Chapter Fifteen
The CV
I sit in the library as the rain pelts against the windows. The estate is closed, and I’ve tucked myself away to do some work. My laptop is open, I have a lovely cup of tea by my side, and the rumble of thunder and cracks of lightning provide a nice ambiance to my environment.
I pause and look at my screen. I’ve started two different documents. One with a list of all the skills I’ll need to demonstrate on my CV for the type of jobs I want to apply for. The other file has all kinds of ideas for things I can do at Wintersmith Hall to gain experience in those areas.
I bite my lip. It all hinges on my dad. He doesn’t like ideas that are not his own. I think he’s very threatened when Nicholas wants to take on something, that his son will suddenly replace him, which is so absurd, it’s laughable.
I don’t think he’ll be as threatened by me,I muse. After all, I can’t inherit the estate.
Because I’m not Nicholas.
Guilt surges through me. How can I do this, knowing Nicholas is hamstrung on every single thing he’d like to do? How would my twin feel if I ask to do something and immediately get Dad and Mum’s blessing to pursue it, when everything he does is shot down? Granted, I would never ask for something like holding an exhibit in the Portrait Gallery, which I think Dad would veto regardless of who suggested it.
But if I get to do a little “Art in the Garden” kind of event, would that hurt Nicholas?
I cringe. I hope not. If it were to hurt him, I wouldn’t do it. I love my brother too much to cause him any kind of pain or remind him of preferential treatment I’d be receiving.
Buzz!
I glance down at my phone and smile when I see it’s a message from Aimee:
When are you coming back to London? I already miss your freckled face.
I smile and text her back:
Hopefully soon, if things go well with Noah this week. But who knows? Things could all go wrong when he chooses his pick and mix, and then I’ll have to break his heart.
I hit send. I move back to my documents, and within minutes, Aimee has replied:
HA! With a body like that, I would STRONGLY advise you to overlook any errors in pick and mix selection and PICK HIM. Ha!!!!
I decide to tease her back:
Well, if we’re going off this criteria, shouldn’t you be all over Kieran Doring?
Aimee is typing …
Finally, her reply drops in:
Let me think on this. NO.
I giggle, and then I hear a rap on the door. I glance up and see Nicholas standing in the doorway.
“Hey, Violet,” he says. “I haven’t seen you since you got back. How was London?”
I give him a side-eye. “You mean what happened with Noah after we left Wisteria House?”
He laughs and moves across the room until he’s at my table. Nicholas pulls out the chair across from me, turns it a bit, and then drops into it, stretching his long legs out in front of him.
“Well, Dishing Weekly had some holes in their write-up,” he teases.
“Let me go back before I go forward,” I say. “And don’t let this blow up your ego, but you were right. What I did to Noah wasn’t fair. I apologised to him, explained my stupid insecurities, and luckily for me, he was still willing to take a chance on me after all of that.”
He smiles in approval. “I’m glad you did.”
“Me, too,” I say. “He’s coming down to spend time in Dorset before he has to report back to Stonebridge United in a couple of weeks. He arrives on Wednesday.”
“Is he staying here?”
I think of what Noah said about that and how he wishes to do un-gentlemanly things to me, and decide my idea to ask him to stay here was a poor one indeed.
“Ew, no. I don’t need everyone trying to watch us date.”
Nicholas chuckles at that. “Need I remind you that there are seventy-five rooms in this house?”
I think of Aimee’s answer in regard to Kieran earlier and use it. “Oh, let me reconsider. No.”
We both laugh.
“He’s renting a seaside cottage. I’ve got Maria covering my shifts at the gift shop so I can spend all my time with Noah.”
“You must like him,” Nicholas says, his eyes dancing. “Usually you are tired of a guy after a few days.”
Butterfly.
I blink the hurtful image away from my mind. Because that is my past.
Not now.
“Noah is different,” I say.
“I know he is. I knew it from the second he brought up pick and mix at dinner. You looked at him as if he had suddenly appeared at the table instead of having already been there for hours.”
“It’s hard to believe I met him before that night,” I confess. “Like when we were at Wisteria House, and I was introduced to him for the first time. He was just as gorgeous that night as he is now. But it’s like I didn’t see him at all.”
“That’s probably why he likes you. You didn’t care who he was. Can you imagine how many women he must meet who plot an introduction? Or whose interest is purely driven by him being a footballer?”
“You probably have a point. My complete indifference was refreshing,” I tease. “But that night at Wisteria House was interesting for you, too, because you and Amelia despised each other then.”
Nicholas rakes a hand through his dark hair, a sheepish smile passing over his face. “True.”
