Page 70 of You Had Me at Chateau
Stepping out of Henri’s warm 4x4, into the cold outside, is a real shock to the system.
Still, we’re here, at the cabin he’s working on, and I can’t wait to see it.
It’s tucked away in a secluded part of the forest, miles away from the main resort. You can tell that it’s unfinished, but that it’s a work in progress, and I bet it’s going to be something really special when it’s finished.
The exterior is made of dark, weathered wood, blending almost seamlessly with the trees that surround it. Large windows – even if they are a bit dirty at the moment – promise undisturbed views of the forest that surrounds the place, and the covered porch looks like it’s going to be a great spot to watch the sun go down – or rise, if you’re into that sort of thing.
‘Here we are,’ Henri says as he holds the door open for me, and I step inside.
‘Oh, wow,’ I say – meaning it mostly in a good way.
The interior is sparse but inviting. The walls and floors have been redone (oh, come on, like I know the technical term for it) with raw timber, giving the place more of an inside feel and themost amazing smell. The only furniture in the room is a bed in the corner and two armchairs positioned near a fireplace. It’s all clearly seen better days which makes me think that it’s only here for Henri, or whoever, while they’re working on the place.
‘I want this place to be a romantic escape,’ Henri says, his voice filled with passion. ‘Somewhere lovers can come to get away from it all. It’s kilometres from the main resort – too far to walk – and there’s no phone service. Eventually, there will be Wi-Fi, but I think there’s something romantic about being cut off from the rest of the world, don’t you?’
I nod, imagining how cosy the cabin will be when it’s finished, and how nice it would be to be trapped here with a dreamy man – definitely something that could go in one of my books.
‘It does sound wonderful,’ I reply. ‘Is there a kitchen?’
I don’t mean to make it sound like food is all I care about but I’m also in no position to deny that’s true.
‘Not yet,’ Henri replies. ‘Which is why I brought a picnic.’
He lays a blanket on the wooden floor and starts unpacking the basket he brought with him. He pulls out a variety of foods: breads, a selection of cheeses, charcuterie, grapes, and a small jar of honey. There’s also a bottle of red wine and two glasses.
No, I don’t know how much cheese is too much cheese, I just know that I’m nowhere near my limit yet.
‘It’s a bit chilly in here,’ I remark, rubbing my arms.
Henri nods and moves to the fireplace, expertly arranging the logs and kindling. Within minutes, a warm, crackling fire springs to life, lighting the room with a romantic glow.
I sit on the blanket, appreciating the warmth as it slowly spreads through the lodge. Yep, this is definitely romantic.
‘It will be warmer when it is finished,’ he explains. ‘But for now it’s okay, to spend a few hours here, away from everyone else.’
I smile. I can definitely brave the cold for this. I’ve never done anything like it before.
Henri joins me on the blanket, handing me a plate before loading up his own.
It looks so, so good. The food doesn’t look bad either.
‘So, tell me more about your role here,’ I say, genuinely curious. ‘I know you look after the château, but this seems like a real pet project of yours.’
Henri leans back on one elbow, his face illuminated by the firelight.
‘This place is owned by my family,’ he tells me. ‘My dad is technically in charge, but I run the day-to-day operations. And one day it will be mine, so I like to do a good job.’
I laugh.
‘Wow, that’s amazing,’ I reply. ‘I had no idea.’
‘No, I don’t usually tell people who stay at the château,’ he replies. ‘And no one would guess, because I actually work hard. My siblings are just happy to live off my family’s money but I could never do that. I love to work.’
Jeez, imagine loving your job. I’m more envious of the fact he loves what he does than I am of the fact that his dad is clearly a millionaire – probably a billionaire. No, wait, what am I saying? I’m sure if I had family billions I could have a job that I loved – I could start my own publishing house, and publish my own books, whatever genre I wanted.
‘Do you like the wine?’ he asks me, changing the subject.
‘Yes,’ I reply. ‘I usually only drink white but this is nice.’
