The Villa

with your wife? Don't see a lawyer, give her a bottle of Giambelli."
    "Honey, I'm a lawyer, we've been jokes for centuries."
    But she stroked Sophia's hair. She hadn't realized how much the child worried, hadn't realized it went so deep. "You're taking too much of this on yourself."
    "It's my job to maintain the image, not only as the next generation but as an executive. If I can't swing this… I know I put a lot of eggs in tonight's basket, and I hate seeing some of them broken."
    "Some," Helen reminded her. "Far from all."
    "But I'm not getting the message out. We're the victims here, why can't people see that? We were attacked. We're still being attacked—financially, emotionally, legally. The police… For God's sake, there are rumors drifting around that Margaret and my father were in some sort of conspiracy together, and Mama knew."
    "Just Rene's blathering."
    "Yes, but if the police start taking it seriously, start questioning her as a suspect, I don't know what we'll do."
    "That's not going to happen."
    "Oh, Aunt Helen, it could. With Rene streaming around from talk show to tabloid fanning the flames, and no sign of those responsible being caught, Mama's top of the list. Right along with me."
    She'd thought of it, hadn't been able to help it. But hearing it said so bluntly brought a chill to Helen's skin. "Now you listen. No one is going to accuse you or your mother of anything. The police may look, but only to eliminate. If they step closer than that, they'll have to go through James, through me, even Linc."
    She drew Sophia into a hug. "Don't you worry about that."
    She patted Sophia's back and stared at her own face in the mirror. The encouraging smile was gone, and concern had taken its place. She was grateful attorney-client privilege with Tereza prevented her from adding to the girl's fears.
    Only that morning, all financial records of the company had been subpoenaed.
     
    Sophia freshened her lipstick, powdered her nose and squared her shoulders. No one would have seen the fear or despair now. She glittered, and glowed, her laugh warm and careless as she joined the guests.
    She flirted, she danced and continued to campaign. Her spirits lifted considerably when she charmed and cajoled another major account into lifting its ban on the Giambelli label.
    Pleased with herself, she took a short break to harass Linc. "Are you still hanging around this loser?" she asked Andrea.
    "Well, he cries every time I try to dump him."
    "I do not. I just look really forlorn. I was about to come looking for you," he told Sophia. "We're going to take off."
    "So early?"
    "The string quartet isn't really my scene. I'm just here because Mom bribed me with pound cake. But I wanted to see you before we headed out, to ask how you're holding up."
    "Oh, fine."
    He tapped her nose. "It's okay. Andrea knows the score."
    "It's rough," she admitted. "Nonna's having a hard time accepting what happened to Signore Baptista. He meant a lot to her. I guess we're all feeling squeezed between the various investigations. In fact, I whined all over your mom a little bit ago."
    "She's used to it. You know you can call me and whine anytime."
    "I know." She kissed Linc's cheek. "You're not really so bad. And you have good taste in doctors. Go. Escape." She stepped aside. "Come back," she added to Andrea, and began another circuit of the room.
    "There you are." Tyler caught her, pulled her toward a corner. "I can't take much more of this. I'm deserting the field."
    "Now, buck up." She measured the crowd. Beginning to thin, she judged, but not by much. That was a good sign. "Hold out another hour and I'll make it worth your while."
    "My while's worth quite a bit."
    "I'll bear that in mind. Go charm Betina Renaldi. She's old, influential and very susceptible to rugged young men with tight butts."
    "Boy, are you going to owe me."
    "Just ask her to dance and tell her how much we value her patronage."
    "If she pinches my tight butt, I'm taking it out on you."
    "Mmm. I look forward to it." She circled just in time to spot an argument brewing between Don and Gina. Quickly, she cut across the ballroom.
    "Let's not do this here." In what would be taken as an affectionate gesture, she stepped between them and linked arms. "We don't need to add to the gossip mill."
    "You think you can tell me how to behave?" Gina would have wrenched her arm free if Sophia hadn't borne down. "You, whose father was a gigolo, whose family has no honor."
    "Careful, Gina,