Richarda Smith was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Richard Smith, who had been a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, but was at this time Private Chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire, and held the small living of Edensor, near Chatsworth, in Derbyshire. He had a family of two sons and seven daughters, whom he had brought up and educated very carefully. Several of his daughters were remarkable both for their beauty and accomplishments. Richarda Smith was now in her 20th year, and the writer of the Autobiography records that "at Matlock we received great attention from Mr Chenery: in speaking of Mr Smith I remember his saying that Mr Smith had a daughter whom the Duke of Devonshire declared to be the most beautiful girl he ever saw." This was before he had made the acquaintance of the family. Airy was at this time on a walking tour in Derbyshire with his brother William, and they were received at Edensor by Mr Smith, to whom he had letters of introduction. He seems to have fallen in love with Miss Smith "at first sight," and within two days of first seeing her he made her an offer of marriage. Neither his means nor his prospects at that time permitted the least idea of an immediate marriage, and Mr Smith would not hear of any engagement. But he never had the least doubt as to the wisdom of the choice that he had made: he worked steadily on, winning fame and position, and recommending his suit from time to time to Miss Smith as opportunity offered, and finally married her, nearly six years after his first proposal. His constancy had its reward, for he gained a most charming and affectionate wife. As he records at the time of his marriage, "My wife was aged between 25 and 26, but she scarcely appeared more than 18 or 20. Her beauty and accomplishments, her skill and fidelity in sketching, and above all her exquisite singing of ballads, made a great sensation in Cambridge."