Page 60 of Beyond Her Manner
Gillian watched Viola reach for a grey linen blazer hanging on a hook and slip it on. Her bust was testing the very edges of her shirt as she stretched her arms through the sleeves and pulled her hair out from the collar. It did nothing to help Gillian’s composure, especially in the warm sunshine. Fanning herself with her hand, she tried to think of anything to distract herself.
“Err, you were back late yesterday. I thought you were just dropping off Caroline.”
“I was. I thought it would be best to give you some space. The last thing you needed was me breathing down your neck. I wanted you to be comfortable to do your thing.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Gillian lied. She was disappointed that Viola hadn’t made an appearance during the show, even though she would have felt like a spare part and only served to distract Gillian. “And thank you again for coming to my rescue.”
“You’re welcome. Did it all go okay?”
“About the same as it always does with Elouise and Louisa picking up most of the prizes, much to the annoyance of the rest of the villagers. If only everyone would put in the same time and effort as those two do at Kingsford House, then they, too, may hold a rosette.”
“Sounds controversial.”
“It always is, but I brook no questioning,” Gillian said firmly. “My decision is final.”
A smile danced on Viola’s lips and her eyes shone as she stepped outside. “Oh, I bet you don’t.”
Gillian’s face flushed at her impish tone.
“Let’s walk around to the back. I’ve already locked up everywhere else,” Viola directed as she closed the front door and locked it.
“Everyone was very grateful to be back here, especially when we were besieged by rain,” Gillian said, following Viola through the garden. “You’ve made yourself even more popular amongst the villagers. You know, if you wanted to stump up for the renovations on the village hall, I’m sure we could arrange a name change to Berkley Hall. We could go a step further and change the village name to Berkley.”
Gillian felt a nudge in her side, sending a pleasant tingle through her.
“Ha ha! I suppose you can turn your attention to arrangements for the ball now?”
“Yes,” she confirmed with a smile. “Although everything is already booked.”
“Efficient as always.”
“Fail to prepare — ”
“And prepare to fail,” Viola finished. “Trust you to quote that.”
Gillian grinned at how well Viola knew her already. Her grin disappeared as the helicopter came into sight on the lawn. She gulped at the thought of being in it and thousands of feet in the air at any minute, with nothing else between them and the ground.
She pushed the unhelpful thoughts aside; they only added to the anxiety of having lunch with Viola. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t already had lunch with her, and yet something was making her heart race and her stomach a little queasy. She made a quick job of convincing herself it was simply the helicopter.
“Right, shall we?” Viola said, opening the door for Gillian and offering her a hand.
“Thanks.” Gillian took her hand and stepped into the cockpit. She navigated her way around a stick— the steering gear, she presumed— and sat down.
“Buckle up while I do the walk-around.”
Gillian did as instructed as Viola shut the door and disappeared. Taking in her surroundings of levers, buttons, and screens, Gillian wondered what they all did. When Viola reappeared, she climbed in beside her, lifting a clipboard and iPad from her own seat. Gillian watched as she wrote on the clipboard and tapped at her iPad, interacting with the screen and touching buttons on the instrument panel and above her head. Her hands and feet moved to the pedals and controls, pushing and moving them as if testing them out.
Viola put on a headset and passed one to Gillian. “Put this on so we can hear each other. I need to check you are secure.” She pulled at the straps on Gillian’s harness and inspected the buckle. “I need to check the door too.” She leaned around Gillian, her body brushing against her as she stretched to look at the lock.
Gillian instinctively pulled herself back, holding her breath as Viola leaned closer.
“Okay, we’re all good to go. Ready?” Viola asked, popping on her sunglasses.
Gillian nodded as she exhaled, feeling her heart rate pick up as Viola’s musky scent lingered in the air and she realised how much she was taking in. It did nothing to help her nervous disposition.
The helicopter’s rotors began to spin, sending a gentle vibration through the cabin. As they lifted off the ground, a sense of weightlessness washed over her. The noise of the rotors was aconstant, throbbing hum, filling her ears through the headset as she focused on the view outside.
Viola looked impressive as she manoeuvred the helicopter, her hands steady on the stick. Her focus was steadfast, scanning the instrument panel, fingers making minute adjustments to the controls as the rotor blades whirred rhythmically, slicing through the air with precision.
