“Both, yes, but there’s another subset of the population who believe I lack the poise or gravitas or all-out superiority they’ve dedicated their life to cultivating and maintaining. I suspect James falls there, though he’d never say so.” She tried to shrug off the tension creeping back into her recently relaxed shoulders. None of this was new. “The point is, for every person who thinks I should be cast out because I’m outdated and out of touch with my average countryman, there’s someone to the other side of the scale who thinks I should be thrown out because I’m too irreverent and graceless for the duties of my station.”

“At least you can say you bring people together across the spectrum.”

She laughed again. “Maybe I should put that on tourism brochures. ‘Victoria doesn’t belong here: one thing we can all agree on.’”

“I wouldn’t say ‘all.’” Sophia stepped into her personal space once more.

“No? Have I yet to disappoint you, Ms. LeBlanc?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Sophia smiled slowly and hooked a finger through the belt of Vic’s robe. “I find it a little disappointing you’ve not once shouted ‘off with his head’ when James gives me some side-eye.”

“Ah yes, that disappoints me occasionally as well. Alas, James does work for my father, and beheadings are quite messy. Is there any other way I’ve managed to let you down? Perhaps some way I could remedy? Someone else I could have guillotined?”

“Maybe not guillotined, but there’s certainly something bothering me that you could possibly have removed from the premises.”

Vic tensed. “I swear, you are a guest in my home and if someone is upsetting you—”

“Not someone.” Sophia cut her off. “Some thing.”

Vic frowned.

Sophia gave the rope to her robe a sharper tug. “I’m personally finding this robe offensive, and I’d like to see it removed . . . immediately.”

“Hmm.” She wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist, pulling her close as she backed toward the still-open door. “That could be arranged.”

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Something was happening. Sophia could sense the emotional shift around her before she saw any evidence of what caused it. Everything had seemed fine when she’d arrived on the set in the morning. Better than fine, even. She’d arrived early for the day’s scenes recharged, recommitted, and actually excited to dive back into her role, which, given how she’d left things with Brian the day before, spoke volumes about the restorative powers of a good bath and an exceptional lover.