During her annual spring visit to relatives, Miss Ellen Cather is dismayed to learn her aunt intends to use her matchmaking skills to locate suitable, worthy gentlemen for her and her cousin to marry. Mr. John Rudder agreed to join an acquaintance, Mr. Henry Stanhope, in Bristol as part of his rowing team when one of the crew is injured. They encounter Miss Cather and her relatives shortly after arriving in town. Ellen met both men at a summer house party over a year ago. Observing her aunt's enthusiastic reaction to them, Ellen becomes uncomfortably aware she has determined they are perfect candidates for prospective husbands. Can profound emotions vanquish an accomplished matchmaker's schemes?