Page 34 of You Had Me at Chateau
‘I don’t know,’ I start, laughing it off.
‘I thought you were here to enjoy this retreat with us,’ Mandy says. ‘That you were one of us. And this is what we do for fun…’
‘This and drink wine,’ Bette adds.
That bit I’m already good at. I pick up my drink and drain the last of the wine from my glass.
‘Okay, sure,’ I say. ‘Why not? Count me in.’
I’m not actually in, and have no intention of playing this seriously silly, incredibly weird game, but I want to keep the ladies on side. Well, I might actually need to take Gina up on her offer of giving me advice with my work, if I’m going to try to make things spicy, like Jen wants me to. Oh boy, I just threw up in my mouth at the thought. I’m just not a sexy person, at all, I have zero game, and a goofy giggle. I’ve never even been able to talk dirty in the bedroom, because I always feel – and probably sound – so silly.
‘We’re all starting at square one,’ Mandy says. ‘And we all have an equal chance.’
‘Not quite,’ I chime in. ‘I’ve forgotten my toothbrush, so I can’t brush my teeth. Does anyone have a spare?’
‘No, Amber, no one has a spare toothbrush,’ Mandy answers for everyone, narrowing her eyes at me like I just suggested I hadn’t ever owned one, rather than that I forgot mine.
‘That’s okay, Henri told me where I could get one,’ I say. ‘He offered to take me.’
I don’t mean anything by it, I’m not rubbing it in, but I notice a flicker of recognition on each of their faces.
‘Oh, so you’ve been flirting with him?’ Bette says, raising an eyebrow.
‘No, no, no, I just asked him if he has a spare toothbrush in his bathroom,’ I clarify.
‘In his bathroom, hey?’ Gina persists.
‘It was just a friendly question,’ I add, trying to put the issue to bed.
‘She’s doing “friends to lovers”,’ Bette says knowingly. ‘Well, that’s given me an even better idea. Game on.’
I just laugh. Are these three really, seriously going to compete for Henri? There’s no way I’m going to actually join in with this game, not a chance, but at least it will be fun to spectate.
This writers’ retreat is definitely not what I expected.
16
Waking up… wow… I’m in heaven. I feel like I’m lying on a cloud, wrapped in the fluffiest blankets, floating through the sky. It’s like I’ve been sleeping in a hug. No aches, no pains, just pure, blissful rest. I can’t feel a hint of pressure anywhere – I swear, I feel weightless, which I am surely not after the amount of food I put in my body last night.
You know, I don’t even remember the last time I felt this good – when I woke up, or generally. It’s not even 8a.m. yet and I’m never normally awake at this time – but I’m so energised that the thought of going back to sleep doesn’t even feel like an option. Of course, there’s a difference between not wanting to go back to sleep and not planning on getting out of bed.
There’s only one problem, though. Well, one immediate problem, shall we say – let’s conveniently ignore that my parents are breaking up and I’m supposed to be writing a book that I don’t love. The immediate problem is that I really, really need to brush my teeth. I couldn’t do it after dinner last night because the resort shop was already closed and now I really do feel gross.
Even though I don’t want to leave my cosy little cocoon, I do have an early-morning energy I am in no way used to, so now isprobably the best time to go and pick up a toothbrush from the resort shop.
I roll out of bed, throw on some jeans, and pull out a fresh, oversized jumper from my bag. Not just any jumper, one of my fancier ones today. The thought of Henri being in the château, and potentially bumping into him, makes me want to try a little harder – is that weird? I’m not exactly going all out but I’m applying plenty of make-up, brushing my hair, and spritzing myself with perfume. Normally, this early in the morning, I don’t even bother with my glasses, let alone wrangle myself into a bra.
After using Henri’s bathroom – without any awkward run-ins or embarrassing mishaps – I wander around the château. I spot a couple of staff members, but Henri is nowhere to be seen. Not that I’m stalking him or anything; he did say he’d take me to the shop. There’s no sign of him though, so I guess I’ll make my own way there, on foot – well, it’s not like it’s far, just that it’s cold, and I guess the company would have been nice.
So, bundled up in my Ugg boots and faux-fur coat, I head outside. The morning air is crisp and fresh, feeling like a thousand tiny knives when I breathe it in, and creating foggy bursts in front of my face as I breathe out. The sky is that perfect pale blue that usually hints at a clear, bright day ahead – so maybe I won’t see any snow actually falling today. There’s still some on the ground though, still fresh enough to make that really satisfying crunching noise when I go out of my way to step on it. The road is clear otherwise, which makes general walking from A to B much easier. The air smells so fresh, with hints of pine, and burning wood – even the fires smell fresh, which is weird. Everything just seems so natural and clean and reminds you that you’re alive.
I’m relieved that the walk to the resort isn’t long – even if it was quicker in the buggy. Wow, I can’t believe how busy it is for 8a.m. I guess skiing enthusiasts like to hit the slopes early,before the dark winter evening sets in. That or ski holidays are like stag dos, where you start drinking at breakfast.
You know, skiing may not be my thing (and I may have promised Tom that I wouldn’t go near the slopes), but I have to admit, the fashion is on point. Everyone looks so funky, warm, and cosy. Maybe I can just wear the clothes, without actually getting involved in any of the action. Not that I’m all fur coat and no knickers (yep, I remembered to put them on, rather than just storing them in my trouser leg today) but I definitely think a nice thermal pair of ski trousers will make these walks back and forth to the resort go a lot smoother. Even if I fall on my arse, at least my arse will be warm.
As I wander into the resort, it’s like stepping into a scene from a movie, or the set-up to shoot an advert at least. It’s just so picture-perfect, so busy with people, but in such a peaceful way.
The large open reception area is just stunning, blending new and traditional styles seamlessly. I can’t tell if this place is brand spanking new or if it’s been here for a hundred years. I suspect the truth is a mixture of the two.
