Page 107 of Beyond Her Manner
It filled Gillian with warming confidence as her eyes darted around the hall to gauge people’s reactions. She scanned the faces of those nearby, bracing herself for murmurings or side glances only to find no one was even looking at them. Charlotte’s voice pulled her attention back.
“I can’t thank you enough for discovering that gem of a painting, Viola. I can’t tell you how it feels to have it in my collection.”
“You are more than welcome. If it wasn’t for Arte spotting it, I expect it would still be hanging there unnoticed.”
“It certainly wouldn’t,” Gillian remarked stiffly, adding with a playful tone, “It would be back in the attic where it belongs.”
Viola shook her head, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Forgive Gillian. She’s a bit uncultured when it comes to art.”
Gillian’s mouth twisted as if to protest until the look Viola gave her softened it into a smile.
“The wait to hear back if it was what I thought it was nearly killed me,” Arte interjected. “It was one of the most pleasurable yet nerve-racking moments of my life.”
“Even if her instincts are never wrong when it comes to art,” Charlotte added, lifting their conjoined hands to her mouth and placing a kiss on her wife’s hand.
“Thank you for your generous final bid,” Gillian said, nodding to Charlotte. She recalled the moment when Charlotte, clearly frustrated with the meagre bid increments, had added acool million to silence the competition — and the entire room. Gillian had nearly fallen off her chair again. “I didn’t expect it to go for quite so much. They said without the provenance it may have affected the price.”
“It’s worth every penny, I assure you. I judged it on its own merits, with the dramatic feminist style, subject matter, and strong female character. The CR stamp was the icing on the cake. It was going in my collection at whatever price. I can’t believe it was in your attic. Have you any idea where it came from?”
Gillian shook her head. “I remember my late husband returning home with them shortly after he sold off the last piece of Kingsford’s arable land. I was furious and wanted them gone. I told him I threw them away and we never spoke about them again.”
“Well, it has been a welcome addition to my growing collection, which incidentally will be displayed at the Courtauld Gallery shortly. I’m showcasing a selection of emerging female artists and historical works. At the heart of it all will be the pièce de resistance,Justitiaby Artemisia Gentileschi. You should come and see it if you can ever tear yourself away from this place, Gillian.”
“Oh, she can,” Viola said, her eyes shining. “She was in London not long ago, and as she’s declared in front of everyone, she’s coming with me in a few days for my European tour. So, no backing out now.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Gillian confirmed as Viola’s arm threaded through her own. “First Paris, then Monaco. I’m rather looking forward to it.”
“Monaco?” Charlotte questioned. “We’ll be heading there ourselves soon to enjoy my mother’s villa while she’s away.”
“We find that’s the best time to enjoy it,” Arte smirked.
The comment hung in the air before they all dissolved into laughter.
“I’m performing at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo,” Viola explained, “inside the casino.”
Charlotte’s eyes brightened. “I know it well; my stepfather, Baptiste, owns the casino.”
“I’ll have my agent send you some VIP passes then.”
“Wonderful, thank you,” Charlotte replied.
“Would you like to see around the house?” Viola offered.
Arte’s face lit up.
Viola hesitated, biting her lip. “Oh… I forgot it’s not my house anymore.”
“See how easy it is to forget?”Gillian teased.
Viola nudged her with a playful smile. “I know the ownerintimately, and she won’t mind if I show you around.”
“She won’t,” Gillian confirmed.
As Viola led the two of them away, the nearby sound of the major’s voice rose just enough to carry. “The women are getting all the good ones these days. I can’t think why.”
As Gillian spotted him, she could see him twirling the ends of his moustache.
“Hopefully, Viola will soften her up a bit,” Mrs Hawkin’s voice came from beside him.
