Page 25 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
“You are certainly a nice young man,” Miss Wainwright remarked, as if relieved that he was good and kind rather than being like his dear friend.
Thomas laughed, “Thank you. I do try to be a good man.”
“Would you like more tea?” she asked, ready to pour him another cup.
A great deal of time had already passed and Thomas began to wonder how long the appointment would go on for. Would he remain here all day?
“I think I have had enough, thank you,” he replied.
“Well, then, that is certainly fine. We have only a few other things to go over and once they are all completed, you are free to be on your way,” she said.
Asking him two or three more questions, Miss Wainwright truly did seem oblivious to the time. Thomas imagined that by the time he left it might be growing dark, and he would have to take a coach back to the inn unless he wished to risk going through some of the rougher areas of London on foot.
But when she had finished those questions, the Matchmaker looked at him with a twinkle in her eye.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You are exactly the sort of man I would have hoped to meet this week. Today in particular. What perfect timing this has been!” she exclaimed.
“Why is that?” Thomas asked.
“Why, it is because I already know precisely who your future wife shall be,” she replied.
Once more he felt his mouth drop open, stunned that she would be so confident.
To think that she had already made a decision about the woman that he was to be with was frightening.
Surely it was impossible that she happened to have met someone who fit all of his desires. More than that, if Miss Wainwright was rushing the matter, he would end up with a woman entirely unlike what he desired.
“You believe you already know the woman that I am to marry?” he asked.
“Do not be so concerned as all that. Of course. I know exactly how this works and what I am doing. I am not the most successful matchmaker in London for any reason other than the fact that I understand what men and women want in a mate. And the very woman that you are searching for is searching for you,” she declared.
“I cannot fathom it,” he confessed.
“I imagine you cannot. But I also know why you have that mentality. You are still in love with another. But once you have met the woman that I have for you, she shall be forgotten. And not with pain or the agony of separation. She shall be forgotten because you are going to love this other woman with all your heart,” she explained.
“You believe so?” he asked, hopefully.
“Of course I do. The woman that I intend to match you with will take all your thoughts off this other woman you have believed yourself to love. It will be as though your life has begun anew,” she promised him.
Thomas felt a stab of pain in his heart at the idea of letting Lady Sophia go. He could do it, couldn’t he? He could release his love for her upon finding another whom he loved more?
“Well then, my heart is in your hands. I shall trust you,” he decided.
“Excellent. I’ll not fail you,” she assured him.
Miss Wainwright took another sip of her tea and Thomas glanced at the clock.
“I suppose you had better be going now. These appointments do go rather long, but I am glad to have met you, Mr. Gregory. Before long, you will be married and I will be utterly thrilled to see it happen,” she said.
“Thank you, Miss Wainwright. I appreciate your time and your efforts,” he replied.
And with that, Thomas departed. His energy felt light. He was entirely relieved.
And he would return to the inn with a new hope for the future.
Chapter 11
