Look Back at Me (Fleckney Fields Series, Book 1)

Silly Viola

Author's Note:

This is part 1 of tonight's double update. It's been quite a difficult week, my darlings (more in a message on my news board) but I've gotten through it. So, hopefully I'm now back on track, and the updates will be coming more regularly.

Love,

K. xx

***

The next day after work she drove her Panda to Nidhogg Hall, the Georgian manor on the East of the county, to the 'headquarters' of the festivities committee. She changed into her favourite Louboutin Apostrophy Pumps, picked up her handbag, and got out of her car. She rang the doorbell, and it opened almost immediately.

The young woman on the threshold was absolutely gorgeous, dressed in an excellent trouser suit - and a pair of the same Apostrophy Pumps as Viola, except in nude and not black.

"Good evening, Dr. Holyoake," the woman said, stepping aside to let Viola in. "My name is Amira Atieno, I'm Mr. Bjornsson's personal assistant. Welcome to Nidhogg Hall!"

"Pleasure to meet you," Viola answered, shaking the woman's hand.

"The Fab Five have informed us you're coming," Ms. Atieno said. "Please, make yourself comfortable," she said, leading Viola in a cosy drawing room. "Mr. Bjornsson was wondering if he could personally show you to the hall where the dance is held."

"Perfect," Viola said with a smile.

"Would you like me to call for tea?" Ms. Atieno asked.

"No, thank you," Viola said and laughed. "I'd rather we have a look at the hall right away. I'm in quite an anticipation."

"Mr. Bjornsson will be right with you," the woman said with a polite nod and left.

Viola looked around. When she'd been married to Rhys, they'd gone on quite a few tours around Nidhogg Hall. Viola had grown up in a family from, what was called, an established middle class. Her father was an electrical engineer, and her mother was an accountant. She'd spent her childhood in a flat, and gone to a comprehensive school. Fifteen years ago the Hall that looked like a filming location for a historical BBC mini-series had both fascinated and intimidated her. At the time the Holyoakes weren't as high in the social standing as they were now - with Rhys owning quite a lot of property in Fleckney Fields and his cousin John being the owner of a publishing empire in London. Still, they had always been treated with respect in the community, being one of the oldest families in the county. Viola remembered meeting Anders Bjornsson and the courtesy he'd always shown to her and her then relatives.

The door opened, and the Swede rushed in. The man was almost as tall as Rhys and even wider, mostly due to his oblong shape.

"Dr. Holyoake! Viola! What a pleasure!" he hollered, rushed to her, and grabbed her hand even before she got up on her feet. "Goodness me, I remember you! What a pleasure indeed! And an honour too! You're now our own proper doctor in the county! So fortunate to have snatched you, all thanks to Mable Holyoake, I'm hearing! Cunning woman!"

He was still shaking her hand, and she laughed.

"Evening, Mr. Bjornsson," she said.

Ms. Atieno joined them, with a clipboard and a large folder in her hand.

"Shall we then?" he said and started backing up, now holding both Viola's hands in his spade like hands. "I'll show you the hall, and you have to stay for tea! No, no, I'm not listening to any objections!" he shouted and shook his large head crowned with a mane of grey waves. "Let dear Amira and myself treat you to the excellent pastries from our kitchen, our own signature Bjornsson honey, and shower you with affection! A village doctor is one of the most important people in a county, don't think I don't know it! Humour me, dear doctor! I so rarely have guests!"