Page 163 of Homeport

“She had access to both bronzes. No one would question her. She sent for you, then she fired you and sent you home. She pulled you away from the Institute. I’m sorry.” He put his hand to her cheek. “But you’re going to have to consider the facts.”

It was logical. It was hideous. She closed her eyes, and let his arms come around her.

“Excuse me.”

She jerked in his arms as if they were bullets and not words at her back. Very slowly, she turned, took a long bracing breath. “Hello, Mother.”

Elizabeth didn’t look as though she’d spent the last several hours flying across an ocean and dealing with the small annoyances that come with international travel. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, her steel-blue suit showed not a single crease or wrinkle.

Miranda felt as she always did when faced with her mother’s unwavering perfection—tousled, awkward, ungainly. Now suspicion was added to the mix. Could this woman who’d preached integrity all of her life have betrayed her own daughter?

“I apologize for interrupting your . . . work.”

Too accustomed to parental disapproval to react, Miranda merely nodded. “Elizabeth Standford-Jones, Ryan Boldari.”

“Mr. Boldari.” Elizabeth assessed the situation, decided that the gallery owner had demanded Miranda’s participation in the project for more reasons than her qualifications. Because the results benefited the Institute, she put warmth in her smile. “How nice to finally meet you.”

“A pleasure.” He crossed the room to take her hand, noting that mother and daughter didn’t even bother with the cool air kisses women often exchanged. “I hope your flight was uneventful.”

“It was, thank you.” A beautiful face, she thought, and a smooth manner. The photographs she’d seen of him in art magazines over the years hadn’t quite been able to capture the power of the combination. “I apologize for not being able to get away sooner as I’d planned. I hope the project is progressing as you anticipated, Mr. Boldari.”

“Ryan, please. And it’s already exceeded my expectations. Your daughter is everything I could wish for.”

“You’ve been busy,” she said to Miranda.

“Very. We’ve closed off the wing on this level to the public for the last two days. The team’s put in a lot of hours, but it’s paying off.”

“Yes, I can see it is.” She scanned the room, impressed and pleased, but only said, “You have work to do yet, of course. You’ll be able to tap the talents of Standjo now. Several staff members flew out today, and a few others will be here by tomorrow. They know they’re at your disposal. Elise and Richard are here now, along with Vincente and his wife.”

“Does Andrew know Elise is here?”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “If he doesn’t, he will shortly.” And the warning in her tone was clear. No personal family business was to be discussed or allowed to interfere. “Your father is due in tonight. He’ll be a tremendous help with the final selections of the artifacts.”

“I’ve already made the final selections,” Miranda said flatly.

“It’s rare that any project of this size can’t benefit from a fresh eye.”

“Are you planning to take me off this project too?”

There was a moment when it appeared Elizabeth would respond. Her lips trembled open, but then firmed again as she turned to Ryan. “I’d very much like to see your Vasaris.”

“Yes, Ryan, show her the Vasaris. They’re in the next area. If you’ll both excuse me, I have an appointment.”

“I feel obliged to tell you, Elizabeth,” Ryan began when Miranda walked out, “that this very impressive exhibit wouldn’t have been possible without your daughter. She conceived it, designed it, and has implemented it.”

“I’m well aware of Miranda’s talents.”

“Are you?” He said it mildly, with a slight and deliberately mocking lift of brow. “Obviously I’m mistaken then. I assumed since you didn’t comment on the results of four weeks of intense work on her part, you found them lacking in some way.”

Something flickered in her eyes that might have been embarrassment. He hoped it was. “Not at all. I have every confidence in Miranda’s capabilities. If she has a flaw it’s overenthusiasm and the tendency to become too personally involved.”

“Most would consider those assets rather than flaws.”

He was baiting her, but she couldn’t see the reason for it. “In business, objectivity is essential. I’m sure you’d agree.”

“I prefer passion in all things. Riskier, but the benefits are much more rewarding. Miranda has passion, but she tends to repress it. Hoping, I’d guess, for your approval. Do you ever give it?”

Temper showed coldly on her, a chill in the eyes, frost lining the voice. “My relationship with Miranda isn’t your concern, Mr. Boldari, any more than your relationship with her is mine.”

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