‘It’s time for your lessons,’ Valentina’s mother said, her tone clipped as she gestured for their maid to take her plate. ‘Hurry along, please.’
Valentina nodded, averting her gaze from her father for fear that she might smile. Because he’d already told her that she wouldn’t be taking her lessons this morning. Today, she was to accompany him to work, and she couldn’t wait.
When he cleared his throat, she stared down at her lap.
‘Camilla, not today. I’m taking Valentina with me.’
Her mother was silent for a moment, and silence was always more terrifying than raised voices, at least where her mama was concerned.
‘Take Bruno with you instead,’ she said. ‘There’s no point in taking Valentina. If you continue to indulge her, she’ll start to think?—’
‘That she will one day inherit my great fortune and need the skills to continue building the empire I’ve created?’ he asked, his voice slightly raised. Her papa didn’t get angry often, but Valentina could tell his temper was flaring ‘You think I don’t understand what I’m doing?’
Valentina glanced at Bruno, who didn’t seem to care at all that he was being overlooked. He was her step-sibling, and eight years older than her, but they’d always got along just fine. It was their mother who liked to pit them against each other, always making it clear to Valentina that her firstborn son was her most important child. It was something that Valentina had never understood.
‘Basilio,’ her mother said, her voice softer now as she tried to soothe him. ‘I was only meaning that I don’t think she’s?—’
‘I don’t intend on discussing the matter. Valentina is coming with me,’ he said, folding his paper and then rising. ‘Darling, our driver will be here soon. Please go and finish getting ready.’
‘Yes, Papa,’ Valentina said, demurely so as not to anger her mother. She even paused after standing to kiss her mother’s cheek, but the affection was not returned.
Her mother was kind to her at times, but Valentina had always been made to feel as if they were competing for her father’s affections. Sometimes she’d wondered if she was even her real mother, the way she made her feel as if she wasn’t worthy of her father’s love, but she knew how ridiculous that was. She was Valentina Santiago, and her parents’ love story had been retold to her countless times over her childhood, including how cherished her birth was after three years of their hoping and praying to have a family. But for some reason, at times her mother didn’t seem to even want her.
‘Valentina,’ her maid, Ana, said, hurrying her away. ‘Let me do your hair and get you changed. Your father told me that you would need your best clothes today.’
A shiver of excitement ran through Valentina and she raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time as her maid clucked her tongue behind her. But she didn’t tell her off, Ana never did; she was more maternal to her than her own mother, and other than telling Valentina that she prayed for her, she never scolded her for her enthusiasm. Quite the contrary, she seemed to enjoy it.
‘Did he tell you where he was taking me?’ Valentina asked, breathless as she sat down on the stool in front of the mirror.
Ana brushed out Valentina’s long hair, securing it with delicate pins so that it didn’t fall to her face.
‘No,mi pequeño,’ she said. ‘But from the look on your face, I can tell you’re excited.’
Valentina grinned, trying not to wriggle. ‘I am. I love it when he takes me to work with him. I’m going to see his offices again and meet all the people who work for him.’
Ana sighed, but Valentina ignored it and bounced from the stool when she was finished, kissing her maid on the cheek and receiving a quick hug in return.
‘Let me get your best coat, just in case you need it. It sounds like you have a very special day planned.’
Valentina took it and bounded back down the stairs, finding her father at the door. He’d been frowning, she could see the lines on his face, but he gave her an easy smile the moment he saw her, as if she’d just brightened his day. That’s the way they always were together, as if nothing else mattered—the two of them against the world.
‘I’m ready, Papa,’ she said.
Her hand slipped into his as they stepped outside, into the sunshine. But he was quick to guide her past the waiting car, leading her by the hand.
‘I thought we were going to your office?’ she asked, glancing back at the driver who was still waiting for them. She wouldn’t have worn her best dress otherwise.
‘We are,’ he said. ‘But first, we are going to walk through the stables. Do you feel the way the weather is changing, Valentina? The slight coolness in the air?’
She nodded, lifting her face to let the breeze touch her skin.
‘It’s time for my horses to come back to work,’ he said. ‘The polo season is almost upon us.’
She nodded, loving an excuse to be around her father’s beloved polo ponies. Because if there was one thing that brought her father joy, it was playing polo, which meant that she loved the sport almost as much as he did, even if it was only as a spectator.
‘Valentina, do you know that something very special is happening this year?’ he asked.
She stopped when he did, looking up at him and blinking the sun from her eyes. ‘No, Papa. What’s happening?’
