Page 27 of The Girl with the Irish Secret

Vi’s phone rang just as she had pulled up in front of the gatehouse. She turned off the engine and checked the number.It was a UK mobile phone number she didn’t recognise. She hesitated for a moment and then decided to answer.

‘Violet Fleury,’ she said.

‘Hi, Violet.’

The deep voice made her heart flutter. Could it be…? ‘Hello?’ she said. ‘Who is this?’

‘Jack Montgomery here,’ he continued.

‘Oh yes, of course. Hi,’ she croaked.

‘Forgive me for cold calling like this,’ he continued, his voice full of laughter. ‘I can tell it made you nervous. I hope I’m not disturbing you.’

‘Not at all,’ she said, finding her normal voice. ‘Hi, Jack. How are you? How are things in LA?’

‘I’m not in LA,’ he said. ‘I left as soon as the shooting was over. I’m on my way to Scotland for the next part of this movie I’m in. I had a few days off so I thought I’d come and see you.’

‘What?’ Vi said, her heart racing. ‘You’re coming to see me? When?’

‘Well,’ he drawled. ‘Actually right now. I’m just outside Dingle, staying in this quaint little boutique hotel.’

‘You mean The Dolphin?’ Vi asked. It was a brand-new hotel in a restored Georgian house and it had just opened. ‘You must be one of the first guests.’

‘I think I must be,’ Jack replied. ‘It’s very quiet but the room is great and room service excellent.’

‘Oh good. They must have been so excited to have you stay there.’

‘They don’t know it’s me,’ Jack said mysteriously. ‘I know how to be incognito. I think you’d laugh if you saw me when I arrived. Blond wig, steel-rimmed glasses, baggy sweatpants and a green anorak. Not fashionable but a great disguise. I called myself Bill Higgins from Birmingham, just so you know. I’m here to market a new line of waterproof hiking gear. Officially.’

Vi giggled. ‘I love it.’ She couldn’t believe he was here just to see her and she assumed there had to be more to his story.

‘I’m going to turn in now. I’m a little jetlagged after the trip from LA. But would it be possible to see you tomorrow?’ Jack asked. ‘I need someone to show me around the area.’

‘Oh.’ Vi tried to gather her thoughts. She didn’t want to appear too eager even if she was dying to see him. ‘Well, I’m busy tomorrow morning until lunchtime.’

‘So lunch then?’ he asked. ‘And maybe a bit of a tour around the place afterwards?’

‘I don’t think lunch in Dingle is a good idea,’ she said. ‘I mean, I’m not in disguise and everyone knows me here. They know I’m playing Kathleen and you’re playing Don. They’re obsessed with Kathleen…The Irish Timesarticle has spread the news. If I was to have lunch with… Bill Higgins, everyone in town would know about it within half an hour and start guessing and insinuating. I think your cover would be blown very quickly. They’d guess what was going on fairly soon.’

‘Are you saying you won’t see me?’ he asked incredulously.

Vi realised no woman had ever hesitated like this when Jack Montgomery asked them out. ‘I’m not saying that exactly. I’ve just had an idea. I’m guessing you rented a car?’

‘Yes, I did. So?’ he asked, now sounding slightly irritated.

‘If you pick me up at my house, we could go over the mountain pass and have lunch in one of the villages on Tralee Bay. Like Cloghane, for example. A bit out of the way but it would be safer. That’s if you want to stay incognito.’

‘Sounds very quaint. Well, you’re the local here and you know where to go. And yes, let’s not attract too much attention to ourselves right now. Could be a bit stressful for you. When we start shooting the movie, it’ll be a different story. But let’s take it easy for now and just get to know each other. So yes, that’s a good plan.’

‘Wonderful,’ Vi said, feeling breathless with excitement. ‘Could you pick me up at the gatehouse of Magnolia Manor around twelve?’

‘That sounds really romantic,’ Jack remarked. ‘And Magnolia Manor is where we’ll be filming for a few weeks, I believe. Maybe we could take a peep at that too?’

‘Of course we can,’ Vi replied. She wondered, if there was a time, the café would be nice and quiet. ‘Not much to see in the winter and all the upper floors are now apartments. But I can show you the ballroom and the library, if you like.’

‘That would be interesting. So then I’ll see you tomorrow at twelve.’

‘That’s absolutely perfect,’ Vi said. ‘I’m really looking forward to seeing you.’