“Nor would I expect you to,” Victoria said amiably. “I have several staff members who will liaise with your team to schedule the times and dates for filming various scenes, and a team of preservation specialists who’ll work with you to make sure your needs are met while still protecting our possessions. And I’ll be present to assure all the various stakeholders can move forward without issue.”

“You personally?” Sophia finally spoke. She hadn’t meant to. The words just sort of slipped out.

Victoria met the blue eyes boring into hers. “Certainly. Everything that happens here is ultimately my responsibility.”

Sophia didn’t break her gaze. “Yours? Not your father’s? Not your man James’s? Not your secretary’s?”

Victoria’s mouth twisted slightly, only for the barest of seconds, before she nodded, but Sophia saw it, and she leaned forward, looking more closely for any other soft spot in that armour.

“So, to be sure, if we have a conflict with any of your people at any point, we should contact . . .”

“Me.” Victoria lifted her chin as if she heard a challenge in the question. “First and last.”

“Not a problem at all,” Talia cut back in before Sophia could push any more.

Out of respect for Talia, she took her cue to sit back, but she exchanged a glance with Tommy, whose green eyes reflected a hint of the surprise she felt at Victoria’s little pronouncement. It wasn’t uncommon for a filming location to assign someone to work with the film crew, but it was unusual for that person to be a rich, beautiful heiress of British nobility.

“Good.” Victoria stood. “If we’re in agreement, I’ll have our people amend the contract and present it to you as soon as possible.”

Talia rose and shook her hand. “I really appreciate this. The film is very important to me.”

Victoria nodded seriously. “And to me as well.”

Then she stepped out of the trailer, but before Talia had a chance to close the door behind her, Sophia jumped up and followed.

“Um, excuse me,” she called. Not her strongest opening. “Ms., um, Your uh, Ladyship?”

Victoria turned around, her smile bright but polite. “Seeing as how we’re to be colleagues, why don’t you call me Vic?”

That seemed odd, but then again, so had every other encounter with this woman, and first names would at least give the appearance of a more level playing field. “Okay, Vic. Before you rush the contract off to your undoubtedly talented lawyers, could I press you to reconsider one of your restrictions on where we can film?”

“You may press, but I feel it only fair to warn you it may be a fool’s errand.”