Alice’s gait as she walked home was unusual because she exaggerated the movement of her hips so that she could enjoy the sound of the clinking silver coins in her pocket.

The Kennards had given Alice her usual fee as she left their home.

Aloysius, delighted at her news, had filled the matchmaker’s hand with an unseemly number of coins, most of which she returned. She would not take advantage of the young man’s glee and be the subject of his resentment later after his head cleared.

Alice was pleased.  She had matched two hearts that fate dictated be joined forever, though her witnessing the fond exchanges between the couple after church a fortnight ago had helped her understand the meaning hidden in the cards.  She had navigated past the awkwardness that the chosen daughter was the second, not the eldest.  And Aloysius had defied his parents and chosen his love.  There would be a wedding before the first snowfall.

Alice looked forward to the wedding.  She loved the happy gathering and music.  She loved the special foods.  She loved the attention and gratitude directed at her because of her matchmaking skills.  She also loved the opportunity it afforded to see so many of the local people and their interactions.  Alice was a keen observer and it her skill added to her success.  She believed in fate and in her cards.  However, she also believed that her ability to read the cards was enhanced by her personal observations of the candidates seeking a mate.  On many occasions, she had provided guidance based on those observations, though the cards had not agreed. She was always certain that the cards would soon correct themselves.

As she walked towards her home, pockets jangling, her attention was drawn to the large house that sat near the edge of town.   The thick smoke plume that rose from its chimney indicated that there was a large warming fire inside and Alice had ten more minutes to walk until she reached her own home, where there would not be a fire until she had started it herself.

Alice decided that she would stop at that house.  Inside lived the person who challenged her matchmaking skill more than anyone else, who remained single despite Alice’s tremendous efforts.