Page 103 of Beyond Her Manner

“Vexed?” Gillian corrected her as she examined her tea.

“That was passion, from what I heard of it, anyway. She wants what’s best for you, and you can’t see that. You were blinded by one bigoted woman with her own agenda and allowed her to define your life.”

Gillian nodded. “I have, haven’t I?”

Viola offered a soft smile and asked, “Is the tea okay? I thought I should make a start. I found some Earl Grey tea bags, which I assumed were your cheat bags.”

“Yes, thank you,” Gillian said, sipping at the steaming liquid. “I admit I keep a box for emergency situations when five minutes is too long to wait for a proper brew.”

“I feared this was one of those situations.”

“Yes. It very much is.”

Viola nodded towards the hall table. “Are those from Bridget?”

“Yes, sunflowers and chocolates. My favourite.” Gillian sighed. “She gives them to me every year.”

“You don’t look overjoyed.”

“It made me realise something. I have no idea what her favourite flowers and chocolates are. I’ve known her for thirty-five years. I was her maid of honour. I stood beside her as she buried her husband after only ten years of a happy marriage, and I don’t know these things. What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing is wrong,” Viola urged, placing a hand on her arm. “You’ve lived in a different world. A world that wasn’t even your world, just a place you hid in, and somewhere where you didn’t make a lot of room for others. Now you are changing that.”

Gillian nodded. She intended to try. The relief she felt that Bridget knew and was supportive made her feel a little lighter already. “Maybe I have been trapped in Kingsford.”

“After what happened with Hen and your mum, you hid here like a butterfly trapped in a box. It’s time to set yourself free, Gillian, and see what you can achieve elsewhere in the world. I’ll be there to hold your hand, every step of the way.”

“I’ll see that you are.”

“Through your binoculars?” Viola asked through a cheeky grin.

“No. I’m going to need you much closer than that.” Gillian stepped towards Viola, careful not to unsettle either of their mugs. “This close.”

She placed a kiss on Viola’s lips. Finding them dry, she moistened them with her tongue, sending a warmth rushing over her skin.

“Come back to bed,” Viola said, pulling away from her with a smile.

That wasn’t an invitation Gillian would ever refuse. “I will, but I can’t keep Dudley waiting too long for his breakfast.”

“Mmm, breakfast. Why don’t you bring those chocolates?” Viola added, nodding at them as she passed. “I’m looking forward to seeing Dudley again. I’ve missed him.”

Gillian shook her head, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “Chocolates for breakfast? Really?” She picked up the box and followed Viola up the stairs.

“Yes. You are doing things differently now, after all.”

That was true, but eating chocolates in the morning sounded a step too far, she thought, as she took in how great Viola’s backside looked from eye level.

“When is your birthday?” Gillian asked as they climbed back into the bed.

“The twenty-first of April.”

“And when does your tour of America finish?”

“The end of March,” Viola said, taking a sip of her coffee. “I have a few weeks off, and then I leave for Europe for two months shortly after my birthday.”

Viola leaving would be a wrench, but she would put plans in place to allow herself some freedom away from Kingsford. She couldn’t be apart from her for too long.

“I shall come with you then, if that’s agreeable?” Gillian said, placing her hand between them on the bed. “There’s a lot I need to get into place before I can consider leaving.”