The Timeless Art of Matchmaking (With a Little Help from Jane Austen)

When I first set up Bowes-Lyon Partnership, I vividly remember sitting across the table from my accountant as he asked, quite sensibly, about my business plan. I told him it could be best summarised in two books: Emma and Pride and Prejudice. He raised an eyebrow, smiled politely, and moved on.

Seventeen years on, at our annual review, he still asks me to talk him through this year’s business plan. And every year, I give him the same answer: I’ve re-read both books….again! Without fail, he laughs - but then, as I always say, the business is still here, thriving, and more relevant than ever. Why change what isn’t broken?

So, you can imagine my delight when I came across a recent article in Grazia titled “Gen Z has a shocking new dating guru… and she’s been dead for 200 years!” It seems the younger generation is now discovering what I, and my very wise English Literature teacher, have known for decades: that Jane Austen is not only a brilliant novelist, but one of the greatest matchmakers of all time.

Her stories are about far more than bonnets and balls. They’re about character, compatibility, personal growth, and the delicate dance of love and timing. They show us that surface charm means little without substance, and that the best relationships are often built slowly, quietly, and thoughtfully - through understanding, honesty, and mutual respect.

At Bowes-Lyon, these principles are at the very heart of what we do. We're not in the business of swipe-right quick fixes. We are matchmakers in the traditional sense: careful, considered, and rooted in deep understanding. When someone asks me what makes a good match, I could go into a long discussion about values, life stages, emotional availability…or I could just hand them Pride and Prejudice.

There’s a reason Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy continue to resonate after 200 years. They remind us that love often comes when we learn to see clearly - both ourselves and others. That relationships are earned, not stumbled into. And that true compatibility is as much about friendship and shared outlook as it is about chemistry.

It’s heartening to see this sentiment being rediscovered by a new generation. And it’s a reminder that, in an ever-changing world, some things remain timeless.

As I often say: the old ways work best. Jane knew it then. And I still build a business on it now!

If you could benefit from some old-fashioned matchmaking, then please get in touch.