Page 50 of You Had Me at Chateau
I close the door and start excitedly rummaging through my suitcase for something to wear. After a few minutes of deliberation, I settle on a cosy yet stylish outfit – a pair of skinny jeans, a warm sweater, and my really big scarf to snuggle up behind. I quickly run a brush through my hair, slap on enough make-up to look somewhat presentable, and then head downstairs.
Henri is waiting by the fireplace in the hallway, looking effortlessly handsome in a casual yet well-put-together outfit. I wonder if I’ve seen him wearing clothes more times than I’ve seen him in a towel yet…
He smiles when he sees me, and my heart does a daft little flip, because I’m only human.
‘Ready to go?’ he asks.
‘Ready,’ I reply, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
We step out into the crisp morning air, the château looking as picturesque as ever in the daylight.
‘I’ll drive us,’ Henri says, nodding towards his sleek black 4x4.
‘Great,’ I say, relieved to save myself a trip along the road. Imagine falling in front of him? I’d never live it down.
Henri opens my door for me, ever the gent, and when I sit down on the seat I realise that he has pre-warmed it for me.
‘Okay, let’s go,’ Henri says, as he puts on his seat belt.
Did I mention things like this never usually happen to me?
24
As the chilly air rushes past me I pull my scarf tighter around my neck.
Henri looks like he’s nice and toasty – and effortlessly handsome, of course – in a sleek black coat.
The snow crunches under our feet, courtesy of Jack Frost, who topped it up overnight. It isn’t enough to bring the resort roads to a close or cause any problems, but it’s more than enough to build a snowman or have a snowball fight – not that we’re planning on doing either.
The grounds are beautiful and the blanket of snow only adds to the scene.
Henri leads me to a small gazebo overlooking a frozen pond.
‘This is the place where an Italian couple got engaged recently,’ he says, his breath visible in the cold air. ‘The man wanted the whole place lit up with candles and sprinkled rose petals. We said we would get it set up for him, and it was all going well, but then we received a report that the bad weather would be arriving early. We had to get staff from all around the resort – even me – to get everything ready in time but we did it and it was beautiful.’
I can picture it in my mind, and it does sound incredibly romantic – and the fact that it almost went wrong, until everyone worked together, only makes it sound even more dreamy.
‘Wow, that’s amazing,’ I tell him. ‘You just know that they’re never going to forget that.’
We walk a little further, closer to the heart of the resort, and yet we still feel out of the way.
‘Over there is our outdoor hot tub area,’ he tells me. ‘Perfect for warming up after a day on the slopes. But here is my favourite part – the hot springs.’
It’s hidden away from the main resort, so like most of the cool stuff this place has to offer I didn’t know it was here, but the hot springs are showstopping.
There is a cluster of hot tubs, generously spaced out, with privacy screens between them so you can enjoy your soak, the view and your privacy. Then there are the hot springs – natural pools with dreamy-looking water that is just so inviting. You can tell that the water is hot, thanks to the steam, and the air around it smells amazing – like a spa, but in a really rich, natural, earthy way.
One of the springs is occupied by a couple, who look so into one another that they don’t even notice us walking past. The steam rising from the pools creates an almost dreamy cloud around them.
‘Wow, this is just… wow,’ I blurt.
‘We have tried to make the place as magic as possible, combining old and new, original features with modern additions and comforts,’ he explains.
‘It’s really paid off,’ I tell him. ‘I’ll definitely be coming back to this spot.’
‘I rarely get time to enjoy it,’ he replies. ‘But, if I have the time, I will come with you.’
As he smiles at me I involuntarily glance away from him, smiling at my feet.
