Maria’s hands froze in midpin. Win’s heart stuttered, but she forced down her panic. There was no way Vienna could know about her pregnancy.
“I am not fat,” she made herself say evenly. Vienna had always been concerned about appearances.
“Well, anyway.” Vienna snapped her fingers, and Elise handed her a large, flat, square box out of a bag she’d carried into the room. “No one will notice your waistline. They’ll be too busy looking at this.” She lifted a diamond necklace out from layers of tissue paper, crossed to stand behind Win and did the clasp behind her neck. “Jewelry fit for a princess. A little thank-you for being so selfless, coming home and taking care of your poor mother.”
Win stared at their reflection in the large three-paneled mirror positioned in a corner several feet away, then looked down in time to catch Maria staring up at her. Maria quickly got back to work, but either Win was imagining it, or she’d given a quick shake of her head.
As well she might. The necklace was… “Ridiculous,” she breathed. “Mom, this is too much—” Was Vienna feeling guilty she’d separated her from Angus?
“It’s perfect,” Vienna said firmly. “You look like royalty. American royalty. Which you are. It’s time to let the world know you are truly back in the fold of our family. You are a Lisle, not some farmhand mucking about in the dirt, and someday you’ll inherit the Lisle fortune and all our affairs.”
“How much did this cost?” At least enough to buy wind turbines to power a whole town, she figured. Maybe a whole city.
“Money doesn’t come into it. You know father’s ambitions don’t end at the governor’s mansion. One day you’ll stand on the steps of the White House while your father is sworn in as president of the United States. A diamond necklace is the least of it.”
Her father as president. Once that vision would have filled her with pride, but it rang hollow now.
“What’s his platform going to be?” she asked, forgetting to keep her thoughts to herself.
Vienna’s chin lifted. “What it’s always been. Law and order. Peace and prosperity. A new day for our great country.”
“How is he going to protect all of us from climate change?” Win asked. “Ow!” Maria had stabbed her with a pin. Win looked down, and Maria shook her head again, but Win couldn’t seem to stop herself. “Is he going to invest in renewables? Lead a moon-shot type program to bring our country’s carbon footprint down to zero?”
“That’s enough,” Vienna said evenly. “You know the Manners Foundation gives money worldwide to help offset the effects of climate issues.”
“While Manners Corp and every one of its subsidiaries uses fossil fuels like there’s no tomorrow. If I look at the Manners Foundation investment portfolio, will I see petroleum companies in the mix? I’m sure I will.”
“Where do you think we get the money to pay those men out there guarding the doors?” Vienna snapped.
The fight went out of her. Vienna held the trump card, as usual and who was she to quibble about investments when the profits from those companies had provided the cash to save her all those years ago?
“Andrea, come with me. I have something for you to bring to your mother, if you don’t mind.” Vienna gave the necklace one last twitch into place and patted Win’s shoulder. “You’ll excuse us, won’t you?”
“Of course,” Win said.
Vienna took Elise’s arm again and turned toward the door. Andrea moved to follow her, shooting a look at Win as if to say, “What were you thinking getting your mother riled up?”
As soon as they were out of sight, Win undid the necklace’s clasp with shaking hands and flung it onto a nearby chair. Maria lunged and caught it before it slid to the floor. “Careful,” she hissed.
“What if I don’t want to be careful anymore?” Win asked her. “Oh, Maria, I—” She closed her mouth before the truth slid out. She was miserable, and she was afraid she’d made a huge mistake coming home. She didn’t want to be selfish. It had been the right thing to support her mother through her recovery, but her heart was still in Montana with Angus, and no matter how much she argued with herself, she wanted to be there, too. “I don’t want my father to be president.”
Maria snorted again. Muttered something in Spanish. “There,” she pronounced, stepping back from the stool on which Win stood. “Your dress will be perfect.” She gestured to Win to step down and remove the gown. “I’ll take it home and have it back first thing in the morning. My granddaughters will love to get another look at the dress. They think it’s fit for a princess—” She cut off. “You know what I mean.”
“I do know,” Win said. “How are your girls?”
“They are thriving. They’re with Rosa today.”
Win sighed. “I wish I was with Rosa. I could use some of her wisdom.” Her old governess had lived with them until Win reached high school. She’d accompanied Win to and from school, to appointments and activities, a kind of chaperone since Vienna was so busy. She’d been Win’s main confidant back then, but Win supposed it was silly to want a governess now. She was a grown woman.
She could have used a friendly face, though.
“Come home with me for a visit,” Maria suggested.
“Right now?”
Maria shrugged. “Why not?” She looked around and lowered her voice. “I’ve got something to tell you, and I’d rather not do it here.”
Win checked the time. She had a dinner engagement to attend tonight with her father, and he’d expect her to look perfect since they’d be joined by another important couple. She’d gone to a number of these dinners, ostensibly to take her mother’s place by her father’s side but really to show his rattled backers that she would no longer be on a television show whose message
