“I’ll handle my inheritance. That’s not an issue because, as I told you, I’ve been seeing someone for quite a while, and it’s only a matter of time before we get married. But I want Captain’s Cottage. And the person I’m seeing isn’t involved with your world. In fact, he kind of detests it.”

Madeline scoffs. “I always said she’d marry a communist.”

I smirk at my sister. “No one is more of a patriot than my guy, trust me. But you’ll have me. I know that’s what you want. I know you just want to show off Dad as the family man. I’ll be a part of your campaign,” I say, turning to Dad. “I’ll even give a speech at the convention when”—I pause—"I mean if, you’re given the official reelection go-ahead from your party. You don’t have it yet. That must be embarrassing. But I guess that’s what happens when you’ve spent four years here and your constituents describe you as unapproachable.”

Mom lifts her head to the ceiling, and Madeline huffs.

“I spent the last week reading up. Did you know the majority of your voting base thinks you’re unrelatable? Privileged? Out of touch?” I add, leaning forward and whispering, “A snob?”

“Enough, Parker.”

I flip my eyes to my mother. “My relationship isn’t your business. I’m enough. You want me here because it looks better for you than having everyone ask Is his other daughter still in Europe? She couldn’t come back to support her father for just one day? That’s what they’re going to ask this time. Last time, they bought your story. I read I was in the Netherlands, training at an equestrian center.” I laugh at the stark contrast to the time I’ve spent around horses. “But by now, after pulling that stunt at the gate, after telling your secretary how excited I am to support Dad, everyone is going to know I’m in town. They’re going to expect to see me.”

I sit back in my chair. I might not be the one at the head of the desk, but for the first time ever in my family, I feel like I’m on the throne.

“You give me Captain’s Cottage and I won’t just be a part of your campaign,” I say. “I’ll star in it.”

I’m a woman of my word. I’ll pretend like I care enough about the Montgomery name to want the Montgomery home. But really, I’ll burn the political legacy and that house to the ground and smile for the cameras while I do it.

Chapter 8

I keep staring at my phone, as if I’m going to will it to have service thirty thousand feet up in the air.

“Since when are you a nervous flier?”