I glance at my laptop. I need to discuss my ideas and plans with him.
“Can I talk to you about something?” I ask.
“Aren’t we talking now?”
I roll my eyes, and he snickers.
“Okay, smartarse. But I’d like to talk to you about something in particular.”
“Go ahead,” Nicholas says, studying me.
“It’s time I got serious about my career. Or lack of one,” I say softly. “I want to work in art. I know I won’t be able to do anything with the art here until you take over, and God forbid, that won’t be for a long, long time. So if I want to work in art, I’ll most likely need to go somewhere else. Like London.”
Nicholas’s dark eyes flicker with interest, but he remains quiet, waiting for me to continue.
“Yet I can’t go to London without more experience for my CV. I held myself back out of fear. My fear of failure has kept me grounded in the gift shop, where I’m not likely to disappoint anyone except for the occasional tourist who doesn’t like our products or who wants me to drop the price on a souvenir book.
“So what I’d like to do are a few projects here at Wintersmith Hall that will show as attractive skills on my CV,” I continue. “Like arranging some sculpture exhibits in the gardens. Or showcasing local artists in a pop-up show. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to approach Dad about these things.”
A confused crease appears on Nicholas’s brow. “Violet, you don’t need my permission to ask Dad anything.”
“I know I don’t. But my gut says Dad won’t be threatened by these projects, so he might say yes. And he might say yes because I’m asking instead of you,” I say quietly. “It’s not fair. I know that. And I know that could hurt you, Nicholas.”
“No, Vi, absolutely not,” he says firmly. “If Dad approves one of your ideas, and you’re committed to doing it? Then I will be the first one asking if I can help you.”
“You have to be honest with me.”
“I’m your twin. What do you think I’m being?”
I stare at him, studying his eyes.
He’s telling the truth.
“Thank you,” I say. “I also promise you I will see any idea through if Dad approves it.”
“I think he will,” Nicholas says, grinning at me. “Especially if you stay away from anything dealing with what belongs in the house.”
“Okay. And I will need your help.”
“You have it. And you’ll have Amelia’s, too.”
“I appreciate this more than you know.”
He smiles at me. “I know you do.”
Inside, I breathe a deep sigh of relief. I’m so glad Nicholas and I have this kind of relationship. We genuinely love each other. We’d be friends if we weren’t siblings, and that’s something I treasure.
“So guess who I hung out with in London, besides Noah?”
“Other assorted footballers?”
“Stop. Remember my friend Aimee? From St. Andrews?”
Recognition lights Nicholas’s face. “Oh yeah, of course. The Australian.”
“Yes. Well, we met up at Wisteria House and reconnected.”
“That’s brilliant. What’s she doing now?”
“She’s still working in publishing,” I say. “Moved up to editorial assistant.”
“Good for her. I always liked her.”
I smile and remember how much Aimee liked Nicholas, but keep that to myself. My hope for my friend is that she will find her own version of Nicholas or Noah one day.
Her perfect cup of tea,I think happily.
Nicholas rises. “I’m going to work on some notes from the day. Oh, and I’d be happy to review your plans before you present them to Dad.”
“Oh yes, that would be fantastic. Thank you.”
He nods and exits the library, leaving me alone. I glance out the windows, and the rain is still coming down. I reach for my tea, taking another sip, and contentment settles over me.
My life was so different just a few weeks ago. My summer stretched out ahead, with nothing but days working in the gift shop and taking merchandise trips with Mum. I’d ride my horse. Walk the gardens. Come up with new ideas that I would discard myself or that other people would never let me take on because of my lack of follow through. I’d see my friends and hang out at the beach. My life was fun, but it was lacking in so many areas.
Now I look at how it’s changed.
I’m making plans for a career, and I’m devoted to completing any project I take on.
I’m renewing my friendship with Aimee and building new friends in Bella and Amelia.
Then there’s Noah.
He’s the one who has inspired me to be brave, both in trying to find a job in the art world and being brave enough to admit I messed up with him. To work past the fear, face him, and apologise for what I did. It’s like meeting him—the second time—has opened my eyes to things around me.
To make me believe I can not only have more, but deserve more, too.
Anticipation ripples through me.
In two days, Noah will be here. We’re going to have our cinema date. I’ll get to spend time showing him Wintersmith Hall. We’ll go to the beach. Out to dinner. Walk the coast. Perhaps have a date with Nicholas and Amelia. I know our time will go by so fast, but I plan to make the most of every moment.
If things go the way I hope, by the end of his visit, we’ll be planning my next one to London.
And beyond.