“That I have achieved the unachievable, landed the unlandable, tamed the untamable. That I’ve brought the mightily wicked Duke of Westbury to his knees.”

“To the altar, you mean.”

“To his knees,” she insisted. “You’ll present me with the roses on bended knee.”

“I’m not going to act the besotted suitor, Miss Chandler. Everyone knows this is a business arrangement.”

“I know . . .” She twirled a lock of her shiny hair around her finger. “But if you play your part well enough, and make me the biggest triumph of the Season, I’ll depart London soon after the wedding and you won’t see me for two years, at least.”

“Deal,” West said, holding out his hand.

She shook it with a smile. “I knew we could come to an agreement.”

“But within limits. It’s out of character for me to shower you with roses. No one will believe it.”

“Seeing is believing, they say. Whatever Dottie Dalrymple received during her courtship by the Earl of Dexter, I want you to give me the same thing, only ten times more grand.”

“In that case, why stop at one hundred roses? You should have a new variety of roses developed and have it named The Vanessa and instead of an arrangement that will wither and wilt, your name will be immortalized in British gardens forever.”

“Brilliant.” She clapped her hands. “Dottie will be wild with jealousy.”

“I was joking, Miss Chandler.”

“It’s a splendid idea.” She waved her hand imperiously. “Make it so.”

“You’re very accustomed to having your own way.”

“In every little thing. I don’t expect you’ll be any different. Daddy dear is paying for your devotion, after all.”

“Daddy dear is paying for my title—there was nothing in the contract about devotion. And why are you so bent on besting the Countess of Dexter?”

“We’ve been friends since childhood, but she turned against me and stole my friends and then she stole my thunder when she came back to Boston a countess. Everyone chose her over me and treated her like the queen of England.”

“I’m sure you’ll be a great success.”

“Play your part, Westbury, and you’ll have more money than you can shake a stick at. You can open your own gambling house if you want to for all I care.”

“I hate to say it, Miss Chandler, but everyone in London knows why this marriage is taking place. They won’t believe I’m courting you in earnest.”

“Then you’ll have to sell it in a big way. I’m not asking for much. All I want is for you to make me the envy of every woman in London.”