She—
“Look!”
Anne glanced over to see a tour was entering the room. Cameras out, snapping pictures. Except they weren’t looking at the tree, nor photographing it.
“It’s that woman.” “The Vice President’s girlfriend.” “Oh, she’s so much prettier in real life.” “Can I get your picture with us?” “Can I—”
Anne put on her best happy face, and retreated as quickly as possible without being rude. Down the Central Hall. Past the Vermeil Room and the Library. She almost ducked into the latter, but the open doors and cloth ropes indicated that tours would invade there as well.
The double doors at the end of the hall plunged her into yet another crowd forming up.
“It’s the Visitor’s Lobby,” Detra had magically appeared at her elbow and Anne almost cried out in relief. “We need to get you out of
