Page 59 of Beyond Her Manner

“Are you not?”

“Good god, no,” Viola replied. “Older women are my type, yes, but not Caroline. Plus, she’s into men.”

“Oh,” Gillian replied, relief washing over her at the confirmation, only for a tightness in her stomach to grab hold at how much it meant to her.

As they reached the porch, Viola turned to Gillian. “I hope everything was to your liking this evening.”

“Oh, everything was perfect,” Gillian assured her, the words feeling heavy on her tongue. “You’ve done an excellent job.”

Viola’s eyes sparkled with gratitude. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you. Thank you for coming.”

“I appreciate the invitation — and for saving my skin with the flower show. Might I see you tomorrow?”

“I hope I’ll return before you finish.”

Gillian couldn’t contain her smile as she stepped outside. “Well, good night.”

“Good night.”

As she turned to leave, Viola called out, her voice carrying a note of uncertainty. “Oh, Gillian?”

Gillian swivelled quickly on her stiletto. “Yes?”

“It’s just… I have the helicopter for the whole weekend and a table booked for lunch on Sunday at a rather delightful restaurant in the Surrey Hills. Would you join me?”

“I’d love to.”

“It was for Caroline and me, but with her—”

“I said yes,” Gillian cut off a flustered Viola.

“Oh, great,” Viola replied, lowering her head and kicking at the gravel. “Knock for me at about eleven thirty?”

“I look forward to it,” Gillian replied, turning and continuing the precarious journey across the gravel drive in her high heels.

When she put her key into the front door of the lodge a few minutes later, she gulped, realising that Viola meant she would be flying them to the restaurant. She pushed the thought from her mind. First, she needed to get the flower show done and dusted; then she would worry about that.

Stepping into the lodge, she blew out a deep breath. She couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling inside her at the thought of lunch with Viola. It mingled with a complex array of emotions that Viola stirred within her. There was an undeniable pull, a magnetic force that drew her closer to Viola despite her best efforts to remain detached.

She also couldn’t ignore the way her heart quickened around Viola, the way her thoughts kept drifting back to their time together. It felt like more than a friendship, yet admitting that, even to herself, was a step she wasn’t ready to take.

CHAPTER 14

Gillian knocked hard on the door of Kingsford Manor. Stepping back, she wondered if it would ever get easier with time, if the pain of her loss would ever subside. Each visit brought back a flood of memories and, with it, an ache in her chest that felt as fresh as the day she left.

She took a deep breath and steadied herself. Spending so much time in the manor the day before, organising the flower show and welcoming the guests had all felt so natural. After clearing up she’d almost taken herself upstairs for a shower until Bridget reminded her she no longer lived there.

Viola opened the door with a smirk. “Gillian! Fashionably late, I see.”

“Indeed. I hope I’m dressed appropriately. I wasn’t sure what one wears for a helicopter ride crossed with a posh lunch.”

Gillian smoothed her hands over the soft fabric of her navy midi dress, the delicate spray of white blossoms creating an elegant contrast against the deep blue. The v-neckline dipped just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage as the hem swayed gently in the light breeze around her knees.

“Unlike a horse, it doesn’t come with a uniform. You look perfect.”

“Thank you. You look… lovely too,” Gillian said, admiring a little too intensely Viola’s white shirt tucked neatly into a pair of blue chinos.

“Thanks. I’d rather be in a summer dress like you, but it’s not very practical for flying a helicopter, and the matching footwear wouldn’t work.”