Page 66 of Beyond Her Manner

“I’ll call Freddie and check on him in a bit,” came the reply.

“That’s all you want to hear about whilst you’re dining,” Gillian said with a roll of her eyes, grateful they were leaving.

Viola frowned. “I know that voice.” She turned and looked at the woman. “Arte Tremaine, is that you?”

The woman twisted around in her seat and then stood. “Viola?”

Gillian watched as the two women embraced, feeling slightly jealous at their ease and close contact.

“What are you doing here?” Viola asked. “Last time I saw you was in Italy.”

“I live in the area now. My gran died, and I took over her hotel.”

“How sad. You aren’t teaching anymore then?”

“I am,” Arte confirmed. Turning to her companion and smiling, she added, “My wife, Charlotte, runs the hotel side of things for us.”

Gillian and Viola nodded at her, receiving a smile and nod in return.

“Congrats.”

“Thanks,” Arte replied. “I have an art studio onsite in one of the old barns. If your mum needs a bit of respite, send her my way.”

Viola looked down. “Mum passed away a few months back.”

“Oh, I am so sorry,” Arte said, rubbing Viola’s upper arm.

“Thanks.”

“You must be bereft without her.”

Viola nodded. “I’m finding my way, day by day. Oh, this is my friend, Gillian Carmichael. I moved to the area recently, too, into Gillian’s house, actually.”

Gillian smiled at Arte, glad to finally be acknowledged.

“Oh, are you two an item then?” Arte asked.

“No,” Gillian replied, her tone perhaps a bit too sharp and immediate.

“No,” Viola reiterated with a gentle laugh. “Gillian unwittingly sold it to me. She lives in the lodge now, so technically she’s my neighbour too. It would be great to catch up sometime.”

“Here, take my card.” Arte reached into her phone case and extracted a business card.

“Thanks. I’ll text you my number. I hope your dog is okay.”

Arte rolled her eyes. “Rodin’s a walking dustbin. He never learns.”

Viola chuckled. “It was lovely to bump into you.”

“And you,” Arte said, taking her seat.

“How do you know her?” Gillian asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Mum and I spent about six months living in Italy whilst I was touring there. She broke her ankle on some cobbles the day after we arrived, so I rented a place in Rome for her to recuperate and act as a base for us. Arte lived in an apartment next door. She helped enormously, checking in on Mum when I wasn’t around. They got on like a house on fire, and she taught Mum a bit of art to keep herself occupied. Mum turned out to be a natural at painting.”

Viola’s phone vibrated. “It’s Caroline. I’d better take this, sorry.”

“I’ll meet you outside,” Gillian said, nodding at the lavatories.