‘I loved it! I never thought I’d be able to get through it without having some sort of fit but it was magical!’

‘Next time, we’ll stay up longer, go a bit further.’

‘So there’ll be a next time?’ Gilly asked, feeling like a child asking for a treat.

‘There will be if I have anything to do with it!’ William put his arm round her and together they walked back to the clubhouse.

‘That went well, then?’ asked one of the friendly men.

‘I loved it!’ said Gilly. ‘I never thought I would. I’m such a coward about these things normally.’

‘What things?’ asked the man.

‘You know – roller coasters, scary things generally.’

‘So, are you up for a breakfast?’ the man went on.

Gilly looked at William. ‘I’m terribly sorry,’ he said, ‘although I hate to break with tradition, I have to get to work.’

‘I have to work too,’ said Gilly. Her work involved hanging sheets on the line. It seemed mundane but when you washed as many sheets as she did, good drying days became very important.

‘I’m so glad you liked it,’ said William as they neared her house.

‘So am I!’ said Gilly, unaware until very recently how very important it was that she did like gliding. She wanted to like it for William’s sake. ‘And I didn’t just like it, I loved it!’

William didn’t speak but smiled across at her when he’d parked the car. He looked very happy, Gilly realised.

‘Have you time to come in for a coffee?’ she asked him.

‘No, I’ve got to rush back to the office,’ he said, but got out of the car. He was at the passenger door in an instant and handed her out.

‘Thank you so much for taking me,’ said Gilly.

‘It was my absolute pleasure,’ he said, and kissed her cheek; then he cupped it with his hand, looking into her eyes without saying any more.

As she watched him disappear down the drive she felt that these two simple gestures were somehow more meaningful and touching than the most full-on kiss would have been.

Chapter Nineteen

Gilly wanted to see William again but didn’t quite know how to go about it. She had written him a card after he had taken her gliding, taking care with it so he would realise how much she had loved the experience of seeing the landscape from the sky. He hadn’t responded and that was over a week ago. On the other hand, she was delighted that she hadn’t heard from Leo.

She looked at her calendar, the mocked paper ‘family calendar’ that caused mirth or disapproval depending, and saw something she thought could be useful: an opportunity to see him again without looking needy. No woman ever wanted to look needy, especially one of a certain age.