Cousin Cecilia — Joan Smith

HER MATCHMAKING SKILLS WERE UNEQUALED -- YET SHE HERSELF HAD NO USE FOR MARRIAGE!

Once a thriving place to land a husband, Laycombe had tuned into a marital desert with the arrival of Lord Wickham. The rake's corrupting influence had led all the eligible bachelors astray, turning their thoughts from wedded bliss to drinking, gambling and other maligned pursuits.

The only hope for the young misses of Laycome lay with Miss Cecilia Cummings and her infamous matchmaking skills. Her talent, she believed lay in her objectivity--she enjoyed marriage vicariously, valuing her freedom more highly. Thus, like Wellington preparing to meet Napoleon, she set out to defeat the troublemaker Wickham...never dreaming cupid had designs on her own heart, and worse, was pointing his arrow directly at Wickham!

Hero: Lord Wickham
Heroine: Miss Cecilia Cummings