Page 95 of Beyond Her Manner
Viola rubbed at her arm. “Get yourself inside. I’ll grab my bag from the helicopter and meet you at the lodge.”
“Don’t be long,” Gillian said as she stood, grateful she would have a few moments to regroup. She was unsure what Viola was expecting from her invitation and even more unsure of what exactly she was offering.
Viola had no intention of being long. She was practically running to the helicopter to retrieve her bag. A nightcap with GillianCarmichael was not something you strolled towards, especially not after a kiss like the one they just shared.
Their dressing room kiss had ignited a fire within her, and its fleeting nature left her hungry for more. She didn’t only want the taste of Gillian — she wanted all of her. Every wonderful part of her. Yes, Gillian could be frustrating, with her rigid, old-fashioned ways, but those had grown on Viola, becoming part of what she now found so endearing.
It was Gillian’s insistence on keeping things exactly as they always were that gave her a sense of stability, a sense of home. That passion for order, for the familiar, was so distinctly Gillian — and Viola wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was something she herself had never experienced growing up, even in adulthood, so she could understand Gillian defending it. The quirks that once exasperated her were now the very things that made her heart ache for more. That made her long to uncover every part of the woman behind the guarded exterior. She expected there was even more that lay hidden away, more vulnerability that Gillian hadn’t let her see yet, and she couldn’t wait to unwrap it.
Grabbing her bag from the co-pilot seat, she headed around the side of the manor house, where its windows glowed with a warm, golden light. Making her way onto the drive, she stopped and looked back. The flickering of the fire in the great hall cast a cosy, orange light that embraced the entire house. Shadows danced across the glass as figures moved inside, their laughter and voices creating a welcoming hum. Even the walls seemed to vibrate with energy.
She smiled to see it alive, imagining this liveliness to be the house’s natural state over the last few decades, with Gillian at the helm, orchestrating gatherings, presiding over lively soirées, making sure everything was precisely as it should be. A light caught her eye and pulled her from her thoughts. Realising itwas the front door opening, she strained to see who it was as a voice came through the darkness.
“You came!”
“Bridget, hi. Yes. Here I am,” she replied, approaching her.
“And? Was it worthwhile coming as I told you it would be? I heard you land some time ago. I’m assuming you found who you were looking for.”
“Yes, I did,” Viola replied with a contented smile. “Thanks for the encouragement and keeping me posted.”
“She was very down after you left. I hoped getting this place back would at least put a spring in her step. It did the opposite. So I took the opportunity to sow some seeds of thought.”
“It helped. Thank you.”
“Are you coming in?”
“No.” Viola looked towards the lodge. “Gillian’s tired, and apparently we have more to talk about.”
“Gillian, talk? That’s a new one.”
Viola smirked, although her eyes carried a hint of seriousness. “Bridget, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Could you run this place on your own? If Gillian wasn’t here.”
“I could run it better if she wasn’t.” Her hand shot to her mouth as if trying to stuff the words back in.
Viola laughed; she’d missed Bridget. “It’s okay. I won’t say anything.”
Bridget smiled and lowered her hand. “I’ve been her right-hand woman for thirty-odd years. I’ve got used to my place in Gillian’s shadow. We make a good team.”
“Isn’t it time to step out of her shadow?
“Oh, I’m happy with my position as second-in-command,” Bridget said coyly.
“But you’re a flower waiting to bloom, Bridget.” Viola reached forward and squeezed her arm. “It’s time you bloomed. Can you? For her sake as much as your own.”
After a pause, Bridget replied, “I think I can.” She pulled herself up straight and nodded. “Yes, I can.”
“Then you know what to do. I’d best not keep her waiting.”
Bridget laughed. “No.” Her voice turned more serious. “Thank you for coming. For her sake as much as your own.”
Viola flashed Bridget a smile, acknowledging her throwing her own words back, and walked at double pace towards the lodge. Slipping her freezing hands into her pockets, she couldn’t help wishing for the climate she’d left behind in Australia.
