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Prologue

“I have made a decision about Daisy’s future,” Thoh Bownore reality”

“What reality is that, Father?” Daisy asked

“You are not , Bowe isn’t meant for you I have received a poor rate of return onDo you knohat that means, Daisy?”

“I’uessed

One would never guess Daisy was a grooman of twenty-two at this ility and exuberance of a child when other wo matrons As she sat with her knees drawn up, she looked like an abandoned china doll in the corner of the settee It annoyed Bower stuck between its pages to mark her place Obviously she could hardly wait for hi

“Put that down,” he said

“Yes, Father” Covertly Daisy opened the book to check the page nuesture rankled Bowht of one had co failure on the e market

Puffing on a ar, Bowman sat in an overstuffed chair in the parlor of the hotel suite they had occupied for more than two years His wife Mercedes perched on a spindly cane-backed chair nearby Boas a stout, barrel-shaped man, as bullish in his physical dih he was bald on top, he possessed a thick broo the hair on his head had been diverted to his upper lip

Mercedes had begun irl and had becoh the years, like a cake of soap that had gradually worn to a sliver Her slick black hair was always severely restrained, her sleeves tightly fitted to wrists so dis Even when she sat perfectly still, as she was doing now, Mercedes gave the iy

Bow Mercedes as a wife—her steely ambition corresponded perfectly with his own She was a relentless wo to make a place for the Bowmans in society It was Mercedes who had insisted that since they could not break into the Knickerbocker set in New York, they would bring the girls to England “We shall sio over their heads,” she had said with deterhter Lillian

Lillian had soreatest prize of all, Lord Westcliff, whose pedigree was pure gold The earl had been a handsome acquisition for the family But noas i to land a titled husband she would have done so by now Time to cut their losses

Reflecting on his five children, Boondered hoas that they should have so little of him in them He and Mercedes were both driven, and yet they had produced three sons ere so placid, so accepting of things as they were, so certain that everything they wanted would simply drop into their hands like ripe fruit from a tree Lillian was the only one who seeressive spirit…but she was a woman and therefore it was a complete waste

And then there was Daisy Of all their children, Daisy had always been the one Bowman had understood the least Even as a child Daisy had never drawn the right conclusions from the stories he told, only asked questions that never see to make When he had explained why investors anted low risk and moderate returns should put their capital into national debt shares, Daisy had interrupted hibirds had tea parties and ere sh to be invited?”

Throughout the years Bowe Daisy had been met with valiant resistance She liked herself the way she was and therefore trying to do anything with her was like atte jelly to a tree

Since Bowhter’s unpredictable nature, he was not at all surprised by the lack ofto take her on for a lifeti about fairies sliding down rainbows instead of drilling sensible rules into her children’s heads

Mercedes jumped into the conversation, her voice taut with consternation “Dear Mr Bowman, the season is far froress so far Lord Westcliff has introduced her to several proly interested in the prospect of gaining the earl as a brother-in-law”

“I find it telling,” Bowentleain Daisy as a wife” He pinned Daisy with a hard stare “Are any of these men likely to offer for you?”

“She has no way of knowing—” Mercedes argued

“Wos Answer, Daisy—is there a possibility of bringing any of these gentlemen up to scratch?”

His daughter hesitated, a troubled expression appearing in her tip-tilted dark eyes “No, Father,” she finally admitted frankly

“As I thought” Lacing his thick fingers together over his arded the two quiet women authoritatively “Your lack of success has becoowns and fripperies…Iyou from unproductive ball to another More than that, I land when I am needed in New York Therefore I have decided to choose a husband for you”

Daisy looked at him blankly “Whom do you have in mind, Father?”

“Mattheift”

She stared at hione mad

Mercedes drew a quick breath “That makes no sense, Mr Bowe for us or for Daisy in such a match Mr Swift is not an aristocrat, nor is he possessed of significant wealth—”

“He is one of the Boston Swifts,” Bowman countered “Hardly a faood blood to go with it More importantly, Swift is devoted to me And he has one of the ablest business minds I’ve ever encountered I want him as a son-in-laant him to inherit my company when the time comes”

“You have three sons ill inherit the coe

“None of theives a damn about the business They haven’t the appetite for it” Thinking of Mattheift, who had flourished under his tutelage for al of pride The boy was“None of them has the full-blooded ambition and ruthlessness of Swift,” Bowman continued “I will make him the father of my heirs”

“You’ve taken leave of your senses!” Mercedes cried hotly

Daisy spoke in a calm tone that neatly undercut her father’s bluster “I should point out that my cooperation is necessary in this ressed to the subject of begetting heirs And I assure you, no power on earth would compel me to bear the children of a man I don’t even like”

“I should think you’d want to be of sorowled It had always been his nature to quash rebellion with overwhel force “I should think you would want a husband and home of your own rather than continue your parasitic existence”

Daisy flinched as if he had slapped her “I’m not a parasite”

“Oh? Then explain to me how the world has benefitted from your presence in it What have you ever done for anyone?”

Faced with the task of justifying her existence, Daisy stared at him stonily and remained silent

“This is my ultimatum,” Bowman said “Find a suitable husband by the end of May, or I will give you to Swift”