been to her family. While she had once thought she would serve the family by marrying well, she had pivoted when circumstances changed.Nearly all her siblings were happy with their own growing families, which made all her sacrifices worth it.Now there was only her oldest brother, who had steadfastly refused any attempts she had made at matchmaking over the years, and so it was quite a surprise when he had made his announcement with no preamble at the breakfast table.“I believe it is time for me to find a wife.”The cup of tea Eleanor held stopped halfway to her lips, uncertain she had heard her brother correctly. She even exchanged a look with William, one of the waiting footmen, to be certain.Judging by William’s slight nod, her ears were in good working order.“Yes...well.” She took a sip of tea to give herself a moment to compose the correct response. “If you feel that is a wise decision, brother, then I support you.”Thomas looked up from his plate with a raised eyebrow. “That is all you have to say?” Eleanor demurred, keeping her eyes down as she took another sip of tea. “Oh, go ahead and say what you want, dear sister.”Her teacup let out an unappealing clank, tea sloshing over the rim when she dropped it back to the saucer to clap her hands together in excitement. “Oh, Thomas, this is wonderful! I can already think of several young ladies who would be perfect! Though it would have been