“Is there something I can do for you, Ms. Darlington?” Cornelia was as polite as could be, a dangerous sound. How little would it take for her to maneuver Anne’s reputation right into the mud or… But she hadn’t. Instead she had kept the Vice President right on schedule and prepared him for the upcoming trip. “Was it your idea?” Anne wasn’t quite sure where the question had come from. “The Victorian décor? No way.” It was the one hint Anne had heard of her California background—an accent and speech pattern otherwise very well hidden. “No. Sending the Vice President to the climate conference. It’s brilliant actually,” and it was more brilliant each time she thought about it. “No. It was the Vice President’s. Many have labeled it political as the President is already well into his second